JANESVILLE — The city council Monday will consider alternatives to a pedestrian tunnel under Milwaukee Street.
One alternative would reduce traffic lanes at the mid-block crossing from four to two lanes and add a pedestrian island.
In other traffic-related matters, the council will be asked to:
-- Approve long- and short-range solutions at Milwaukee Street and Wuthering Hills Drive, the site of a fatal accident.
-- Consider a consultant’s recommendation to reduce East Milwaukee Street from four lanes to three between Wright Road to Highway 14. The change would create a left-turn lane and to reduce speed.
-- Remove the stoplight at West Racine and South Franklin streets.
Bike trail
The bike trail crosses east Milwaukee Street between Wright Road and Shannon Court.
A pedestrian tunnel under Milwaukee Street, suggested because of safety issues, has been delayed for two years because of cost.
The last estimate of $625,000 has been modified to $590,000. The city has a $235,000 grant from the state.
Two vehicle-versus-vehicle accidents have been reported at the site since the trail was built in 2000, but many near misses between pedestrians and vehicles have been reported, said Jack Messer, public works director. Most occur when drivers stop for pedestrians in one lane, blocking the vision of other drivers traveling in the same direction.
Other factors include:
-- Speed. About 42 percent of drivers travel at more than 35 mph, with the highest speed recorded at more than 61 mph.
The speed limit is 30 mph to Shannon Court, where it increases to 35 mph.
-- Visibility. While the crossing itself is visible, the bike trail is below the street and is not visible to drivers, who do not expect a mid-block crossing.
-- Width. Pedestrians are forced to cross four lanes of traffic.
Staff recommends two alternatives:
-- Build the tunnel, which would fix all of the safety concerns.
-- Remove a lane of traffic in each direction and build a pedestrian island. Messer said the two lanes would handle the 8,000 vehicles that travel the street daily. Typically in urban areas, a traffic count of 15,000 triggers four lanes.
The configuration, however, could mean more sideswipe and rear-end crashes as vehicles merge from two lanes to one lane and then stop for pedestrians. But those types of accidents typically cause less injury than a vehicle hitting a pedestrian, Messer said. The funneling also would help slow traffic.
Cost is estimated at $102,900.
Messer does not recommend doing nothing nor does he recommend widening the road to build a pedestrian island while maintaining the current number of lanes.
Some residents have suggested an overpass. That is not possible because an overpass could not meet handicapped accessibility regulations, Messer said.
“Ultimately, this is a question of the risk aversion of the community,” Messer said.
Milwaukee Street and Wuthering Hills Drive
A consultant recommended solutions at this intersection in light of September’s fatality, and the transportation committee agreed.
Marguerite Bladorn, 49, was turning left onto Milwaukee Street on Sept. 12 when her car was struck broadside by a car traveling at least 55 mph in a 35 mph zone, according to the Wisconsin State Patrol.
Short-term recommendations include speed feedback signs as motorists near Wuthering Hills Drive; installing crosswalk markings and trimming low branches of nearby trees.
Those could be done this summer for less than $10,000.
A long-term solution includes a roundabout because delays in making a left turn off Wuthering Hills will grow as traffic increases.
Reducing lanes
The consultant and Messer both recommend reducing the number of lanes on East Milwaukee Street from Wright Road to Highway 14 from four to three, with the third being a left turn lane.
The change would help reduce the speed of traffic along the corridor, Messer said.
Messer is looking for council authorization because it is considered a major change. Staff typically decides on pavement-marking changes.
Racine and Franklin streets
The transportation committee has recommended removing the traffic signal at South Franklin and West Racine streets.
Cost is $2,500.
The committed decided signals are no longer needed because of decreased traffic counts.
The traffic pattern changed when Jackson and Franklin streets were converted from one-way to two-way traffic, committee and councilmember Bill Truman said.
IF YOU GO
The Janesville City Council will consider traffic issues at Monday’s meeting. A public hearing is scheduled to remove the stoplight at South Franklin and West Racine streets.
While public hearings aren’t scheduled concerning the Milwaukee Street corridor, residents can speak at the beginning of the meeting.
The council meets at 7 p.m. in City Hall, 18 N. Jackson St.