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Interchange gridlock slows emergency runs
(by Joan Demirjian - March 26, 2009)
Interchange gridlock slows emergency runs
By JOAN DEMIRJIAN
Bainbridge fire officials are seeking safer access for fire and rescue vehicles traveling through the congested area of the Route 422 freeway and Chillicothe Road (Route 306) when responding to emergency calls.
There are four traffic lights within 500 feet of the interchange, and Fire Chief Brian Phan said motorists often do not pay attention to lights and sirens of fire and rescue vehicles.
"It's a terribly congested area, between Bainbridge-Solon Road and Chagrin Road, especially in the morning and evening rush hours," Mr. Phan said. "It's gridlock. There's four lanes of traffic and no one can get through," he said.
"Everyone is in a hurry, and, with stereo systems, air conditioning, cell phones and Ipods, people might not hear the sirens," he said. "There are near misses all the time."
A remedy the fire department would like to see in place is a pre-emption system, which changes the lights to red when sirens sound on the vehicles, he said. It stops the flow of traffic so fire and rescue vehicles can get through the lights, Mr. Phan said.
Township Trustees are considering use of estate-tax funds for a variety of projects, and the pre-emption system is being discussed as a possibility.
"If we are going to spend this money, we should look at all systems," Trustee Jeffrey Markley said.
"I'd like the trustees board to consider $75,000 to time those lights." It affects the safety of residents, police and fire, Mr. Markley said, and it should be discussed with Ohio Department of Transportation.
Pre-emption systems are in place at the traffic lights at Haskins and Snyder roads at Bainbridge Road. Bainbridge Road is a county road, and the county took care of those lights.
"I would support anything that would improve response times of our safety services," Trustee Matthew Lynch said.
Trustee Linda White said, "I think it's a wonderful idea. It was brought up by the fire chief in the past, and I brought it up when I saw the system work in Solon," she said.
"The fire and rescue vehicles have to weave in and out of traffic, and you don't hear them until they are right on you. It would be a real safety improvement," Ms. White said.
Some cities have the pre-emption systems, but they are in control of their roads. The township can't make those decisions for the state lights.
Assistant Bainbridge Fire Chief William Lovell had previously looked into a pre-emption system for the Route 422 traffic lights.
"ODOT has expressed concerns on timing the lights," Mr. Lovell said. "All the traffic lights are timed and if they are changed it could take up to an hour to get them back in sync after pre-emption."
However, the system would be a benefit to safety responders, he said. "The most dangerous part of responding is going through intersections.
"People think they have the right of way because the light is green, and if they don't hear or see us, they'll go through," Mr. Lovell said.
With the pre-emption system, a sensor near the traffic lights detects the siren and determines from which direction it is approaching and turns the light to green for the safety vehicle, he said.
With lights turning red, people will stop, regardless of whether they hear the sirens, he said. The chance for collisions would be dramatically reduced, he said.
Bainbridge Police Chief James Jimison said the pre-emption system makes it safer. "People don't pay attention to lights and sirens, and if they have the green light, they go right through. If their light is red, they will stop. But you still have to be careful," he said.
Travis Bonnett, ODOT District 12 traffic engineer, said the issue at the Route 422 intersection has come up before. A concern is that it disrupts the timing of the lights for an hour afterward, he said.
Bainbridge would have to come up with a policy on pre-emption and each of the safety vehicles would be equipped with an emitter, he said. "The township would be responsible for maintenance and parts replacement," Mr. Bonnett said.
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