Warren Avenue, an eight-lane median-divided road with high volumes of vehicle traffic, is arguably the most important - and hazardous - thoroughfare dividing the Wayne State University campus. When classes are in session, intersections on Warren between Woodward and the Lodge Expressway have some of the highest pedestrian volumes anywhere in Detroit.

Unfortunately, the "walk" phase of the traffic signals at Warren Avenue intersections near campus is not properly timed to allow pedestrians to cross the road safely. Warren Avenue is approximately 100 feet in width. The pedestrian countdown phase of the signal is currently set at only 15 seconds. Given that the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices recommends estimating pedestrian speeds at 4 feet per second (at most), this countdown phase is inadequate to allow pedestrians to cross Warren in a single phase.

This creates an extremely dangerous situation, where many pedestrians are attempting to finish crossing Warren as the light for vehicle traffic on Warren turns green.

In order to give pedestrians adequate time to cross Warren, and prevent a tragedy from occurring, we urge the Traffic Engineering Division of the Detroit Department of Public Works to reexamine the signals along Warren near the Wayne State campus, and adjust the timing of the traffic signals so that pedestrians in this very high-volume location can cross Warren safely.