Overview of the City of Bloomington Traffic Commission Meeting
What Was The Point?
The meeting I attended on March 22, 2023 was about 7-Line Project & All-Way Stop Control Installation which was presented by Andrew Cibor(The city engineer and the director of the engineering department). But before, the meeting started with going through the approval of minutes from January 9th meeting and then election of officers for different roles like chair, vice-chair, secretary and so forth… and discussed their responsibilities during the vote or nomination. Following which, projects for the 2023 Traffic Calming and Greenways Program were discussed, two of which were Staff-Led Projects on East Morningside Drive by Parkridge East, which they started planning this year, and West Allen Street, Greenway Connector, a small connector measuring about a block in size that connects Allen Street all the way through to the B-line and to Walnut. Finally, topics related to those projects public meetings and the explanation for the deferral of 2022 projects were discussed.
Who was at the meeting ?
There were 22 – 24 people present (including myself) at the meeting; some were present in person (whom I was unable to see), some were leaving or rejoining, and some were leaving and not joining. City Commissioners: Paul Ash, Rob Danzman, Ann Edmonds, Zach Huneck, Jaclyn Ray, Mitch Rice and Staff: Hank Duncan, Ryan Robling and some council members and about 9 were general public.
Where the meeting took place ?
The meeting took place at City Hall-1-Cityhall Council Chambers (RM #115) and there were almost half the people on Zoom and half in-person. I attended the meeting via Zoom.
What was discussed ?
The meeting started with the staff: Hank Duncan recording the presence of the city commissioners and other council members. That was followed by an in-depth discussion of the approval of the minutes from the meeting on January 9th, the election of officers, and the new 2023 projects. The main part or crucial discussion of the meeting was about the 7-Line Project & All-Way Stop Control Installation presented by Andrew Cibor(The city engineer and the director of the engineering department). He touched on the project background at start and different bicentennial bond or a series of bicentennial bonds being approved by the city council. It was also identified as one of the top 10 new bike lane projects of 2022.
The presentation began by discussing the pre-project traffic count period, which are annual average counts by cibor, and highlighting how the percentage of people who are more comfortable using a protected bike lane than a standard bike lane increased pre-project and post-project. The project placed a lot of emphasis on the bicycle mode, as well as the fact that it required a lot of energy. It is a heavily used transit route. Cibor stated that there isn’t much post-project data to compare it to in order to demonstrate the project’s impact. One of the concerns is how much more difficult the corridor will be for pedestrians, people with disabilities, or people who have poor vision after the project is finished. After that, Cibor addressed traffic counts, with the emphasis being on the speed limit. It was interesting to see that the 7th Street corridor, a through route, is seeing a significant increase in traffic where stop signs have been removed and improved when comparing the pre-project and post-project traffic volumes.
Cibor then talked about corridor crashes, representing them graphically. He clearly explained the graph, which shows that the Y access has the most crashes, while the X access has more crashes per time period divided into quarters. Therefore, each blue bar shows the number of crashes that occurred in a single corridor or quarter in 3 month increments. It is useful to begin analyzing how many crashes there were before and after the project. We had over 6 crashes per quarter before the project, and now we have up to 10, which is a pretty significant increase in corridor-wide crashes by a quarter and the types of crashes that has caused or increased in number of crashes.The total number of reported injury crashes or crashes that caused injuries were also discussed when the data was represented graphically in a graph. Pre-project, there were slightly more than one injury-related crash per quarter. After the project, there were nearly three injury crashes per quarter. The reasons for this increase in injury crashes are discussed, including the fact that many of them occur at intersections where stop signs were changed as a result of the project.
Finally, it was surprising to learn that before the project, there were less than one bicycle, pedestrian, and scooter crashes per quarter while there are now more than one. Some of the concerning crash patterns tended to occur at intersections where the stop signs had been altered. As a part of the Project development process, a detailed traffic study conducted revealed that the minor North South Road stopped and those minor roads, would still have an acceptable level of service, like the intersections would function acceptably and enhance bicycle route.
Cibor discussed about the 5 intersections that removed always stop as a part of the project. Before the project none of those intersections were identified as having level of service issues, and none of them also met any guidelines. Only the Dunn St. intersection among the highlighted places satisfies both of these requirements. One of those requirements is the minimum volume threshold, and one of the interesting things about volume is that we are observing an increase in traffic as a result of the removal of the stop signs. The project presentation concluded by highlighting the many good things the 7 Line corridor has accomplished, including an increase in the use of bicycle lanes and a vibrant and active pedestrian population. Cibor concluded by stating that the only way to enhance the project further is to reduce the number of collisions we are currently witnessing and advising the city council to reinstate always stop control at these intersections.
How did the meeting resolve?
At the meeting’s conclusion, the solution was refused by nearly all of the commissioners and the general public. It all started when a commissioner questioned whether other options were being considered or if stop signs were the sole solution. Cibor responded saying the roads are already narrow and there is a limit to geometric changes that we really can do. The discussion went on, with each commissioner sharing their thoughts or raising questions about the project. Commissioner Mitch stated that the issue is with cars and car users, while Commissioner Rob Danzman questioned whether Cibor had discovered any significant data changes in crashes at other intersections or streets located near Bloomington. A senior council member also raised an interesting question, asking “whether all of the above mentioned intersections to be reinstated, or in particular, the Dunn Street Stop sign because that was the one that had the most crashes ?” but the recommendation and the staff report is for all 5 that were once always stopped to be re-converted to always stop. Nearly all of the commissioners resisted to the solution indicated that one year’s worth of data is insufficient to take action on this, some claimed that only Dunn Street must have stop signs, but not others, and even the public’s opinions were taken into account, many of whom were against stop signs and suggested to consider alternate opinions. Finally, the motion calling for the stop signs to be reinstated only at Dunn St. and not elsewhere received the wide consent of all council members and other commissioners.
Smart city technology opportunities that can be utilized to address Biker Safety and Car Crash Concerns
Connected vehicle technology :
Vehicles can communicate with each other, with infrastructure like
traffic lights and road signs, and with other vehicles thanks to connected vehicle technology. This technology accumulates information about the environment around the vehicle, such as traffic patterns, road conditions, and potential hazards, using wireless communication and sophisticated sensors. Drivers can receive alerts and warnings in real time using this information, which will help them avoid collisions and travel more safely.
Because it has the potential to significantly lower the number of car accidents and increase general traffic safety, connected vehicle technology is significant. This technology aids in averting accidents by giving drivers real-time information about potential dangers on the road. The number of accidents caused by traffic jams and other congestion-related problems can be decreased with the help of connected vehicle technology, which can also improve traffic flow and ease congestion.
Las Vegas, Nevada, is one example of a city that has adopted connected vehicle technology. With the help of sensors and cameras, the city has built a connected vehicle infrastructure that collects information on traffic patterns and road conditions. After that, this data is sent to adjacent connected vehicles, giving drivers instant notifications about potential dangers and traffic jams. In order to decrease pedestrian accidents, the city has also implemented a connected pedestrian system that uses sensors to identify pedestrians and send real-time alerts to drivers. The introduction of connected vehicle technology in Las Vegas is a part of a larger initiative to develop a smart city that makes use of cutting-edge technology to raise residents’ and visitors’ quality of life, safety, and efficiency.
Bike-friendly infrastructure :
Infrastructure that is specifically designed and implemented to meet the needs of cyclists is referred to as being “bike-friendly.”
Examples of this kind of infrastructure include designated bike lanes, bike racks, and bike-sharing programs. Making it easier and safer for people to bike instead of drive can help reduce traffic congestion and enhance general health and wellness. This is the aim of bike-friendly infrastructure. There are many benefits to having bike-friendly infrastructure. It does this in two ways. First, it encourages more people to bike rather than drive, which can help ease traffic and air pollution. Second, it gives cyclists a safer and more comfortable environment, which may help fewer accidents and injuries. Third, bicycle-friendly infrastructure can support an active and healthy lifestyle, which can have a positive impact on the general public’s health.
Copenhagen, Denmark, is one city that has developed bike-friendly infrastructure. People can easily and safely bike throughout the city thanks to a broad network of protected bike lanes, bike bridges, and bike parking facilities. Additionally, the city has established a Bycyklen bike-sharing program that gives locals and visitors access to over 2,000 bikes that can be rented for brief periods of time. With more than 50% of residents using bicycles for daily transportation, Copenhagen is one of the world’s most bicycle-friendly cities thanks to its emphasis on bike-friendly infrastructure.
Meeting Handout :
Bicycle_and_Pedestrian_Safety_Commission-20230320-Packet
References :
How connected vehicles work. U.S. Department of Transportation. (n.d.). Retrieved March 24, 2023, from https://www.transportation.gov/research-and-technology/how-connected-vehicles-work
David. (2022, December 2). Essential Guide to Bike Infrastructure. Reliance Foundry Co. Ltd. Retrieved March 24, 2023, from https://www.reliance-foundry.com/blog/bikeways-bike-infrastructure
Expand and improve bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. U.S. Department of Transportation. (n.d.). Retrieved March 24, 2023, from https://www.transportation.gov/mission/health/Expand-and-Improve-Bicycle-and-Pedestrian-Infrastructure
Gibson, L. (2021, May 5). Scrub hub: What’s the future of Bike Lanes in Indianapolis? The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved March 24, 2023, from https://www.indystar.com/story/news/environment/2021/05/04/indianapolis-bike-lanes-could-future-indy-cyclists-national-bike-month/7375041002/
Nevada Department of Transportation. Automated and Connected Vehicles. (n.d.). Retrieved March 24, 2023, from https://www.dot.nv.gov/mobility/avcv
What makes Copenhagen the world’s most bicycle friendly capital? VisitCopenhagen. (n.d.). Retrieved March 24, 2023, from https://www.visitcopenhagen.com/copenhagen/activities/what-makes-copenhagen-worlds-most-bicycle-friendly-capital
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