Ann Arbor sees urgent need for pedestrian signal on Huron at YMCA but has no money

The City of Ann Arbor would like to install a pedestrian-activated traffic crosswalk signal on Huron Street to allow safer access across the street for patrons of the YMCA, but there's no money in the budget at the moment.

The proposed City of Ann Arbor draft Capital Improvements Plan for fiscal year 2011 to 2016 has an unfunded urgent priority $100,000 project for 2012 for a HAWK ("High intensity Activated crossWalK") signal at the intersection of Huron with Third and Chapin streets. Besides safer access to the Y, the signal would improve safety for pedestrians going to and from Lurie Terrace.

The project, called TR-AT-10-17, had been scheduled to be funded for 2012 at a cost of $100,000 as part of the 2010-2015 Alternative Transportation portion of the Capital Improvements Project plan. The most recent proposed plan, however, includes no funding for the project.

The video below shows a HAWK signal in place in Portland, Ore., being used to provide pedestrian and bicycle safe crossings on a busy street. Portland was listed as #1 on the 2008 Popular Science America's 50 Greenest Cities, a ranking which had Ann Arbor as 24th.