Pedestrian Routes in Construction Zones

[Boyd, Eric]

Greetings,

The city's Pedestrian Safety and Access Task Force recommended the
following on page 12 of their report:

http://www.a2gov.org/departments/systems-planning/programs/Documents/Pedestrian%20Safety%20and%20Access%20Task%20Force%20Final%20Recommendations.pdf

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H. Provide Safe and Accessible Pedestrian Routes in all Construction Zones.
The City should ensure through building codes, fees, policy and
enforcement that a direct, safe
and accessible pedestrian route is provided in all construction zones,
including providing a
protective shed where appropriate. All pedestrian construction routes
should comply with the
Michigan Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MMUTCD) and
Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA) standards. When construction requires the relocation of a
transit stop or interferes
with access to transit in any manner, the City shall coordinate with the
transit provider to
ensure that safe and barrier free access is maintained during the entire
course of construction.
In accordance with best practices, when space is limited, a sidewalk
diversion into the roadway
on the same side of the street as the sidewalk should be provided rather
than a sidewalk detour
to the other side of a street. A pedestrian construction route should
take precedent over onstreet
parking and all but one through motor vehicle lane in each direction
when creating
barrier free sidewalk diversions.

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By my observation city is failing to do require safe access for
pedestrians in construction zones for an extended period of time in at
least 2 locations.

1) 410 North First Street.

The east side of the sidewalk at 410 North First Street is closed.

The sidewalk on the south side of West Kingsley is also closed.

There are rarely used city parking spaces on the east side of North
First Street that could easily be repurposed as a protected pedestrian lane.

2) 215 Beakes Street

The building construction has been moving extremely slowly and
meanwhile, there is no safe pedestrian access along the north side of
the road. This could be addressed by putting pedestrians in the bike
lane and reserving one of two auto lanes for bikes.

Thanks for your consideration in addressing these issues.

--Eric Boyd

342 Mulholland Street