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Council hears Market Street warrant study; members press for safety outreach after 10 intersections flagged for removal
Summary
A city staff presentation said 10 Market Street/Indianola intersections do not meet signal warrants and are slated for removal under Ohio standards; council members raised safety concerns near schools and asked for public outreach and further explanation from ODOT or regional partners.
City staff told Youngstown City Council on Dec. 3 that a traffic-signal warrant study covering Market Street and the Indianola corridor found 10 intersections do not meet signal warrants under the Ohio Manual Uniform Traffic Control Devices, and those intersections are proposed for removal as the project moves to Stage 3 submittal to the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT).
"THE CITY OF YOUNGSTOWN HAS SPENT IN EXCESS OF $600,000 IN ENGINEERING FEES ON THIS PROJECT," said Mr. Shasho, who presented the corridor analysis and described the traffic counts and warrant methodology used by the consultants. He told council federal funding restrictions mean the city cannot use the federal dollars to make improvements at intersections that do not meet required warrants.
"We cannot use any of this federal money on these intersections if we do not follow the warrants," Mr. Shasho said, stressing the study followed professional traffic-engineering standards.
Councilman Julius Oliver pressed for clarification on whether removal is mandatory and said he has received calls from concerned residents and from Valley Christian, which is moving into a former school site. "There are concerns about speeding, children crossing the streets soon and this would be a detrimental environment to remove these lights," Oliver said.
Councilwoman Anita Davis questioned whether pedestrian counts had been considered and urged caution: "What is the value of a life and decide if we can afford to do this," she said, noting nearby schools and developments in her ward.
Councilman Mike Ray suggested that a public education component and an outside presentation could help residents understand the data and the standards: he recommended bringing representatives from ODOT or Eastgate to explain the warrant process and the study's results.
Mr. Shasho responded that warrant studies include pedestrian counts but the tested intersections did not meet pedestrian-warrant thresholds and that counts were verified twice for accuracy. The corridor study listed intersections that did not meet warrants, including Market Street at Myrtle, Delason, West Warren, Hylda, Auburndale and various Indianola cross streets.
The presentation leaves the city's next procedural step as a Stage 3 submittal to ODOT; council members requested further outreach and explanation for constituents before final implementation decisions are made.
The meeting adjourned after members registered their concerns and a motion to adjourn carried.
