By Rina Risper
President and Publisher
The New Citizens Press
LANSING, MI — Since 2005, a group of non-profits, private companies, and residents have been working to improve properties along Saginaw and Oakland. Their goal is to make the neighborhood more cohesive and to beautify the properties as well.
However, there are huge road blocks in providing neighborhoods with the tools they need to accomplish those tasks and changes need to be made starting with you. Currently, Saginaw and Oakland, between Stanley and Homer currently have between four and six lanes each. According too local traffic engineers, they could have three lanes each without causing traffic congestion.
A “Road Diet” transforms excess lanes on multiple lane roads (operating under capacity) into safe, comfortable spaces for pedestrians, bicyclists, and community. Saginaw and Oakland area has lost General Motors plants, which roughly equates to 20,000 employees that are no longer traveling those roads.
What About Costs?
In 2010, construction will be occurring anyway. Cost will be minimal if changes accompany the slated construction. If Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Enhancement Grants, MDOT Economic Development Funds, DNR Urban Forestry Grants, and Safe Routes to School Grants are used it will further assist in reducing the cost. In the long term maintaining fewer traffic lanes will save the city and state money on filling potholes, plowing and other road maintenance costs. Not fighting for these changes now may add costly dollars to accomplish in the future.
Two Way?
With the current budget restrictions, the group is working on making the road diet project work and are exploring all options. However, expensive additional costs, like new traffic lights which may cost about $80,000 a piece, would put an extreme amount of stress on the state and city budget.
Fewer lanes, on-street parking and bicycle lanes are low-cost changes that stimulate private investment and attract businesses, potential customers and new residents.
The group believes that road changes will dramatically affect traffic speeds and improve pedestrian safety.
Between 2000-2006, 653 people were hit while walking or bicycling. Lansing wide streets void of trees and other pedestrian amenities continue to fragment Lansing’s fragile neighborhood, endanger our children.
Of the 13 fatalities, most were children or seniors, like 7-year-old Chantell Buckner who was hit and killed while walking with her sisters along Saginaw near Larch in 2005.
In 1965, Saginaw and Oakland were widened and turned into one way streets. Also that year 600 homes, 60 businesses and 15 family farms were razed to make Interstate 496. At the time, the speedy travel offered by big cars and big roads were seen as “progress”.
Take the Weight Off!!!
Today, we see that big roads encouraged “suburban flight” and urban depopulation. Big roads, also discourage family exercise, like biking or walking. The state of Michigan is one of the most obese states in the nation, some say it would be helpful if our city streets were more walkable. Two-thirds of Ingham County residents are physically inactive, 1in 5 are obese and 2 in 3 are overweight, according to Ingham County Health Department in 2003.
People living in walkable, bikeable cities are in better shape because they walk and bike more. They also do their part to fight global warming and reduce air pollution by substituting car trips with walking and bicycling trips.
Traveling Lansing’s current transportation network on foot and on bicycle is dangerous even though nearly half of our population doesn’t drive because of age, income, and/or physical disability.
The price of gas is breaking families, however a family that lives on the corner of Willow and Capitol, would have to walk cross two 6 lane roads to enjoy an event downtown. Some say, it’s not worth taking the chance. The price of gas could hit $4.00 this summer, further cutting in the budgets of families who are currently making extreme sacrifices.
When it’s safe convenient and fun people tend to walk and bike more. This could add up to a huge financial savings. Allowing more walkable communities also increase visibility in neighborhoods.
This is not rocket science. It’s an easy fix. If you live in a neighborhood that is not busy, think about the young people who have to cross these streets everyday. Road changes on Saginaw and Oakland will only happen if enough people contact their elected officials. The advocacy campaign started in March of 2008 and runs through June.
There isn’t much time and will take a serious grass roots effort to make things happen. Even if you don’t live in the city and drive down these dangerous streets contact your mayor, representative and/or the Lansing City Council.
The goal is not to argue about two-way lanes but to find the best and financially feasible solution to saving lives and averting injuries. Tell your state legislators, city council and the mayor to incorporate road changes where people live and are directly impacted.
Our community needs road changes that reduce traffic speeds, improve safety and stimulate additional investments. Talk to your friends, neighbors and family members about eliminating excess traffic lanes, allowing on-street parking, providing bicycle lanes, planting street trees, burying overhead utilities, installing small street lamps, using wide bar-style crosswalk marking, creating “bump outs” to shorten pedestrian crossings and adding more signalized crosswalks.
Class Available for Some and Not Others?
We are a world class city with Lansing Community College and Thomas M. Cooley Law School. If those who represent us in this city and state can approve upgrades for downtown that empties on the weekend they can help with the changes on Saginaw. Ask them to make it more walkable so that families will be able to walk or bike to events downtown during the weekend and not feel like it was a chore to get there.
For more information on this project contact Jessica Yorko at NorthWest Initiative at 517.214.5684 or 517.483.4499.
Representative Joan Bauer may be reached at 517.373.0826. Mayor Virg Bernero may be reached at 517.483.4141. Senator Gretchen Whitmer may be reached at 517.373.1734. Your city councilperson may be reached at 517.483.7630.
If we can put cameras in neighborhoods, we can make them more walkable as well. Make it your business to make a change for the 13 people who died in pedestrian accidents and their families who are still struggling for answers. Think about it, from 2000-2006, 653 people have been hit while walking or bicycling in Lansing. The number averages to 120 people each year and 1 person every 3 days. 13 people have died. We can help save lives in our own way. Make the call.
This piece was written based on interviews and on the newsletter “Saginaw & Oakland” a new vision…” distributed by the NorthWest Initiative.
In this edition, two stories are featured about two other young people who lost their lives as pedestrians. It ‘s time for us to make changes.
