Brandon Twp.-The speed limit of 50 mph on M-15 is appropriate, according to a traffic study conducted by the Michigan Department of Transportation.
The traffic study was ordered by township officials last year after two fatal accidents that occurred within five months of each other in nearly the same location, by McDonald’s, in the 900 block of S. Ortonville Road.
In an e-mail sent Oct. 13, Courtney DeFauw, traffic operations engineer, wrote, ‘We recently completed additional speed studies along M-15 as requested. We had informal speed studies completed at three additional locations along M-15 in each direction. The results of the additional speed studies indicated that the 85th percentile speed for SB M-15 is 52 mph and the 85th percentile speed for NB M-15 is 51 mph for this stretch of M-15.
Since the 85th percentile speed is above 50 mph, we recommend keeping the 50 mph posted speed limit along M-15 in this area.?
DeFauw noted that the township could pursue an official speed study by the Michigan State Police. Township Supervisor Kathy Thurman said the board may consider that option at their next meeting, set for 7 p.m., Nov. 10, at the township offices, 395 Mill St.
Township Supervisor Kathy Thurman contacted the Michigan Department of Transportation and the Traffic Improvement Association regarding the safety of the area near McDonald’s last fall after Donald Ruks, 58, of Ortonville was killed shortly after 3 p.m. Oct. 2, 2013 when the 1999 Honda Valkyrie motorcycle he was driving northbound on M-15 struck a 2004 Volkswagen Golf. The 21-year-old Ortonville woman driving the Golf was attempting to turn left out of the McDonald’s and drove directly into the path of the motorcycle. The woman was uninjured.
On May 24, 2013 Dr. Nabil Awad El-Shamaa, a 74-year-old retired Troy doctor, was killed at the same location on M-15 when the driver of a 1999 Chrysler Town and Country van turned left into the McDonald’s. El-Shamaa, who was driving a 2001 Acura northbound, struck the Chrysler, then went left of center and struck a southbound 2008 Chevy Silverado pick-up truck driven by a 33-year-old Texas resident.
Both El-Shamaa and the Texas resident were transported to Genesys Regional Medical Center in Grand Blanc. El-Shamaa was pronounced deceased at the hospital at 9:21 a.m. The Texas resident was listed in stable condition. The driver of the Chrysler, a 31-year-old Holly resident, had four children in her vehicle, all under the age of 6. None of the occupants of the Chrysler were injured.
Alcohol was not a factor in either of the fatal crashes.
According to the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG), from 2008-2012, there were 323 reported accidents on M-15 between Seymour Lake Road and South Street in Brandon Township. Of those, none were fatal; four caused incapacitating injuries; 59 caused other injuries; and 260 were property damage only. M-15 on this stretch is classified as medium congestion by SEMCOG. Jeff Horne of MDOT said the number of driveway approaches on a stretch of road increases turning conflict points.
Mitigation measures on M-15 to reduce traffic accidents, he said, include a left/right turn lane, shoulders, traffic signals, signs, pavement markings and access management. Widening of the road does not necessarily reduce traffic crashes, but typically increases mobility and capacity.
Thurman said she would like to see the speed limit lowered to 45 mph on M-15 in the area in question.
‘I think that would make a difference, but I’m not hopeful that change will occur because of the way speed limits are set? by the 85th percentile,? she said. ‘It would be nice if we had some local control regarding speed limits, but the state doesn’t want to make progress in that area, either. It’s frustrating.?