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Traffic staff: Old Decatur drop-off smoother this year; Willow Creek center lane closure helped
Summary
Traffic staff told the Saginaw Traffic Safety Board that off-duty officers and temporary center-lane closures eased school drop-off congestion at Old Decatur and Willow Creek; staff said they will add a crosswalk near the new Tricon development.
Unidentified Speaker 3, reporting to the Saginaw Traffic Safety Board, said traffic flow during ILT (school) drop-off and pick-up on Old Decatur has “been working much better this year,” attributing improvements to the presence of two off-duty officers managing traffic.
The board heard that backups into the Dominion neighborhood have not generated resident complaints this year and that, while left turns from side streets can slow traffic, U-turns at the northbound segment remain legal under traffic law. "If we were to stop Old Decatur traffic to allow left hand lanes to turn, we would actually back Old Decatur up a whole lot more," Unidentified Speaker 3 said.
Willow Creek Elementary was discussed separately. Unidentified Speaker 3 said the school’s two-lane layout created persistent safety concerns because drivers had been using the center turn lane as a through lane. To address that, staff deployed two officers for morning and evening shifts during the first two weeks of school and installed permanent barricades to close the center turn lane during peak times. "We basically shut that lane down, for those two weeks," Unidentified Speaker 3 said, adding that advertising the change on Facebook helped parents adapt.
Board members also discussed the Knowles roundabout closure, which has diverted traffic through the Dominion detour; staff reported the detour reduced peak congestion at Old Decatur. The board was told that Tricon, a new residential development near Willow Creek, now houses children who attend the school and that public works has committed to installing a crosswalk for those students. "It's my understanding that we will get the crosswalk there for them," Unidentified Speaker 3 said.
Board members asked about enforcement following the initial mitigation period; Unidentified Speaker 3 said officers can cite drivers who use the closed center lane after the temporary period ends, and that the city had not received many complaints this year. The board did not take a formal vote on any new school-specific policy during the meeting. The chair listed school-traffic items among future agenda topics for continued monitoring.
