Drivers may have noticed 20 extra seconds on the lights along U.S. 30 over the past two months.
During the Warsaw Traffic Safety Commission meeting Wednesday, Traffic Commission Administrator and Warsaw Police Dept. Lt. Kip Shuter said that on Sept. 1, he, City Planner Jeremy Skinner, Street Superintendent Jeff Beeler, Mayor Joe Thallemer and representatives of the Indiana Department of Transportation met at Parker Street and U.S. 30. INDOT was installing a new traffic control box at that intersection.
“As they programmed that, it changed it to a 100-second cycle instead of an 80-second cycle,” Shuter said. “The new box they put in was what they called a Smart Box. It’s going to be able to give them data, live data feedback, at their office in Fort Wayne to be able to see where there are open gaps, when traffic isn’t there, so they can adjust the signal to better effectively move the traffic that is out there.”
For example, if there’s a green light at the intersection but no traffic, the box will be able to tell INDOT that so they can rededicate that time somewhere else, he said.
“Parker Street has now become the controlling intersection for all of U.S. 30 signals. So all of them changed to that 100-second cycle,” Shuter said.
If you are approaching Warsaw on U.S. 30 East or West and get a green light, he said you should be able to hit all the green lights in town if you are driving the speed limit.
“If you hit one green, you’re supposed to hit them all green,” Shuter explained.
Skinner said, “They added some time to Parker Street. I don’t think it really helped much.”
City Councilman Mike Klondaris said he was going to ask if it helped the intersection any.
“I think it has a little bit. I’m not going to say it hasn’t helped at all. It has helped a little, but has it fixed the problem? No,” Skinner answered.
Commission secretary Steve Foster said he lives there and “it ain’t that bad. It’s just not that bad. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out when school’s out there’s a bunch more traffic there and we have some backups. But, generally speaking, throughout the day people pay attention. It’s not that bad.”
While with INDOT, Shuter said the group went to other locations including Market and Detroit streets. They discussed the trucks turning there and what could be done to help keep trucks from turning down Market Street from Detroit. He said several GPS devices for some unknown reason show Market as Ind. 15, even though it never has been.
“What was their answer? Signs? No through trucks?” Klondaris asked.
“They talked about posting some signs for southbound to prevent the trucks from turning there,” Shuter answered. “… Right now there is nothing northbound on the north side of Winona Avenue at Buffalo. And there’s a railroad crossing sign right there, it posts ‘no trucks’ right there with that.”
Southbound on Detroit at Market, there’s going to be a “no truck right turn sign,” Beeler said.
On the signal light pole there is a “no truck” sign, but that’s after a vehicle has already turned. “That’s not going to do any good. We want to keep them from turning altogether so hopefully a sign here would prevent them from turning there at all,” Shuter said.
The other issue they found, going northbound on Buffalo Street, Shuter said, is that by Marsh there are trees that block the Ind. 25 and 15 signs, so INDOT was going to get those trimmed. It hasn’t happened yet as of Tuesday, Shuter said.
He did say the several hours of meeting with INDOT were “very productive” and hopefully they will see some improvements at the Detroit and Market streets intersection.
In new business, Park Ridge Homeowners Association President Aaron Gaff and Treasurer Michal Piwonski brought some street concerns in the subdivision to the Commission.
Where Nuthatch Drive intersects with Highlander Drive, there’s a sharp curve where multiple cars frequently park on the east side of the street between the first two homes, blocking the view of the oncoming traffic from the curve. Along Park Ridge Drive, there’s a hill top and curve between the playground and last house. Multiple cars frequently park at the top of the hill, blocking the view of oncoming cars from the curve. Gaff and Piwonski also expressed concern with the 30 mph speed limit in the subdivision.
After discussion, the Commission tabled the concerns for further investigation. Commission members wanted to see what the Homeowners Association covenant said regarding on-street parking and other street issues.
Under old business, Assistant City Planner Tim Dombrosky provided an update on the Market Street project. The project includes renovating the street and construction of a walking and biking trail along it from the Krebs Trailhead to Bronson Street.
“It’s still on track, no setbacks, so we’re looking to complete that in the next four to six weeks. It’s moving along pretty nicely,” Dombrosky said. “There were some cross-street closings this week to get some sidestreet work done, short-term closings, but all of those should be opened back up, if not today by the end of the week for sure.”
He said Market Street from Bronson to Lindberg should be open until the final surface is done.
“It looks nice. I like the streetlights,” said Klondaris.
Councilwoman Cindy Dobbins asked if the neighbors have been OK with everything going on. Dombrosky said they’ve worked with a few residents on a couple of issues, doing what they could within the project bounds to make the project beneficial to the neighborhood.
Klondaris said he heard some concern with some of the street closing signs for Market Street on Center Street being too close to the road so drivers couldn’t turn in to businesses. Dombrosky said he could talk to the project contractor about pulling the signs back a little bit.
James Emans, city engineer, said under the original project schedule it should be done, but with the rains and other delays, it will probably be early November before it’s completed. Tentatively, the surface coating and asphalt should be done the week of Oct. 19, he said.
“There will be some restoration of grass and other items after that but the road should be pretty much open within a couple of weeks,” Emans said.
Finally, Shuter said regarding U.S. 30 engine compression braking, also referred to as jake braking, the state considers the jake brake a safety device and will not post on their property a “no engine compression braking on the state highway” sign.
“In my mind, that kind of settles it,” Shuter said.
Councilwoman Cindy Dobbins originally brought the matter up as a resident complained about jake braking frequently happening on U.S. 30.
(Story By The Times Union)
