Traffic Committee

Traffic Committee Agenda DPW Conference Room 4243 Remembrance Rd. NW. Tuesday, December 9, 2025 2:00 PM Members Present: Scott Conners, P.E., City Engineer / Travis Mabry, P.E., Assistant City Engineer / Gary Postema, DPW Director / Keith Mankel, Police Chief / Darrel Schmalzel, City Manager / Melanie Grooters, City Commissioner Agency Representatives: Jason Cole, P.E., MDOT / Matt Van Dyke, Grand Rapids Traffic Safety Discussion Items 1. Kinney / Leonard Traffic Signal Flash Schedule: Mayor Gary Carey, Jr has requested that the nighttime traffic signal flash schedule for Kinney / Leonard and Kinney / Lake Michigan be reviewed. When driving the Kinney corridor early in the morning, the flash schedules for the two signals do not appear to align. 2. Standale Baptist Church to Lake Michigan Left Turn: Commissioner Elaina Huizenga-Chase has requested that the left turn exit from Standale Baptist Church to westbound on Lake Michigan be reviewed. During the recent election, delays for this turning movement were observed. 3. Pannell / Bristol Truck Access: Large semi-trucks cannot make the turn from westbound Pannell to northbound Bristol due to the proximity of the intersection to the railroad bridge. Signage options will be discussed to help reroute large semi-trucks in this area. 4. Kings Row Curve No Parking: The DPW received an anonymous request from a resident who lives in the area to post the 90-degree curve on Kings Row west of the Cummings intersection as No Parking. The resident stated that when vehicles are parked in this area, it is difficult to navigate the curve safely. 5. Maynard / Butterworth Roundabout: Kyle Koestner, 1139 Grand Bluffs, has requested that a roundabout be installed at the Maynard and Butterworth intersection when Butterworth is next resurfaced. Mr. Koestner also requested that the resurfacing of Butterworth occur soon, due to its poor condition. Page 1 of 34 6. Milo Neighborhood Speeding / Stop Sign Running: Paul Jarosz, 3210 Milo, is concerned about speeding vehicles though the Milo Neighborhood - specifically the Bennning to Milo to Mullins corridor by cut-through traffic to avoid the light at Leonard and Remembrance; and the Milo to Mullins corridor by neighborhood traffic. Mr. Jarosz has also observed speeding vehicles on Mullins running the stop sign at the intersection of Milo and Mullins. 7. Ferndale Neighborhood Speeding / Traffic Calming: Erin Windemuller, 4641 Fenwood, is concerned about speeding vehicles on Ferndale and Fenwood. She is particularly concerned for the children that must walk in the road to and from school due to the lack of sidewalk. The worst speeding times relate to the start and end of Covenant Christian High School, and before and after Hope Protestant Reformed Church services. Ms. Windemuller has contacted the school in the past, and they ask the students to slow down, but it has not been effective. She is requesting Police patrols and/or a traffic calming speed hump to address the speeding concern. 8. Traffic Committee Supporting Documents 9. Upcoming Meeting Schedule: March 10, 2025 DPW Conference Room 2:00 p.m June 9, 2025 DPW Conference Room 2:00 p.m September 8, 2025 DPW Conference Room 2:00 p.m December 9, 2025 DPW Conference Room 2:00 p.m. Submitted by: Travis Mabry, P.E., Assistant City Engineer CC: City Commission / Deborah Goudy, City Clerk Page 2 of 34  November 7, 2025 Re: Bristol Avenue & Pannell Avenue Improvements Project No. 210241.01 Mr. Scott Conners, P.E. City of Walker 4243 Remembrance Road NW Walker, Michigan 49534 Dear Mr. Conners, This letter follows up on our discussions regarding truck turning movements at the Bristol/Pannell Intersection. The Bristol/Pannell intersection was opened to traffic on September 30, 2024. Last summer, there was an issue with a semi attempting to make a right turn from Bristol to Pannell while heading to Sparta Sheet Metal. The semi could not navigate the corner and was granted permission to access Sparta Sheet Metal from Three Mile Road to southbound Bristol. The curb and gutter in the south quadrant of the Bristol/Pannell intersection was constructed with a 45-foot radius. This radius accommodates full-sized semis (WB-67) with 53-foot long trailers that frequently make the turn from northbound Bristol to eastbound Pannell. The radius on the north side was constructed with a smaller 35-foot radius due to the existing right-of-way and width of the new railroad bridge. A 35-foot radius is a fairly typical radius at many major intersections in Walker. During the design, we verified the 35-foot radius would accommodate medium-size semis (WB-40) with a 33-foot trailer, as well as smaller box trucks and busses. Bristol and Pannell are classified as minor arterial streets, and design standards require minor arterial intersections be designed at a minimum to accommodate turning movements for medium- size semis. This intersection meets this standard. However, it was not designed to handle the right-turn movements from Bristol to Pannell for the larger WB-63 semi with a 53-foot long trailer. We have enclosed truck turning movements for the following: 1. Full size semi (WB-67 with 53-foot trailer) from northbound Bristol to eastbound Pannell. 2. Medium size semi (WB-40 with 33-foot trailer) from Pannell to northbound Bristol. 3. Medium size semi (WB-47 with 40-foot trailer) from Pannell to northbound Bristol. 4. Full size semi (WB-63 with 53-foot trailer) from Pannell to northbound Bristol. 2020 Monroe Avenue NW | Grand Rapids, MI 49505‐6298 T [616] 363 9801 | F [616] 363 2480 | W mbce.com Page 3 of 34 Mr. Scott Conners, P.E. November 7, 2025 Page 2 You can see from the turning movements that a medium-size semi (WB-40) with a 33-foot trailer can make the turn from Pannell to northbound Bristol. Larger semis (WB-47) with a 40-foot trailer can make the turn if they veer farther south and use the most eastbound lane of Pannell. The intersection would need to be shifted well to the south as shown on Figure 4 to handle larger semis (WB-63) turning from Pannell to northbound Bristol. This would require significant right-of-way acquisition, as well as reconstruction of the intersection farther to the south. Mast Greenhouses uses the area south of Pannell for semi-trailer storage and parking, and it is unlikely that they would agree to sell Walker the additional land required to move the intersection farther south. You will need to reinstate the southbound truck route on Bristol between the Three Mile Road and Vinecroft to allow access to the two industrial parcels north of the railroad. Trucks will still be restricted from using northbound Bristol in this section since they can utilize the existing truck route heading south to Pannell. We have included the two signs that could be placed along Pannell Avenue that could be used to notify truck drivers of the restricted right turns from Pannell to Bristol Avenue. Please call with any questions. Sincerely, Steven C. Groenenboom, P.E. Project Manager Attachments Page 4 of 34  PANNELL ST N MAST GREENHOUSES SPARTA SHEET METAL A CK TR C LE HI BRISTOL AVE E Page 5 of 34 V CRITTER CONTROL CONSPAN BRIDGE TRUCK PATH WB-40 SEMI  PANNELL ST N MAST GREENHOUSES SPARTA SHEET METAL ACK TR E ICL H VE BRISTOL AVE Page 6 of 34 CRITTER CONTROL CONSPAN BRIDGE TRUCK PATH WB-47 SEMI  PANNELL ST N MAST GREENHOUSES SPARTA SHEET METAL K RAC T C LE EHI V BRISTOL AVE Page 7 of 34 CRITTER CONTROL CONSPAN BRIDGE TRUCK PATH WB-67 SEMI  PANNELL ST N MAST GREENHOUSES VE E CL Page 8 of 34 HI BRISTOL AVE A TR CK CONSPAN BRIDGE TRUCK PATH WB-67 SEMI  NO RT TURN Page 9 of 34 FOR TRUCKS OVER 33 FT FOR TRUCKS LONG OVER 33 FT IN LENGTH Page 10 of 34 1 - Kinney / Leonard Traffic Signal Flash Schedule Page 11 of 34 Kinney and Lake Michigan Traffic Signal Corridors Page 12 of 34 2 - Standale Baptist Church to Lake Michigan Left Turn  Aerial View Page 13 of 34 Page 14 of 34 Street View Eastbound Lake Michigan Page 15 of 34 Street View Westbound Lake Michigan Page 16 of 34 3 - Pannell / Bristol Truck Access Page 17 of 34 Truck Route Map Page 18 of 34 Street View Eastbound Pannell at Bristol Railroad Bridge Page 19 of 34 4 - Kings Row Curve No Parking  Aerial View Page 20 of 34 Page 21 of 34 Street View Looking West and North on Kings Row - West of Cummings Page 22 of 34 Street View Looking South and East on Kings Row - West of Cummings Page 23 of 34 5 - Maynard / Butterworth Roundabout  Aerial View Page 24 of 34 Page 25 of 34 Street View Eastbound Butterworth at Maynard Page 26 of 34 Street View Southbound Maynard at Butterworth Page 27 of 34 6 - Milo Neighborhood Speeding / Stop Sign Running Page 28 of 34 Areas of Concern Page 29 of 34 Street View Northbound Mullins at Milo Page 30 of 34 Milo Speed Board Results Page 31 of 34 7 - Ferndale Neighborhood Speeding / Traffic Calming  Aerial View Page 32 of 34 Page 33 of 34 Street View Northbound Ferndale - North of Riverbend Page 34 of 34 Street View Westbound Fenwood - West of Ferndale