The Ann Arbor Chronicle » pedestrian crossing

Washtenaw & Platt

Vivienne Armentrout — Fri, 13 Dec 2013 21:52:57 +0000

Innovative “sign language” [pedestrian crossing] at Arbor Hills Shopping Center. [photo]

Huron & Main

Bear — Wed, 03 Jul 2013 20:33:48 +0000

Wondered what was holding traffic up on Huron, just west of Main this afternoon. Amazed at what I saw next.

A very old man (at least 80, by appearances) with a yellow shirt, khaki pants and suspenders, with a walker, was dragging bag of returnables with his back to traffic crossing Huron in the middle of the block, while moving at a tortoise’s pace.

Vehicle ahead of me pulls over, young man getting out to assist. I stopped, put my flashers on and waved at cars in next lane to yield.

He made it to the north side of Huron in one piece! No injuries, everybody breathed a sigh of relief!

N. Main near Argo Dam

Peter Allen — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 17:43:16 +0000

Always a lucky day when trains cross over one another. We need a pedestrian crossing here! [photo]

Ann Arbor OKs Five Flashing Beacons

Chronicle Staff — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 03:13:58 +0000

At its Dec. 19, 2011 meeting, the Ann Arbor city council authorized a budget modification, drawing on its major street fund, to allow an expenditure of $81,000 – to install five rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFB) on existing pedestrian islands in the city. Four of the locations are along Plymouth Road (at Georgetown, Traver Village, Beal and Bishop). The fifth location is at Seventh and Washington. [.pdf with schematic of intersections and an RRFB] [.pdf of map depicting locations]

The flashing function of an RRFB would not be continuous – it would be activated by a pedestrian pushing a button. The staff memo accompanying the resolution describes an RRFB as “similar in nature to the light bars on the top of emergency vehicles.” The flashing beacons do not count as traffic control signals for the purposes of the city’s pedestrian safety ordinance, which addresses motorist behavior “[w]hen traffic-control signals are not in place or are not in operation …” Otherwise put, the pedestrian safety ordinance will still apply at those crosswalks where RRFBs are installed.

Annual costs for operation and maintenance of the RRFBs are estimated at $160 per crossing. Installation of the new signs is scheduled to begin in February 2012, and to be completed by April 2012.

This brief was filed from the city council’s chambers on the second floor of city hall, located at 301 E. Huron. A more detailed report will follow: [link]