Brown Recommended for N. Main Group
At its May 23, 2012 meeting, the Ann Arbor public art commission (AAPAC) unanimously recommended that Connie Rizzolo Brown be nominated for a position on a task force to study the corridor along North Main Street and the Huron River. That recommendation will be forwarded to mayor John Hieftje.
The task force was established by the city council at its May 7, 2012 meeting, with membership to include the following: one member of the park advisory commission, one member of the planning commission, one resident representing the Water Hill neighborhood, one resident representing the North Central neighborhood, one resident from the Old Fourth Ward, one resident representing the Broadway/Pontiac neighborhood, two business and property owners from the affected area, and one member of the Huron River Watershed Council.
At its May 21 meeting, the two sponsors of the resolution that created the task force – Ward 1 councilmembers Sabra Briere and Sandi Smith – proposed adding three additional representatives: a member of the city council, someone from the boating/fishing community of river users, a representative from the Huron River Citizens Association. Tony Derezinski (Ward 2), who also serves on AAPAC, then proposed an amendment to add an AAPAC member to the task force. The AAPAC addition was passed by council on a 6-5 vote. [See Chronicle coverage: "Positions Added to North Main Task Force"] Appointments are expected to be made at the council’s June 4 meeting.
At AAPAC’s May 23 meeting, Derezinski told commissioners that “basically, we need someone at the table.”
The task force is charged with delivering a report to the city council more than a year from now – by July 31, 2013 – that describes “a vision to create/complete/enhance pedestrian and bike connection from downtown to Bandemer and Huron River Drive, increase public access to the river-side amenities of existing parks in the North Main-Huron River corridor, ease traffic congestion at Main and Depot at certain times of a day and recommend use of MichCon property at Broadway; …”
Earlier than that – by the end of 2012 – the task force is to make recommendations on the use of the city-owned 721 N. Main parcel.
Brown has served on AAPAC since early 2009, and has chaired the commission’s projects committee. She is a principal of Rizzolo Brown Studio, an Ann Arbor architecture firm.
This brief was filed from the basement conference room of city hall at 301 E. Huron, where AAPAC held its meeting. A more detailed report will follow.
Did you see the video about pedestrian crossings in Ann Arbor, at this juncture and others? [YouTube video]
Thanks for sharing that video. Unfortunately, if one stops at one of these crosswalks to yield the right of way for a pedestrain, there is a good chance you will be rear-ended, especially traveling south on Seventh near Washington.
We need a few of these in Ann Arbor to slow down the cars: [YouTube Video]
If the law is causing driving to be more dangerous, then it should be changed.
However, if everyone knew of the city ordinance giving pedestrians the right of way, we would be prepared for the possibility of traffic stopping at crosswalks. All those signs that are at crosswalks aren’t just a heads-up that there may be pedestrians in the area. They are reminders that the law says pedestrians have the right of way.
Of course, this whole thing started with someone running over one of those signs… again. So maybe you’re right David, we shouldn’t count on drivers to follow the law.
Speed bumps before these crosswalks — especially on 7th and Plymouth — would be great. Both are miserable to cross.
The sign was replaced yesterday, 12/21, and by 6:30 pm was knocked down again.
Matt, with the horrible condition of Ann Arbor city streets with potholes and the like, there really isn’t a need any longer for speedbumps.
Have any of you been through that intersection at night? They didn’t add any lighting at all, so all four corners and the crosswalks themselves are unlit. It’s really hard to see pedestrians on the corners who might be stepping out.
If the ‘local law’ is going to remain there, it would be very helpful to have increased lighting on each of the four corners and hanging lighting over the crosswalks themselves. If I’m supposed to stop for pedestrians, I need to be able to see them.
The sign on 7th & Wash. was originally run over by a driver coming east on washington who wasn’t able to stop because of icy conditions on the hill during a freezing rain episode one night.
And what; you need all sorts of flashing lights and bells and whistles to look out for pedestrians? We are talking about side streets where you are responsible for driving at a prudent speed, especially at night. Too bad people on 7th treat it like a freeway.
And many of the places shown on the pedx videos are places where you have the most out of town commuters and frankly, they don’t give a damn. It will take a few deaths before anything gets done about the situation, unfortunately. That is how it works. Good to hear people discussing it, now if only our elected officials DID something about it.
What do you suggest they do about it, Bear?