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Medina committee debates $25,000 OHM study and traffic fixes after dozens of square accidents
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Summary
Councilors reviewed a proposed $25,000 OHM study of Medina Square to address pedestrian–vehicle conflicts and parking, discussed signal upgrades and federal grant options, and moved to refer the consultant proposal to the finance committee (voice vote; transcript tally unclear).
The committee considered a $25,000 proposal from OHM for a comprehensive study of Medina Square, prompted by a recent run of accidents and growing pedestrian traffic downtown.
Council President John said dozens of accidents have occurred in the square area over the past year and urged an expert review. "We have been so successful in having the square revitalized that we have so much pedestrian traffic. Now we have an issue there, and the issue is, well, how do we address that issue?" John said, noting roughly 41–45 accidents in the last 14–15 months.
Members discussed parking conflicts, delivery zones, handicap parking and whether mid-block crosswalks and bump-outs are still appropriate. Bill said the city’s success in revitalizing the square has increased traffic and argued OHM’s local experience made the $25,000 study a reasonable starting point.
The mayor’s office and administration representatives expressed frustration at not being consulted earlier and urged a collaborative approach with the historic parking district committee and administration staff to define the consultant scope.
Bill moved to send the OHM proposal to the finance committee. "I make a motion that we, pass this on finance," he said; the motion was seconded. The transcript records a chair call for "all in favor" and a voice vote, but the individual tallies in the recorded transcript are unclear. The committee scheduled follow-up and asked staff to prepare a scope and list of issues for any consultant to address.
Staff also flagged signal and timing limitations in the square: some signal equipment dates to the 2007–2008 era and ODOT has done prior retiming work. Staff recommended a purpose-and-needs study to pursue federal funding for a citywide signal upgrade and said short-term repairs to loop detectors and maintenance of push-button crosswalk functionality could provide interim improvements.
A Main Street Medina representative offered help pursuing a USDOT "Safe Streets and Roads for All" grant and said a local contact could brief the committee about eligibility and funding amounts at an upcoming meeting. "There is a safe streets and roads for all grant ... due on, June 26 this year," the representative said, offering to bring a resource to the next meeting.
Next steps: staff will provide a scope and cost estimates for consultant work, gather administration input, and return to the committee and finance committee with recommendations.
