Description
This is a long stoplight of >2:40 for pedestrian crossing regardless of time of day (incl lower traffic hours). There should be an option for a pedestrian to press the crosswalk button and for it to result in an expedited crosswalk light. Because the stoplight to cross Washtenaw from Manchester is so short, it is impossible to make it as a pedestrian, resulting in missing the light and having to wait a full second light. This is near a bike stop with people trying to/sometimes missing the bus due to the long crosslight. There isn't a peds-triggered crosslight all along Washtenaw from Bear's coffee all the way to Huron Parkway. Washtenaw is already unsafe to cross since cars drive 50+mph and turn in/out wo carefully looking for peds/bikers. I've had numerous near hits on this Ave even in broad daylight wearing a bright yellow reflective bike jacket and with my lights. Having just 1 light that could be peds triggered would help immensely. This whole area could be more peds/biker friendly as it's currently 100% car centric.
8 Comments
Acknowledged City of Ann Arbor (Verified Official)
MrEdith (Registered User)
Melissa (Registered User)
Nick (Registered User)
This intersection has the 10lbs of sugar in a 5lb bag problem, 4 lanes of traffic (2 from Stadium and 2 from Washtenaw) into 2 on Washtenaw. At busy times, if the light at Sheridan/Manchester is red when one of the feeding streets has a green light, the traffic doesn't move. This light has to be coordinated with the other two, and the other lights have fairly long cycles, which add up to a very long cycle for this crossing.
However, when there is little traffic -- during non-rush hours, weekends and evenings -- the light at Sheridan/Manchester could cycle much more quickly. It could be responsive to pedestrian inputs, and cars waiting to cross or turn left. I've sat at the light on a bike, and in a car, for over a minute without a car passing on Washtenaw.
The visibility of the intersection from Washtenaw west of the split isn't good, and cars coming around that turn at 45mph might pose a hazard to pedestrians. This could be mitigated by turning both of the lights on Washtenaw red when a pedestrian is crossing.
Melissa (Registered User)
Sarah (Registered User)
Melissa (Registered User)
Terry abrams (Registered User)
If Manchester Road was re-marked to have a right turn lane onto Washtenaw (instead of left turn), it would reduce the wait for cars wanting to turn right behind cars that are going straight. It makes sense for straight and left turn traffic to both wait for the entire cycle and to let right turning vehicles do so on red.
Also, if the long left turn light from Washtenaw onto Manchester could become blinking yellow at some point in the cycle, that would ease frustration, especially in the evenings when there is little to no oncoming traffic.