PROJECT OVERVIEW
In February 2018, the Oakland Drive Winchell Neighborhood Association (ODWNA) began working with the City of Kalamazoo to create the Imagine Winchell Neighborhood Plan. The following year, ODWNA, The City of Kalamazoo, and Winchell Elementary engaged the school community and neighborhood to create a Safe Routes to School Plan. Through both Plans, residents expressed concerns with (1) high speeds on neighborhood streets, and (2) lack of pedestrian and bicycle connectivity.
The Winchell Avenue Traffic Calming Project will address the issue of speeding traffic as outlined below.
IMMEDIATE ACTION STEPS TO CALM TRAFFIC
Right Size Winchell Avenue - The street features wide lanes, nearly 50% wide than necessary for the number of vehicles that use the street. Right sizing Winchell Avenue will use paint and signage to correct the width of the travel lanes.
Improve Non-Motorized Connectivity - After Winchell Avenue travel lanes are right sized, the new found space is proposed to support cycling, connecting the neighborhood to the bike lanes on Oakland Drive. The presence of marked bike lanes in streets not only provide non-motorized connectivity but have been shown to slow traffic.
FUTURE ACTION STEPS TO INCREASE SAFETY
Safe Routes to Schools - A sidewalk is proposed on the southside of Winchell from Oakland Drive to Rambling Road with crosswalks and updated signage. The project is grant dependent; estimated construction would be 2024.
Additional Intersection Improvements and Traffic Calming - To continue implementing the action steps in the Imagine Winchell Neighborhood Plan, traffic calming will be considered for additional streets, as funding is available. This could also include additional bicycle lanes, crosswalks and intersection safety projects.
THE CONNECTED NEIGHBORHOOD
The Connected Neighborhood is a chapter inside the Imagine Winchell Neighborhood Plan. This project follows the goals and action steps outlined by the neighborhood during the planning process.
INCREASE TRAFFIC SAFETY
Winchell Avenue is approximately 36’ wide in most areas, meaning that each travel lane is 50% larger than necessary to handle the number of vehicles that travel the street. Wider lanes, such as those found on Winchell are typically found on higher speed roads and expressways. When used on roads such as Winchell, they promote driving at higher speeds, giving comfort to drivers who may pay less attention to pedestrians and bicyclists.
IMPROVE NON-MOTORIZED CONNECTIVITY
Winchell Avenue provides connectivity for most of the neighborhood residents to amenities including:
Winchell Elementary School
Western Michigan University
Woods Lake, Asylum Lake Preserve and Kleinstuck Preserve
Woods Lake Park, Glen Park and Lake Park
Third Christian Reformed Church and Phoenix Community Church
Oakland Plaza and Stadium Drive retail
To improve non-motorized users’ access and safety to these amenities, this project will use the remaining space in the street to add a bicycle lane.
INCREASE INTERSECTION SAFETY AND NAVIGABILITY
Winchell Avenue is the key corridor for most of the neighborhood, which means that much of the traffic funnels into the street. To improve overall safety, this project will not only adjust the width of the travel lanes, but consider additional locations for traffic calming at intersections in 2022 and 2023.
Speed Radar Sign installed on Winchell Avenue
New Rambling Road Sidewalk completed in 2021
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AT WORK
WHAT ACTION STEPS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED?
Installation of speed radar signs on Winchell Avenue which alert drivers of their speeds and records that data so projects such as this have support and modifications can be made as necessary
Changed yield signs to stop signs, and added additional stop signs at specific intersection per Safe Routes to Schools
Oakland Drive improvements between Howard Street and Parkview Avenue
New pedestrian crosswalks on Oakland Drive at Maple Street, Chevy Chase Blvd., and an entrance into the Oakwood Plaza
Addition of a pedestrian refuge island at Oakland Drive and Maple Street
Repaired existing sidewalks in Oakland Drive Winchell Neighborhood
New sidewalks on Rambling Road and Waite Avenue
PROJECT INFORMATION
Project Manager:
Dennis Randolph – Traffic Engineer
Nolan Bergstrom – Community Planner
Objectives:
Implement the Imagine Winchell Neighborhood Plan goal of creating a Connected Neighborhood by increasing traffic safety and promoting safer driving, slowing traffic, and making the streets safer for all users.
Improve non-motorized connectivity and safety through the addition of bicycle infrastructure which helps improve non-motorized users’ access and safety.
Put City traffic calming goals into practice. Traffic calming and vehicle speed concerns can be reported with the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety
Enhance safety for children and parents who walk or bike to Winchell Elementary School
Monitor traffic changes to determine their impacts and adjust as necessary
Schedule:
September 2021 – Distribute online survey throughout neighborhood and door-to-door outreach to residents and property owners on Winchell Avenue to discuss project and gather input.
Fall 2021 – Winchell Avenue Implementation
Est. 2024 SRTS: Sidewalk on Winchell & Crosswalks
Partnerships:
Oakland Drive Winchell Neighborhood Association
Staffing:
Public Services
Community Planning and Economic Development
PROJECT MANAGER
Dennis Randolph, Traffic Engineer
Dan Baisden, Neighborhood Activator
CONSISTENT WITH PLANS
Master Plan, Strategic Vision, Oakland Drive Winchell Neighborhood Plan
STRATEGIC VISION GOALS
Connected City, Complete Neighborhood
METRICS
Monitor vehicle speeds both before and after project implementation
Neighborhood survey following project implementation to better understand the safety of driving, walking, and biking on the Winchell
BUDGET
To Be Determined
FUNDING SOURCE
Foundation for Excellence
2022 Traffic Calming Updates
Quarter 1 - SPEED DATA UPDATE
From January 2021 (when these updates were made) until January 2022, traffic speeds decreased on Winchell Avenue by nearly 8% (2.25 mph) on average. Specifically, westbound speeds decreased by 17 % (4.8 mph).
Quarter 2 - SPEED DATA UPDATE
Through June 2022 the average speed along Winchell Avenue has increased by 0.8 mph primarily influenced by higher Eastbound average speeds out of the neighborhood. The overall average speed for Winchell Avenue from January 2022 to June 2022 was 27 mph which is below the before average of 28.5 mph prior to traffic calming efforts.
Quarter 3 - SPEED DATA UPDATE
Through October 2022 the average speed along Winchell Avenue has increased by 0.6 mph (from the before average of 28.5 mph)primarily influenced by higher Eastbound average speeds out of the neighborhood. The overall average speed for Winchell Avenue from January 2022 to October 2022 is 27.5 mph which is below the before average of 28.5 mph prior to traffic calming efforts.
THE SURVEY IS CLOSED
Quarter 1 Survey Results
OPEN-ENDED FEEDBACK SUMMARY
Quarters 2 —> 4 Survey Results
