Residents gathered in the Taylor Township town hall garage Tuesday evening to hear why an intersection light was removed.
Shawn Rosterfor, of the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), met with Taylor Township trustees and residents to explain why a traffic light above the intersection of routes 31 and 347 was removed in November. Rosterfor also took notes on resident opinions of the light’s removal.
Larry Marshall, of Raymond, said he sent emails and letters in December to the Highway Patrol and ODOT about his concerns. He said a traffic light was installed above the intersection in response to a crash many years ago.
“I’m very upset over the situation, and if we have to wait for another death to in order to put the light back up, then we’re on the wrong side of the ball here.” Marshall said. “There are a lot of people who are very upset over this, and they’re upset because that intersection gets dark.”
The township trustees presented information to those in attendance about what changes had occurred since the light was removed. Using information from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, of the 21 car crashes since Jan. 17, 2013, three have been since the removal of the flashing light.
Rosterfor said the light was removed based on an ODOT study. He said the department intends to put in LED-lit stop signs.
“The overhead flashers in place around the state were put up in the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s and they’re getting to end of life cycle. They are very costly to replace,” Rosterfor said. “This is something new we can put up that might get people’s attention a bit better.”
Rosterfor said ODOT’s study determined removing the light and possibly adding the LED-lit signs was the best approach compared other options. He said ODOT is also studying three other flashing light intersections in the county.
He said rumble strips were considered, but in an area like that intersection, noise would travel far and that “tends to get a lot of complaints” from residents living nearby.
Slower speed limits were another consideration, but he said people will “travel the speed they’re used to traveling.” The ODOT representative explained that if the road had a 55 miles per hour speed limit and it shifted to 45 miles an hour, people wouldn’t yield to the slower speed.
Rosterfor said a four-way stop was also considered, but ODOT determined it would only slow traffic, as drivers aren’t used to making so many stops on that road
Residents were quick to voice their concern, asking if there was a way to reinstall the light above the intersection.
Trustees asked Rosterfor about installing more LED lights, but he said this would be a concern because ODOT didn’t want to “inundate” areas with LEDs and make people complacent to them.
After Rosterfor left, the trustees continued their discussion. Trustee Bob Kroshefsky said if ODOT will not replace the light, the township is considering installing its own lights at the intersection.
“If the flashing light doesn’t go back up, for sure we’re going to put street lights up,” Kroshefsky said. “But, if it does go back up, we may still do something.”
ODOT will give the township a decision about the intersection before the township’s next meeting in April. If the decision is not supported by residents, more meetings will be held until a consensus can be reached.