Manhattan hears Route 52 safety study; steering committee formed for summer engagement

The Village of Manhattan Board on April 21 heard a presentation on a Route 52 corridor safety study funded by a $100,000 Safe Streets and Roads for All grant. Greg House, an urban planner with the Farssworth Group, told trustees the study will combine crash analysis, stakeholder outreach and policy-and-infrastructure recommendations, and aims for formal adoption in late 2026 or early 2027.

"The goal of the study is to provide recommended strategies both policy based and infrastructure based on how to improve the safety along that corridor," House said, describing a three‑phase project of safety analysis, summer engagement and an implementation plan covering funding and timelines. He said the study will focus on all modes of travel but will give extra attention to pedestrian–vehicle interactions along Route 52.

Board members and staff outlined a roughly 12‑member steering committee that will guide the process. The committee list includes Trustee Justin Young as chairman; Mark Nelson from the village development department; the police chief; John Ty from public works; a resident and parent (listed in the record as Liz Lemur); a park-district representative (Ed Lley); Fire Chief Steve Malone; Ashley Hopper from the public library; Barbara Stefen from the school district; chamber board member and business owner Dana Stewart; James Walsh from Manhattan Township; and Beth Sullivan from St. Joseph School. The board emphasized the importance of a diverse steering committee to shape outreach and alternatives.

House said public engagement will include two workshops: an initial summer workshop to gather local perspectives and a later session to present and refine project alternatives. He asked trustees to help publicize the first workshop, which he said they hope to hold in June or July, though no firm date was set.

Trustee Justin Young, whose appointment as the steering committee chair was announced during the meeting, said the group will focus on safety improvements. "I'll make sure that we get this town a little safer," he said.

Next steps: the consultant will convene steering‑committee meetings, hold the first public workshop in summer 2026, and return to the board with recommended alternatives and an implementation plan toward the targeted adoption timeframe.

Source: Presentation by Greg House (Farssworth Group) to the Village of Manhattan Board, April 21, 2026.