Ryan Marlang, left, and Paul Urquidez of IPS Group install new parking meters in the Marquette City Commons off Third and Washington streets on Jan. 10, 2017. The city of Marquette Traffic and Parking Advisory Committee updated the public on its recent accomplishments and plans for the future during a recent Marquette City Commission meeting. The committee has made several changes in relation to signage, traffic lights, pedestrian safety, intersections and more, officials told the commission. (Journal file photo)

MARQUETTE — The city of Marquette Traffic and Parking Advisory Committee updated the public on its recent accomplishments and goals for the future during a recent Marquette City Commission meeting.

The committee has made several changes in relation to signage, traffic lights, pedestrian safety, intersections and more, officials said.

“Over this past year, we were obviously not meeting March through September, so we did not have a lot that we accomplished necessarily,” said committee member Nina van den Ende. “But we have several things that we monitor (that are) ongoing over the last two years.

“For example, we’ve removed some ‘no parking’ signs over by Norway (Avenue) by the university. There was a speed study (done) on McClellan (Avenue) between Wright Street and Fair Avenue. We requested (the Michigan Department of Transportation) change the light timing at Grove Street and McClellan because it was green too long (going) north-south.”

Promoting safety has been a focal point for the committee as of late.

“We also worked a lot about educating the public on biker safety and pedestrian safety in the crosswalks throughout the city,” van den Ende said. “The (Marquette Downtown Development Authority) has the crosswalk signs — I know those have come up and down in the summer and winter — and I still think those have a lasting effect on motorists to remind people that — regardless of whether there’s a sign there — it is our state law to yield when a pedestrian is in the crosswalk.

“Some people like those signs, some people don’t like those signs. But nonetheless, it remains a state law. A lot of it is public education.”

Several traffic studies are slated for the year. One thing that will be examined, officials said, is the traffic impact of the new UP Health System-Marquette campus along West Baraga Avenue.

South Lakeshore Boulevard and Baraga Avenue will also be monitored once the proposed condos and apartments near the Founders Landing site are open to tenants.

Furthermore, areas with “high traffic crash” rates, such as the intersections at Washington Street and McClellan Avenue, U.S. 41 and McClellan Avenue, and U.S. 41 and Grove Street, will also be monitored.

The committee will work with the Marquette Police Department to find ways to reduce the potential for traffic crashes in those areas, officials said.

The intersection of South Lakeshore Boulevard and Baraga Avenue, as well as the East Washington Street and Lakeshore Boulevard intersection, are two spots van den Ende emphasized in the presentation.

Although incidents are rare at these locations, there is potential for danger.

“Another thing we’re monitoring is Baraga Avenue and South Lakeshore Boulevard,” she said. “When you’re heading down toward the lake, you don’t have a stop sign, but the other sides do. And people get very confused there. We do realize that is a confusing intersection and we’re watching it to see what the impact is there with the future development. We work with the police department really closely, and if they think that something else needs to be done there, then we would do it. We also look at if this intersection is a high-crash intersection, and it’s not currently one that is.

“Another problem area is the crosswalk coming down East Washington (Street) and Lakeshore Boulevard down by the restaurant on the corner. In the summer when pedestrians are crossing there and you’re coming down that hill, there’s a bit of a blind spot there by the restaurant. And that, we feel, is a dangerous area and we have been monitoring that and are trying to think of ways that could be made safer for pedestrians.”

Other goals for the upcoming year include a review of the new street lighting system in all locations around the city, continuing to promote pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle safety, monitoring traffic congestion in relation to condo development and conducting a traffic study of North Lakeshore Boulevard.

Another issue discussed during the meeting was the Fair Avenue sidewalk near Marquette Senior High School and being able to accommodate high school students in the winter. Another school-related item discussed was adding a connecting street between Bothwell Middle School and Superior Hills Elementary School, which are near each other, but require different access routes.

Officials also discussed constructing a sidewalk on O’Dovero Drive near its intersection with McClellan Avenue.

New traffic patterns surrounding the former UPHS site near College Avenue, Magnetic and Seventh streets were also a topic of interest.

Van den Ende said questions or concerns about traffic or parking issues can be directed to the committee or the police department. Meetings of the committee take place at 5 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month via Zoom.

Marquette City Capt. Mike Laurila, who serves as the committee’s staff liaison, can be contacted with any traffic concerns at the police department’s general phone number at 906-228-0400, or via email at mlaurila@marquettemi.gov, she said.

“For the general citizen that wants to contact us, usually they will email officer (Mike) Laurila or (Police Chief Blake) Rieboldt,” she said. “Usually emails come through them, and then we put those on the agenda. A lot of times private citizens will come to our meetings. … People can Zoom in and request to come to our meeting.”

For more information on the city of Marquette Traffic and Parking Advisory Committee, visit www.marquettemi.gov/traffic-parking-advisory-committee/.

Ryan Spitza can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 248. His email address is rspitza@miningjournal.net.