City officials announce safety upgrades on key corridors
PONTIAC, Mich. – Mayor Mike McGuinness announced new pedestrian safety projects across the city on Friday. The city is targeting areas with high traffic volume after reporting two pedestrian deaths this year and six last year.
One of the key corridors targeted for changes is Auburn Avenue. The road currently has two lanes in each direction. The city plans to reconfigure the road to one lane in each direction and add a center turning lane. This change will help slow traffic.
The city will also lower speed limits and add more crosswalks that light up when you press the button. These improvements aim to improve safety for people walking, biking, and driving.
These projects are strategically placed in areas where people are living, people need to get to shops and businesses, said McGuinness.
The city began adding improvement projects to Baldwin and Virginia Avenues late last year after a few pedestrian deaths in that area. The city council recently received a county grant to address additional traffic-related issues in that area.
I really excited that there is a lot of long-overdue improvements that we are making to our infrastructure, McGuinness said. We have a lot more that we have to get to, but every day we are moving the needle forward.
Resident survivor sees hope in city actions
For residents like Bruce Cobb, the issue is personal. Nineteen months ago, Cobb was hit by a distracted driver while crossing the street in Pontiac.
I suffered several, almost life-ending fractures in my body, and this is actually a bone generator, Cobb said, describing a device he now relies on during his recovery.
It is a lot of PTSD, Cobb said, adding that crossing the street still takes courage.
Cobb said he was devastated to learn about the Sunday fatal hit-and-run involving a 60-year-old man. According to a public information officer for the Oakland County Sheriff Office, that death was the second pedestrian death this year in Pontiac. The officer said there were six pedestrian deaths in the city last year.
Cobb said residents appreciate the changes and hope they will prevent future crashes.
Council to review additional measures
McGuinness said additional traffic-calming measures for drivers and pedestrians are expected to be discussed at the next City Council meeting.
The Oakland County Sheriff Office released video from the Sunday incident and is asking the public for help identifying the drivers involved.
Sources: ClickOnDetroit, Oakland County Sheriff's Office