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Council to consider Main Street safety proposal
Jerica Harvey
Issue date: 10/8/08 Section: News
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Chancellor Richard Telfer met with City Manager Kevin Brunner, Whitewater Police Chief James Coan and engineers who studied the crosswalk to make a final recommendation for the council to vote on.
"We came to a consensus of city, staff and the university staff and we're going together unanimously with these recommendations," Brunner said. "Now it's up to the council to go forward. They have other alternatives they can look at, but I'm hoping they accept the recommendations and we can go forward."
The proposal includes a traffic light installed at the corner of Whiton and Main streets along with a pedestrian barrier that will be erected along the Main Street sidewalk next to campus. If landlords agree to eliminate unused driveways, another barrier would be erected on the opposing side of the street.
"Either way, a decision will be made and it very likely will be the recommendations Kevin and Dick Telfer brought up," Councilmember Max Taylor said. "I've also heard a few other people want to bring up some alternative ideas so it might not be the bottom line."
The safety revamp at the intersection alone would cost the city an estimated $100,000 to $150,000 as proposed. Most of that cost is for the traffic light, Brunner said.
"The barriers obviously are on (the university's) side of the street and we would be willing to pay those costs," Telfer said. "We're not sure what the amount will be and we're working to decide what kind of barriers would be appropriate there."
While the university is currently studying what those costs, Brunner said the city will see if property owners would be able to fund the barriers for the south side of the street.
He said the city is taking temporary precautions while the decision is made and installation begins.
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