Council discusses traffic signal study

Tiffin City Council met Monday in a special session of the Committee of the Whole to further discuss a traffic signal study that has proposed the removal of certain intersection traffic signals. Members of the Tiffin Traffic Safety Committee presented the City of Tiffin Traffic Signal Warrant Review completed by DGL Consulting Engineers, LLC. "This meeting is for the city council to gather more information about the recommendations made by the committee and get a better understanding why these decisions were made," Rich Focht, council president, said. The council has four ordinances up for consideration. The ordinances (21-32, 21-33, 21-34, 21-35) are to be voted on at the council's next meeting, which is to take place at 7 p.m. Monday, online. The proposed intersections - where potential removal of traffic signals are to be decided - are at Circular and Main streets; N. Sandusky and Hall streets; Melmore and Circular streets; and Coe and Jefferson streets. According to the study, traffic signals at these intersections are not warranted. The traffic data for the signal warrant analysis was collected by DGL via video on Oct. 28, 2020 from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. The cost of the study was $7,500. City Engineer Matt Watson said the committee is recommending the removal of the traffic signal at Circular and Main streets and placing a four-way stop at that location.Watson said according to information used by the Ohio Department of Transportation and the Ohio Manual of Uniform Traffic Devices (OMUTCD) said the signals at the four locations are not warranted. The results of the study are based on having 800 vehicles per hour on a main street and 150 vehicles per hour on a side street. Lt. Jason Windsor of the Tiffin Police Department said at this intersection, there is less than one accident a year and most are due to residents running a red light. In regard to the intersection at Melmore and Circular streets, the number of vehicles and pedestrians also do not warrant a traffic signal, Watson said, based on the study. Watson said the proposed change is to have a two-way stop on Circular at that intersection. Windsor said based on the accident data, there have been 2.4 accidents per year from 2008. Councilman Steve Lepard, who said he conducted his own personal study, said with the numbers going up from the COVID-19 pandemic there should be another study completed. Watson said the traffic does fluctuate from day to day. On the matter of the intersection of Coe and Jefferson streets, Watson said the proposed change is to have a two-way stop on Coe Street, rather than the traffic signal. The intersection with the most concern is N. Sandusky and Hall streets. Watson said based on the study the intersection does not warrant a signal due to the numbers during the peak hours of 4:15-5:15 p.m. He said they are proposing a stop sign on Hall Street. Watson said the purpose of the study is to help improve traffic flow and promote safety. Over 20 years, Windsor said there had been 1.9 accidents per year. Watson said if the ordinances are to pass there will be 150 days before the signal is officially removed. There will be a 90-day time period where the light will be flashing and a 60-day time period where the light will be bagged. Watson said during this time period the city is to continue to analyze traffic flow and pedestrian movement. "If the changes do not work, I would be the first to come back to keep the light in operation," Watson said. "We are just asking for the chance to make the proposed changes." "None of us are traffic safety experts," Ben Gillig, councilman, said. "It is based on science. I'm not sure why we are here going in circles. These are the best recommendations by experts. We are here to do what is best for the city as a whole." Councilman Ken Jones said many people had reached out to him wanting to keep the signal in place and he plans to vote in opposition of the ordinance. According to Focht, "This is the opportunity to look at the facts and to see if those facts make things better. We won't know unless we try." Brandon Burner of the Public Works Department said the signals are obsolete controllers and cost about $12,000 at minimum to maintain and about $50-$75,000 to maintain long-term. Burner said the issue though is not about cost savings, but to do what is best for the residents of the City of Tiffin. City Administrator Dale Thornton, chair of the Traffic Safety Committee, said the group spent several months over several meetings to discuss the results of the study. "The study was a professionally done study and the committee made the unanimous decision to take out the proposed traffic signals and put in place alternate devices," Thornton said. Council members discussed the possibility of tabling the ordinances to pursue another study.