Council deadlocks on removal of 40th Street midblock crosswalk after hourslong debate; approves other traffic measures

Holland City Council considered a staff recommendation to remove the midblock pedestrian crossing on 40th Street near Holland Christian's athletic fields after transportation staff said the facility does not meet current standards and would require substantial work to become ADA-compliant.

Brian White, the city's transportation director, told council the crosswalk lacks several required elements, pointing to missing pavement markings, inadequately placed street lighting and a north-side ramp with an 11–12% grade — above the ADA guideline maximum of about 8.3%. White also said the traffic committee’s recommendation to remove the crossing was driven by low observed pedestrian volumes (seven and six crossings in two morning counts) and engineering guidance that favors crossings at stop-controlled intersections. “The recommendation from the traffic committee is to remove it,” White said.

Supporters of keeping the crossing, including multiple neighbors and parents, told council the midblock route is convenient, used for decades and especially important for people with limited mobility. “Please keep the 40th Street crossing with consistent enhanced signage,” Nancy Honor said during public comment. Russ Burley, who lives adjacent to the crossing, described repeatedly helping children across the road because drivers often do not stop: “I've gotten up out of my lawn chair and gone out just to help children cross the stop because people won't stop for them no matter how long they wait.”

Councilmembers split over whether to remove the crossing or require staff to pursue upgrades. After extended public comment and debate about safety, walkability and school access, a motion to accept staff’s recommendation to remove the crosswalk received three affirmative votes (Councilmembers Soul, Rowan and Mayor Box) and three negative votes (Councilmembers Shay, Bird and Raymond) and therefore failed to achieve the five votes required for council enactment. An earlier procedural motion to postpone the item and direct staff to return with alternatives likewise failed to win a majority.

City staff provided detail about alternatives should the council decide to keep the crossing: bringing the crossing up to current standards would involve restoring the north ramp to meet ADA slope limits, adding pavement markings and signs, and improving lighting — work that would be more than a simple striping project. Staff also showed schematic travel-distance comparisons indicating pedestrians would need roughly 400–500 additional feet of travel to use the side-street crossings at Ottawa Avenue or Grass to reach the same destinations if the midblock crossing were removed.

Council acted on two related traffic items during the same meeting. The council voted to postpone an all-way stop proposal at 16th Street and Ottawa Avenue to allow transportation staff to work with West Michigan Uniform (the business that raised operational concerns about truck unloading). The motion to postpone was approved by roll call. Council also approved a parking restriction in the alley adjacent to the Ninth Street parking deck to facilitate winter snow removal and year-round delivery truck maneuvers; that measure passed by unanimous roll call.

What’s next: Because the council did not adopt a formal resolution to remove the 40th Street crosswalk, the crossing remains in place for now. Staff said they will return to council with options if directed to do so; if the council instead formally adopts staff’s removal recommendation at a future meeting it would trigger removal work (curb/ramp modifications, signage removal) and public notifications. The council signaled it may revisit the topic at a study session to consider both infrastructure upgrades and education or enforcement measures for school users.