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After strong public comment, Mobile GR Commission asks city to fund signals at both Adams and Griggs on Kalamazoo Avenue
Summary
Following extensive public comment urging a traffic signal at Kalamazoo and Adams, the Mobile GR Commission voted to send a recommendation to the city commission seeking funding for both Adams and Griggs intersections, acknowledging budget constraints and engineering concerns.
Residents and neighborhood advocates urged the Mobile GR Commission on Tuesday to prioritize a traffic signal at Kalamazoo Avenue and Adams Street, citing safety concerns and crash data. After lengthy public comment and technical briefing, the commission voted to forward a recommendation to the city commission seeking funding for both Adams and Griggs intersections.
Deb Van Dynen, representing Together West Michigan and Oakdale Park Church, said neighborhood outreach and a traffic study support installing a signal at Adams and called on the commission to prioritize the site. "This traffic signal at Adams is based on information from the people who live and work and pay taxes in the Oakdale neighborhood," she said, and noted the city budget currently includes $800,000 for the corridor.
Other commenters described personal safety impacts. Tom Cherino said he no longer rides his bicycle or walks on Adams because of reckless driving. Ted Hartzell pointed to the city's own crash data, saying the 1.1-mile section studied showed 14 crashes at Adams and seven at Griggs over five years, and that Adams had five angle (T-bone) crashes compared with one at Griggs — angle crashes typically produce more serious injuries.
Staff and the traffic operations engineer briefed the commission on the corridor study and budget constraints. The engineer said the roadside safety audit included a walk-through with neighbors and that neither Adams nor Griggs met all national signal warrants; the department is using engineering judgment and crash-type analysis to recommend priorities. The engineer noted Griggs is a designated school crossing and that warrants and exposure to a vulnerable user population shaped the staff recommendation to prioritize Griggs if only limited capital were available.
Commissioner Miguel Cipriano moved that the commission recommend shifting funding from Griggs to Adams; Commissioner Wilson seconded. After further discussion, Cipriano amended his motion to ask the city commission to allocate funds for both Adams and Griggs on Kalamazoo Avenue in the current and future capital planning. The amended recommendation passed by voice vote; commissioners directed staff to prepare a memo from the chair to the city commission transmitting the decision.
Staff clarified the financial context: the city commission previously allocated $600,000 from a Third Ward equity fund toward the Kalamazoo corridor, while a full traffic signal installation was estimated at about $800,000; staff said implementing both intersections at once would exceed available funding (staff cited a combined figure referenced in the study). The department also noted lower‑cost interim options (temporary bollards, movable treatments or a four‑way stop) could be used where appropriate while seeking capital funding.
Next steps: staff will prepare a formal memo from the Mobile GR chair to the city commission transmitting the recommendation to fund both intersections and continue seeking funding sources and design work for Adams to be eligible for a future capital request.
