KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Kalamazoo city officials are pausing their so-called “traffic calming” project after they received a number of complaints from residents.
The pilot project was to install chicanes, or “bump outs” on the city’s Northside that would slow down traffic by making a slight weave to the traffic lanes, but after a demonstration on William Street on Thursday, July 30th, residents said that drivers are still recklessly driving, with some now going through the semi-permanent chicane.
Now, city officials say they’re heading back to the drawing board and they’ll be reaching out to those who attended the kick-off event to form a group and discuss different ways to better slow down traffic.
A written statement from City Planner Christina Anderson reads:
“We heard your concerns on the proposed chicanes and traffic enforcement and as a result we are pausing the plans to install additional chicanes in the Northside. In the coming weeks we will be reaching out to many of you who attended the meeting last week and to neighborhood leaders to form a working group to discuss traffic calming opportunities moving forward. We will work with residents to make sure we understand all the traffic issues in the area. We hope that together we can determine actions that are timely and which best address your needs.”
More information can be found here.
