Tuesday, January 8, 2013
A DOT report discusses traffic issues on SOM Center Road. What would you do to fix it?
We all know there's some traffic congestion issues on SOM Center Road, some of which leads to some crashes. The DOT produced a report analyzing crashes over the last couple of years on SOM Center Road near U.S. 422. We wrote about the report here. So we want to know what Solon residents, who have to drive on SOM all the time, would do to fix the traffic situation there. Head down to the comments and pretend your a traffic engineer, and tell us what you would do to fix it.
An Ohio Department of Transportation crash study of SOM Center Road in Solon identifies options to make the road safer.
A Department of Transportation study of crashes on SOM Center Road in Solon recommends a number of options to make the heavily-travelled road safer. Some of the recommendations in the report, which was prepared and finalized in 2012, are already in city officials' plans, including updating Solon's traffic signal system and improving the timing of the traffic lights, scheduled to be finished in late spring or early summer. The city safety committee plans to discuss the report this Wednesday at City Hall. The study concentrated on a short section that included the 422 exits and entrances to Solon Road. Between 2008 and 2010, that area had 184 total crashes, with 59 on SOM Center and 125 on U.S. 422. Of those crases, 33 resulted in injuries. …
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Former Solon Mayor Bob Paulson told city council members they should rethink a proposal to spend nearly $1 million for aesthetic improvements to the SOM Center Road railroad bridge.
As city officials consider a project to enhance the look of the railroad bridge in the center of town, a former city official wants them to throw the idea on the scrap heap. Former Solon Mayor Bob Paulson spoke out against the idea during the Oct. 15 City Council meeting and urged council members to slow down and reconsider. The project, estimated to cost about $950,000, received an unanimous thumbs up by the safety committee and will be considered by the finance committee during budget planning for next year. Paulson said there are better ways to spend taxpayer money. "How many constituents have ever come to you and said we really need to spend $1 million on that railroad bridge?" Paulson said. WHAT DO YOU THINK? Head down to the bottom …
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Members of the Solon safety committee voiced their approval for the roughly $1 million project to re-face the old railroad bridge over SOM Center Road and install electronic message boards.
Solon safety committee members voiced their support Wednesday for a $1 million project to beautify the old railroad bridge over SOM Center Road. The committee unanimously passed the project onto the finance committee for its consideration. The plan is to consider the project during budget discussions for next year, and perhaps complete it in phases, with fixes to the retaining wall first, then improvements to the bridge and finally installation of electronic message boards, to replace the signs community groups often hang on the bridge. The project has been under discussion for some time, and is the final part of the city's master plan for the central part of town. The facade improvement are designed to make the bridge and the retaining …
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Preliminary cost estimates to improve the facade and install electronic signs on the railroad bridge over SOM Center Road to be discussed Oct. 10 at the safety committee meeting.
Improving the look of and installing electronic signs on the old railroad bridge over SOM Center Road could cost the city nearly $1 million, according to preliminary cost estimates. The facade improvement are designed to make the bridge and the retaining walls match the materials and aesthetics of the nearby Solon Center for the Arts, fire station and Veterans Park. It's part of the city's master plan. The electronic signs on the bridge would replace the banners hung by community groups. Here's a breakdown of the estimated costs: The Solon Safety Committee expects to discuss the cost estimates at its Oct. 10 meeting. The electronic sign is designed to "minimize the unsightly and sometimes unsafe condition of the bridge," Mayor Susan …
Friday, August 3, 2012
The city of Solon is expected to contribute $700,000 toward the project, expected to be done by budget year 2015.
One of Solon's busiest intersections will be widened and improved thanks to a grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation. The $2.5 million project would widen SOM Center Road at Aurora Road, and is expected to begin in state budget year 2014 and finish in 2015. The work would allow cars on SOM Center Road turning left onto Aurora Road from both directions to turn at the same time, thus speeding up the wait at the intersection. Right now, SOM Center is not wide enough to accomodate both left-hand turns to occur simultaneously, said Engineer John Busch. "That takes a lot of time for the overall operation of the intersection," Busch has told the public works committee. The city of Solon would be responsible to pay for $700,000 of the …
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
In a memo to the safety committee, Traffic Engineer Kevin Westbrook recommends against installing flashers at a crossing at SOM Center Road and Hawthorne Parkway.
For months, city officials and interested residents have been debating whether a system of flashing lights at a popular horse and pedestrian crossing near the Metroparks would make the crossing safer. But now Traffic Engineer Kevin Westbrooks, who came up with the idea for flashing lights to warn cars of pedestrians, is recommending against installing the crossing, saying it would could cause a bigger problem. In a memo to safety committee chairman Bill Russo, Westbrooks said he still feels flashing lights are the best engineering option available but that "it does not solve the problem or perceived problem." One concern is that the crossing lights would not fix the perceived problem of drivers not paying attention. The other concern is …
Friday, March 16, 2012
Some members of the Solon City Council disagree whether a flashing signal will make a horse and pedestrian crossing at SOM Center and Hawthorne Parkway any safer.
TAKE OUR POLL: Will a flashing light make this crossing any safer? Head down to the bottom of the article to take the poll! Some members of the Solon City Council disagree whether a flashing signal will make a horse and pedestrian crossing at SOM Center Road and Hawthorne Parkway any safer. Since a number of horse-riding enthusiasts are concerned that the crossing is dangerous, city officials have been trying to work out a solution to improve the perceived safety of the crossing. Residents say that drivers are too distracted and driving too fast and often don't see those wishing to cross. "I feel there is a warranted need for a signal because society as a whole has gotten rude," said resident Tess McCarihan. "We can’t let them get away …
Thursday, March 15, 2012
One of Solon's busiest intersections may be widened if the city can secure state funding.
Improvements may be coming to one of Solon's busiest intersections if the city can secure state money to help pay for it. The intersection in question, where SOM Center Road meets Aurora Road, is one of Solon's busiest. The still preliminary plan would be to widen the east side of SOM Center Road in front of the Solar Shopping Center. Now the city wants to apply for state safety funding to overhaul the intersection by making it wider. The public works commission voted to draft legislation to send to city council giving city staff approval to apply for the grant. The Ohio Department of Transportation identified the intersection as "a high crash location" back in 2007. The city has taken steps since then to improve the road safety in the …
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
The city wants to build a system of flashing lights where multi-purpose trails cross SOM Center Road near Hawthorne Parkway.
The Cleveland Metroparks said they would support Solon's idea to create flashing signals at a popular horse and pedestrian crossing near the entrance to the South Chagrin Reservation. The safety committee will continue discussions of the horse crossing at its meeting tonight at 6 p.m. at City Hall. Since a number of horse-riding enthusiasts told Solon's safety committee in August they were concerned that the crossing was dangerous, city officials have been trying to work out a solution to improve the perceived safety of the crossing. Residents say that drivers are too distracted and driving too fast Riders have said they wanted a traffic light, but Traffic Engineer Kevin Westbooks said the intersection doesn't warrant a light. Instead, …
tomcody
11:36 am on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
..there i s no solution.. a 19th century town layout in 2013.... the planning and changing should have been done 50 yrs. ago..!! more ›