Kalamazoo commissioners pause MDOT Safe Routes contract after residents raise safety, sightline and outreach concerns

Kalamazoo City Commissioners on Monday did not approve a resolution to enter MDOT contract No. 25‑5691 for Winchell Avenue and Howard Street Safe Routes to School construction after residents and several commissioners pressed staff for more outreach and design options.

Director of Public Services (Director Baker) told the commission the project design was completed in 2023 and that MDOT has bid the work; the staff recommendation before the commission was to move forward with construction. Baker said the work covers sidewalk and crossing improvements at two school routes (Windchill Elementary and Maple Street Magnet School), and that, if approved, construction would begin in fall 2026 and continue through 2027. He said the design team moved a proposed pedestrian refuge island and crosswalk west of the Merrill intersection based on engineering considerations and turning‑movement constraints.

Several residents from the Vine and Winchell neighborhoods urged more careful review of the proposed Howard/Merrill crossing location, saying the mid‑block placement shortens drivers’ sightlines, places sidewalks on private property, and will confuse habitual pedestrian routes. “This is a very dangerous intersection that we’ve been trying since 2017 to work on,” said Steve Walsh (Vine resident). Margaret Wilson, another Vine resident, said moving the crossing away from the familiar intersection risks displacing habitual pedestrian patterns and highlighted uneven snow‑clearing on privately owned sidewalks.

Other speakers supported the Windchill sidewalk portion of the project as a clear safety improvement and urged the commission not to jeopardize federal grant dollars. Rob McFadden (Winchell resident) said the project would unlock federal funding and “provide that missing safe path that allows every family on the South Side to finally access the crossing guard.”

Commissioners asked whether the commission could alter MDOT’s design at this stage, how much the city could adjust signage, lighting and refuge‑island placement, and whether postponing would risk the grant. Planner Anderson and Director Baker said outreach in 2023 was largely one‑on‑one with neighbors and the schools rather than large public meetings or mailings, and that delays caused by SHPO and pandemic timing pushed construction schedules. Staff said some schedule flexibility exists and pledged to contact MDOT promptly to learn any hard deadlines.

After more than an hour of back‑and‑forth, a motion to approve the MDOT contract was made and seconded, but the mover and supporter withdrew the motion following further discussion and repeated requests from commissioners that staff return with visuals, engagement notes and potential alternatives. Assistant City Attorney and staff confirmed that if the commission did not act the item could be brought back; staff committed to return with more information and to target the March 16 meeting for reconsideration.

The commission did not take a final vote on the contract Monday. Staff said construction — if approved later — would not begin until fall 2026 and the Howard Street lane‑reduction project tied to broader calming work is currently budgeted for 2028 in the city’s CIP.

What’s next: staff will contact MDOT to confirm any timeline constraints, prepare visual materials and outreach options, and return with a revised recommendation and additional engagement materials (staff said March 16 was a target date to return to the commission).