The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
‘Complete streets’ focus on safety
Lorain officials consider examples around Oakwood Park
On Sept. 23, Lorain County Public Health hosted “Walk the Block,” a public program for Lorainites to learn about “complete streets.”
Traffic safety measures in Lorain are working, according to crash data, and the city will consider adopting a policy that aims for safer roadways.
On Sept. 23, Lorain County Public Health hosted “Walk the Block,” a public program for Lorainites to learn about “complete streets.”
It’s a philosophy that intentionally embraces safety and making sure streets are serving all users — bicyclists, walkers, drivers, people who use wheelchairs for mobility, or anyone, said Katie O’Lone, project planner for consultant Toole Design.
“We want everyone to feel safe on the road,” she said.
Toole Design is working with the county health department and the Lorain Connected active transportation committee on a complete streets formal policy for Lorain, O’Lone said.
The draft policy aims for an effective roadway system on which every user can travel safely and comfortably and with sustainable transportation options, she said.
The policy would come into play when city officials and staff look to create new roads or improve existing ones. The streets could include sidewalks, paths and trails, crosswalks and median crossing islands. Other amenities range from handicap-access facilities, trees and green spaces, bike lanes and parking, traffic calming measures such as roundabouts or on-street parking, and public transit access and facilities.
“Those are just some of the things that make a complete street, a complete street,” O’Lone said.
The program was open to the public but attendance was limited due to cold weather conditions.
Lorain Mayor Jack Bradley attended with his wife, Debora. Ward 6 Councilman Rey Carrion and Councilman-at-Large Mitchell Fallis were there, with mayor’s Chief of Staff Rick Soto.
East 30th Street resident Carl Gorsuch Sr. came out. “I just live here,” he said.
O’Lone was joined by Lorain County Public Health Program Manager Sara Tillie and Health Education Specialist Kat Bray.
The agenda at first included a walk around the perimeter of South Lorain’s Oakwood Park. Instead the group walked from the southern parking lot to the bike lanes along East 31st Street.
Crash data show the number of collisions are declining by 25 percent on East Erie Avenue, by 29 percent on West 21st Street and by 17 percent on East 31st Street, all corridors where road reconstruction projects added bike lanes in recent years.
The participants agreed that was good news.
They also shared their perceptions about walking along Grove Avenue, which also is Ohio Route 57, and East 31st Street.
On Grove Avenue, speeding traffic, a wide road and high volume can be intimidating for pedestrians. There is an average of 8,500 cars a day on Grove Avenue along Oakwood Park and an average of more 16,000 a day south of there, O’Lone said.
“That’s a lot of cars that pedestrians are walking next to, “she said.
The feel of Grove Avenue likely will be different from that of East 31st Street, O’Lone said. There, a wider treelawn moves walkers further away from the road surface.
East 31st Street has new signage noting the bike route signage, white ladder style crosswalks and fresh green paint to mark the bike lanes. Residents have said they noticed drivers slow down due to the green paint, Carrion said.
A complete streets policy could touch on other elements as well.
Residents have asked if a blue-light police call station would benefit Oakwood Park, Carrion said, and O’Lone agreed the feeling of personal safety is as important as traffic safety.
Gorsuch said he hoped to address issues with parking and alleys of South Lorain. People without on-street parking need to have accessible alleys for their cars, he said.
The Lorain County Public Health staff said it hoped to present a complete streets policy for Lorain to consider in spring 2022. It could happen sooner, depending on how the agency has to respond to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
In the summer, Carrion assisted with painting the green blocks in the East 31st Street bike lanes.
That project, and refreshing the South Lorain mural on Pearl Avenue, was scheduled to continue 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 25. The painting may be delayed a week due to weather conditions.