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Traffic study offers Aurora Road options
(by Sue Reid - February 15, 2012)
Traffic study offers Aurora Road options
By SUE REID
A recent meeting with residents to discuss the results of a traffic study for Aurora Road (Route 43) identified both short- and long-term solutions, according to Solon traffic engineer Kevin Westbrooks.
He reported on the meeting last week to City Council's safety and public properties committee.
About 25 residents from the affected area attended the meeting in which information was presented by Mr. Westbrooks and city Engineer John J. Busch.
Improving local traffic movement throughout Solon on Aurora Road was the goal behind a comprehensive study of the area, Mr. Busch said. The study, which was done by URS engineers at a cost of $25,430 to the city, examined the section between the Solar Shopping Center and Pettibone Road.
Mr. Westbrooks and Mr. Busch said the plans are not to revisit previous studies into widening Aurora Road but to identify and address issues with local traffic.
The main focus is in the area of Portz Parkway, Ayleshire Drive and the Carrington Court senior housing complex.
There currently are no traffic lights at those intersections. As a result, major complaints from residents focus on the steady stream of eastbound traffic toward Liberty Road, making it difficult to turn onto Aurora Road heading west. Residents have complained of being "trapped" by traffic backups that block the intersections and the view of the drivers.
Mr. Westbrooks said the comprehensive study showed some ideas for improvements, both short term and long term. The city needs to decide what the priorities are, he said, whether it's moving traffic better on Aurora Road or helping residents get in and out of subdivisions.
Short-term solutions include more striping of lanes, including designated lanes at Carrington Court, and prohibiting left turns from Portz Parkway onto Aurora Road westbound.
"That's the most difficult move to make out of there and most dangerous move," Mr. Westbrooks said. "The plan would be to eliminate the safety aspect of that left turn to give another option to come out onto SOM." Portz Parkway connects between Aurora Road and SOM Center Road (Route 91).
Police Chief Christopher P. Viland said his department has support the left-turn ban there.
Long-term solutions, which would be more expensive, involve adding turn lanes at Liberty Road or the possibility of changing Aurora Road from two lanes to three, Mr. Westbrooks said.
Roundabouts are another option, he said. "At the right intersection, it's a good solution." A double-lane roundabout would be needed, he said.
Councilman Edward H. Kraus said the engineers did a great job of explaining the complexities of the issue.
"It's very challenging and difficult to find the proper solutions," Councilman Richard A. Bell said, and it's good to prioritize exactly what problem the city is attempting to solve.
He said the study does not say what the final recommendations should be. "We are in the process of honing in on that," Mr. Bell said.
The city has done a number of things in terms of looking at the area in recent years. A traffic computer simulation was done at Portz Parkway and Aurora Road, and the previous traffic engineer did a study there as well.
The city has modified timing of the light at Liberty and Aurora roads in an effort to provide additional traffic gaps for the residents making left turns out of their developments.
Mr. Busch said a signal is warranted at the Aurora Road and Portz Parkway, but the city had put that on hold due to the Carrington Court development, as well as the Pettibone Road reconstruction.
"That might be one of the things re-evaluated with the work we are doing now," Mr. Busch said. "Those plans have been designed, and the warrant is still there."
The committee is to discuss the matter further at its next meeting.
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