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Council hears update on downtown smart signals, no‑right‑on‑red policy and parking-permit revamp
Summary
Village staff briefed council on the traffic signal modernization that will remove time-windowed no‑right‑on‑red restrictions, an updated parking‑permit program with color-coded stickers, and plans to restrict overnight parking near the Eisner Center before Denison University returns.
Village staff briefed the Granville Village Council on a series of traffic and parking updates tied to a downtown signalization project and operational changes to parking permits.
Staff said the new “smart” traffic signals will remove the existing time window on some no‑right‑on‑red restrictions in downtown areas and allow signals to detect when cross‑streets are empty and change to green for those movements. The change is intended to reduce unnecessary waiting on side streets while maintaining safety; staff and the engineer noted the system retains the ability to program brief delays before a green to provide pedestrian protection, a practice established after a past serious accident.
Councilors discussed history: staff said the existing no‑right‑on‑red restrictions date to about 1998 and were adopted following a serious accident. Bump‑outs already installed downtown were credited with improving pedestrian crossing times even before the smart signals are active. Staff cautioned that removing the time window will require a code amendment and a future council action to change signage and local ordinance language.
On parking, staff previewed a revised parking‑permit program that keeps the existing zones but moves to color‑coded stickers and centralized administration by a single staff member (Officer Pope). The program will add some no‑overnight parking near the Eisner Center; staff said they hope to implement the parking permit updates and the Eisner Center overnight restrictions before Denison University’s fall term begins. Staff said they would bring an executive summary of the final program to council and noted they had learned lessons from last year’s effort.
Staff also said the flashing‑yellow signals downtown will be eliminated under the new system and that the smart signals will be integrated with pedestrian “walk/no‑walk” heads. Final programming will retain the ability to delay green for turning traffic briefly when pedestrian safety requires it.
Councilors asked follow‑up questions about timing and engineering controls; staff said they will return with the required ordinance amendments and confirm programming details with the signal engineer.
