Pedestrian crossings, bike lanes, and on-street parking among proposed North Main Street improvements
Akron planners moved closer to changes proposed to improve safety on North Main Street during a public meeting in North Hill Saturday.
Nearly 80 people attended the meeting at the North Hill Branch Library to review plans and provide feedback. Rob Solomon, a City of Akron project manager, Heather Ullinger, a City of Akron engineer, and staff from Environmental Design Group were on hand to answer questions and field concerns during the informal meeting.
The proposal features multiple changes to the two-mile North Main Street corridor from the All-America Bridge to the High Level Bridge at the northern city limits. These ideas include:
- Resurfacing the pavement on North Main Street
- Removal of traffic signals at East York Street, Frances Avenue, and East Mildred Avenue and addition of new traffic signals
- Four new protected pedestrian crossings
- A center turn lane throughout most of the roadway
- Bike lanes in each direction
- Improved pedestrian and ADA facilities
- Parking along most of the roadway
- Planting of trees along the street
- Upgraded water main and other utility work
“These enhancements are intended to improve safety for all users – especially pedestrians and bike riders,” according to a post on the City of Akron website.
Planning for this project began in 2015 with Akron Better Block, the Knight Foundation and other community groups. An in-depth safety study of the roadway was completed in 2020.
Residents share feedback, concerns over proposed roadway changes
Documenters Cassandra Williams and James Yu joined the public meeting Saturday and documented feedback from several participants, many of whom are North Hill residents.
Some of the feedback included concerns about:
- Increased traffic around schools and disruptions for people dropping off and picking their children up from school. Several public and private schools are close to North Main Street, including Findley Community Learning Center, Jennings CLC, and St. Anthony of Padua School.
- Street parking could hinder drivers’ vision when exiting driveways.
- The need to hire additional crossing guards.
- Installation of speed tables.
- Changes might lead to heavy traffic congestion like a project on Tallmadge Avenue.
- Changes may cause slower ambulance response times.
- Tree roots from newly planted trees may, over time, damage sidewalks and pose a safety hazard for pedestrians.
- The removal of traffic signals could lead to increased speeding.
- One participant suggested that police better enforce existing laws instead of implementing changes that may inconvenience people.
Akron seeks more feedback, provides more information
- Residents can provide feedback until noon on Feb. 16 at this website.
- Sign up for a city newsletter to keep informed about the project here. (Scroll to the bottom of the page.)
- To see more detailed plans, follow several links provided here.