By C.J. Carnacchio
Leader Editor
“Manager Mark Slown got the green light from the Oxford Village Council last week to investigate the process for obtaining a traffic signal at the Broadway/M-24 intersection and report back in January 2003 with a plan to make it happen.”
Council gave Slown permission to meet with officials from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) regarding the possible addition of a traffic light to the downtown district’s southern end.
MDOT has legal jurisdiction over M-24 (Washington St.) and the sole authority to approve or deny any new traffic lights for it.
A $25,000 traffic study of the downtown area, conducted by the Grand Rapids-based URS, Inc. for the village, recommended a light at Broadway and M-24.
According to Slown, the light would provide “additional pedestrian crossing for everyone”; “increased economic development which benefits the entire community”; “improve control of traffic flow and circulation”; and “increase public safety.”
The traffic study’s projections indicated a light “could be warranted” at the downtown intersection, Slown said.
MDOT “agreed” with the traffic study’s recommendation and is “willing to work with us on this,” Slown told council. However, he also noted that’s still “no guarantee” a new light will be approved.
Although obtaining the light could be a “fairly lengthy process” that could last a “couple of years,” the manager said, “the door’s open” and council’s official action will “let us go in.”
It’s estimated the new light could cost the village between $60,000 and $100,000, but MDOT “may share some of the cost,” Slown said.
A light at Broadway and M-24 was also recommended as the “best option available” by village Police Chief Mike Neymanowski, Oxford Fire Chief Jack LeRoy, DPW Superintendent Don Brantley, the Oxford Community Development Authority board and the village engineer.
Neymanowski said an additional light would have a “calming effect” on downtown traffic.
“We’ve got to make downtown more (pedestrian) friendly,” he said. “This traffic light is part of the answer. I think it’s going to be the start of slowing people down.”
“I recommend it. It’s needed. Let’s get it rolling,” the chief told council.
Councilman Dave Bailey expressed his concern that if a signal was installed at Broadway and M-24, traffic stopped for a red light north of the intersection would block Mechanic St.
He suggested signage stating “don’t block the intersection” as a possible solution.
Three village planning commissioners present at the meeting voiced their concerns over the potential side-effects this signal could have on nearby residential areas, such as traffic cutting through neighborhoods to avoid stopping at the light.
Slown said while the light’s location “may not be perfect,” it’s a “good thing” for the “overall” village and the “right thing to do.”
Neymanowski agreed that while the new light may not make “100 percent” of residents “happy,” “overall, it’s a positive thing.”
Commissioners also expressed their desire to garner more “resident involvement” and “feedback” concerning the proposed light.
Slown said he’s “eager for public discussion” on the light and noted if problems are found, the process with MDOT can be “turned off” at the village’s request.
Some council members expressed their desire to go beyond adding a light to Broadway and M-24.
Village President Steve Allen said if he had his way he’d ask for five traffic lights, putting them at Broadway/M-24, Stanton-Dennison/M-24, Glaspie/E. Burdick-Lakeville and Pontiac/W. Burdick. For the fifth one, Allen said he’d make the new emergency signal in front of the new main fire station a regular light.
With a “good enough fight and fat enough wallet” plus the support of local state legislators, Allen said the village could have traffic lights at every downtown intersection, just like the City of Rochester.
Downtown Oxford is “absolutely not” pedestrian-friendly as it is now, he noted.
“You put your life in your hands crossing M-24,” Allen said.
Councilwoman Renee Donovan said the village’s traffic woes are the result of the ever-increasing number of new housing developments popping up all over Oxford Township and surrounding townships, which she noted council “can’t control.”
Each new development leads to more and more vehicles passing through the village on M-24, she said.
“We’ve become the victim of everything outside and around us,” Donovan said. “The village is unfortunately a central point to all (the new developments).”
Donovan’s said a “larger” traffic study is needed with the cooperation of Oxford, Addison and Brandon township and MDOT. If the area’s traffic problems are ever going to be addressed and possibly solved, Donovan said the village needs “to make a lot of noise. . .as a community.”