Feb. 26 Ward 2 meeting and March 10 Akron City Council meeting
Covered by Documenters Jackie Jantzi (see her notes here) and Carol Smith (see her notes here)
More than 80 residents packed a Ward 2 City Council meeting Feb. 26 to state their concerns about the planned $16 million North Main Street improvement project.
And a week later, Mark Wagoner, a 35-year resident of North Main Street, talked about his concerns about the proposed bike lanes during Akron City Council’s public comment period March 10.
““I think that by putting bike lanes it’s going to make things more dangerous,” Wagoner said. “It’s bad enough backing out now with two lanes and cars going side by side” on the street.
Wagoner said that the city should at least rethink having parking and bike lanes along the residential sections of North Main Street.
“It’s inconveniencing thousands of people a day for the two or three people that ride bicycles on Main Street or maybe a few more might come,” Wagoner said. He also said he is thinking of selling his home if the street project goes through.
Project is set to begin in July
Introduced to the public more than a year ago, the project is set to begin in July and is intended to improve safety and reduce traffic incidents in North Hill.
Twenty-eight residents and business owners spoke at the meeting, led by Ward 2 City Council Member Phil Lombardo. Their concerns include increased congestion, skepticism about the necessity for bike lanes and the financial burdens on property owners.
Reneé Whittenberger of Environmental Design Group presented data supporting the project, including crash history reports, an equity analysis and traffic patterns.
The proposed changes include:
- Resurfacing North Main Street.
- Adding a left-turn lane in the center of the street.
- Reduction from two lanes in each direction to one lane.
- Buffered bike lanes.
- Four new pedestrian crossings.
- Removal of two traffic signals at Frances Avenue and East Mildred Avenue.
- Right-sized lanes and additional parking.
- New street trees, bus stops and ADA improvements.
- Replacement of drive aprons and curb extensions.
Data indicates that about 3,000 fewer vehicles traverse North Main Street per day than Tallmadge Avenue. Planners said traffic flow should remain efficient despite lane reductions to allow for the turn lane.
Concerns from North Hill residents, business owners
Despite the city’s explanations, the majority of residents attending the meeting opposed the project.
Many said that reducing lanes will make traffic worse, especially during peak hours, forcing drivers to detour through residential streets.
“The traffic on North Main is already bad during rush hour, and this plan will only make it worse,” one resident said.
Others echoed worries that reducing the number of lanes will slow emergency response times.
Whittenberger said that similar projects elsewhere have not led to emergency delays.
Attendees also raised financial concerns. Russell Neal of Graffiti Print Shop highlighted the high costs his business already bears and questioned whether it should be responsible for paying interest on project-related assessments.
Akron Project Manager Rob Solomon said assessments could be paid over 10 years via Summit County property taxes, and he said additional grant funding is expected.
A common sentiment was that the project was drafted without enough input from all demographics of North Hill’s diverse community.
“People from outside this community are telling us what we need,” Rodney Matthews of Urban Vision said.
Others questioned whether efforts had been made to solicit feedback from immigrant populations, who frequently walk in the area but were underrepresented at the meeting.
“This is not what people want, and we’re the ones stuck with it,” one attendee said.
Construction is slated to begin this summer following a bidding process in March. Gas main replacement work is expected to begin as early as April.
