10/02/2001 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minn#es of 10/2/2001 the speed limit on Cedar Point Road was raised, and this virtually eliminated the benefit of the bike path for all but the most physically fit adult population. The speed limit on Lorain Road in the center of town was also increased. He believes this increased speed has caused accidents to be more serious than previously. This legislation will increase the speed limit through three of the most dangerous intersections in North Olmsted- Great Northern and Lorain, Great Northern and Brookpffik and Great Northern and Country Club. On Great Northern between Lorain and Brookpazk, a distance of 3/10 of a mile, there are 19 separate driveways serving 59 separate businesses. The road is regularly used by juvenile and senior pedestrians. He asked that this "ill-conceived proposal" be sent back to committee for further study and perhaps abandonment. Councilman Nashaz said that he checked with the Traffic Engineer, and it was his recommendation that the city proceed forward. He said the lights are timed to synchronize at 35 mph. Mr. Wolf commented that the Ohio Department of Transportation's motto is, "you cannot build your way out of congestion." They want to build intelligent traffic signal systems like we have put in here. They want to stuff more cars into the roads and move them faster to eliminate that congestion. The philosophy they are using is flawed and, in many cases, is downright dangerous. Councilman Dailey said a committee meeting on this legislation was held on September 20. The Police Department, the Safety Director and the Traffic Engineer were all in agreement that 3 5 mph was a safe speed on that street. They thought it was time to bring it up to be congruent with the rest of the speed up and down Great Northern Boulevard. It passed through the Transportation Committee on a vote of three to nothing. Council Miller asked Mr. Wolf if higher speeds make for a more violent accident and more severe injuries. Mr. Wolf said he is not an engineer, but in his 24 years of experience, there is a speed break right around 25 that causes accidents to became much more serious. Mr. Wolf is also concerned about the Stearns Road and I 480 area, where a fatality recently occurred. He feels that the city should force the issue to get it in the limelight. Councilman O'Grady said he would like to hear about the records the Police Departmerrt has with regard to increased speeds. As to Stearns and I 480, anything that can be done to speed that issue along, he will agree with. Law Director Gareau suggested that the issue of the increase in speed for Great Northern Boulevard be looked into carefully. Councilman Dailey said that, as chairperson of the Transportation Committee, he will put Ordinance 2001-103 back on the agenda for the next meeting. Dennis Lambert, 25057 Carey Lane, said that two cars colliding at 35 mph aze going to be more damaged than at 25 mph. Roads like Great Northern Boulevard are expansively wide. Many roads like that in other states have a 45 mph speed limit. Unfortunately, Great Northern Boulevard is not long enough to warrant a 45 mph speed. But the fact of the matter is that road can accommodate some tremendous speeds if it had to. He thinks the unique problem with accidents in that area are the turning lanes off of I 480. Vehicles coming off the highway are making right hand turns on red and then trying to scoot over three lanes to get over to Country Club Boulevard. He thinks it is of benefit not only to the businesses of this community but also to the residems to keep the traffic moving as rapidly possible on a road that will accommodate that kind of speed. ~:_ 13