Consider Residents Opinions AGAINST the Proposed ROUNDABOUT in Lake Station - It is UnNeeded here, will Cost too Much $ Locally, Waste Federal $ and Cause Accidents. Roundabouts are Confusing. Let some other Community have it who Needs it more.
The Issue
Lake Station Residents AGAINST Proposed ROUNDABOUT - Lake Station : It's UnNeeded here, will Cause Accidents, Cost too Much $ Locally, & Waste Federal $. Roundabouts are Confusing. Let some other Community have it who Needs it more. Do Not Forget to Leave a Comment along with your Vote in the box to the Right -> (Note: you may have to Change the Language to English - Scroll all the way down to Bottom Right corner) - Above photo = Proposed Roundabout Area Plans. Click on pic to make Bigger. (You may have to Download and Enlarge with % scale settings on your photo viewer to see street names, etc.)
- COST : 10 % Plus - or $ 819,000 to $ 841,000 will be Lake Station's Share of the County income tax - which could be used on other Much More Needed Projects. The Other 90 % or 2.3 Million Dollars will be from a Federal Grant. Many people feel this will be a Waste of Both Federal and Local Dollars - of which could be used for More Needed projects. Not sure if that figure included Buying the Adjacent properties or Not. We don't have room for it without doing so. It would be located at the "Point" - by ABC Store where Central and Fairview are parallel near the Library and City Hall. In addition to the 10 %, they also have to buy several properties to make room for this project - such as the ABC store and possibly the Storage place. But the Majority of our residents do Not want it. Even if it's Free (or Partially Free) from a Government Grant, they are going to be / have been Taking Time, Attention and Man Power Away from other More Serious Problems in their trying to Secure this and to get this going and set up. They Should / Could have taken the Time and Attention spent on this to Look for ways (Grants, Fundraising, whatever) to get the money to have the other Roads, etc. Fixed. Any Jobs created from the construction of this Project will probably Not be Local. And during the Construction phase, it may even hurt Businesses as people will Avoid the area, etc.. Let another Community who needs one of these get the Federal Funding and use Our Portion for more Important Improvements. There are Tons of Possible Sources for Funding for our Needed Projects such as Drainage and Sidewalks throughout the city (found in Only a 5 minute Search) plus Many Comments in this Post Thread in this Group (Read Previous Comments), but it's a "Secret" / Private group - which means It's like a Private Club or Chat, and No One else (non-members ) can Even Find it let alone even See it, nor it's members Nor any of the comments - except Other Members. And you can Not just Join the group - have to be Added by a member, so someone has to Add you to it. If you interested in seeing what we talk about in there - Non-members just Ask me. If anyone else want to Join or knows anyone who wants in - let me know and I'll add you (subject to Approval by Administrator of the Group) :
Lake Station Residents :
https://www.facebook.com/groups/402931813128230/permalink/812964592124948/ http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/lake-station-council-discusses-roundabout-project/article_ddd8ffd5-16fe-5da0-b2fe-3d47b437ad94.html#.VTjwr_2o0yw.facebook and http://indianaeconomicdigest.com/Main.asp?SectionID=31&SubSectionID=66&ArticleID=79333 - TIME / DETOURS: This will be a Nightmare. The project will take nearly 2 to even 3 Years to Complete (2 Construction Periods = April thru October ) during which traffic will be Detoured of which No plans have been made, but either from Grand Blvd. to Marquette East to Pike and then back to Central or via 27th Ave from Grand Blvd. East to one of the North / South streets like Miami, Newton, or one of the other streets. There are aslo Concerns for how would this Affect Emergency Vehicles such as Police, Fire and Ambulance service vehicles having to try to get through the Roundabout - and in a Hurry. Can a Fire Truck even make those Turns ? If traffic is Blocked at the proposed intersection and the EMS has to use Marquette and a Train blocks that at Grand Blvd. and or Putnam St. - there could be a problem. If there is Traffic (even just a few cars) in the Roundabout at the time an Ambulance has to Pass through and No Side / Emergency Lane to pullover in, how are they going to pass ? or if there is an accident IN the Roundabout - then what ? And when there is Construction or Accident and a huge Backup on Interstate 94 and travelers decide to avoid it then heavy traffic builds on Central Ave. - will this Work ? I don't think so.
- NEED : There is Not enough Traffic nor Related Problems in the Area to Justify the Need for such a Costly and Displacing Project. This is Not a Busy City, especially right there. We have No Traffic to Relieve at the place where they want to put it at - there is Not even a Stop Sign nor a Light there now. No Studies have been Done to see if it's even Congested enough for this (It is NOT).
- SAFETY : International research says roundabouts are safer than stoplights and associated “T-bone type accidents”. That’s Not exactly what’s happening here. You are 2.6 times more likely to collide at a roundabout than at a traffic signal. Other types of collisions are common. This is based on 2010 collision rates. A local roundabout will see 1.56 collisions per million entering vehicles; a traffic signal will see 0.61 collisions per million entering vehicles. This finding Confirms that local roundabouts are plagued by fender benders. This analysis by The Record compares 472 roundabout collisions to 4,506 traffic signal collisions based on regional government data. All collisions are on regional roads with similar traffic volumes. The data is for 2006 through 2010. See Link - http://www.therecord.com/news-story/2606479-the-safety-showdown-roundabouts-vs-traffic-lights/ Also, Are roundabouts safer than stoplights ? Crash data from Loveland, Colo., show the number of crashes at three roundabouts were about the same as two signalized intersections with similar traffic patterns : http://www.wyomingnews.com/articles/2010/03/20/news/01top_03-20-10.txt#.VVEsdo5Vikp
- CONFUSION: Drivers get Confused when they are using Two-lane roundabouts. Many people are Not good at driving anyway. We fear it will cause More Accidents - Not Less. These are very Frustrating and Many people will Avoid driving this way all together. I Know I will.
NOTE : The NIRPC (Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission) Council meeting is on Thursday - May 21st, 2015 - at 9 AM. at 6100 South Port Rd. - Portage, Indiana (219) 763-6060. Tim (Owner of Storage) is allowed Five (5) minutes to Speak to the council. Anyone against the roundabout is Welcome to be there. And Mayor Keith Soderquist is on the board of this - so we Need people to Show Up. We will have this Petition to Present to them about Not Wanting the Roundabout. See Link Below for Meeting Event Page and any additional Info about the meeting : https://www.facebook.com/events/106839062982554/
Other Links:
http://jalopnik.com/5318776/five-reasons-american-drivers-will-never-love-roundabouts/
For More Comments from Residents go here :
NWI News group :
https://www.facebook.com/groups/nwinews/permalink/712067262252865/
People for a Better Tomorrow – Lake Station & Beyond :
https://www.facebook.com/groups/PeopleForABetterTomorrow.LakeStationIN/permalink/1066468243368082/
You Know you are from Lake Station:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/181064381961464/permalink/839501052784457/
and :
https://www.facebook.com/groups/181064381961464/permalink/840198739381355/
There are Tons of Comments in this thread in this Group, but it's a "Secret" / Private group - which means It's like a Private Club or Chat, and No One else (non-members ) can Even Find it let alone even See it, nor it's members Nor any of the comments - except Other Members. And you can Not just Join the group - have to be Added by a member, so someone has to Add you to it. If you interested in seeing what we talk about in there - Non-members just Ask me. If anyone else want to Join or knows anyone who wants in - let me know and I'll add you (subject to Approval by Administrator of the Group) :
Lake Station Residents :
https://www.facebook.com/groups/402931813128230/permalink/812964592124948/
This was what was Stated at the Meeting April 23rd and 25th, 2015 -
1. The project is being 90% paid by a Federal Grant of about 2.3 million, the City is Responsible for the other 10% or about $841,000.00 (don't know how those figures compute) but that amount is also a Gift or Grant or Lake Stations share of the County income tax (Economic Development Income Tax Proceeds), so basically this project will Not Cost the City Anything. Lake Station would Not Pursue a Bond Issue for the project, and Property Taxes would Not Increase as a result of the initiative.
2. The project will take nearly 2 - 3 Years to complete (2 construction periods= April thru October ) during which Traffic will be Detoured of which No plans have been made, but either from Grand Blvd. to Marquette East to Pike and then back to Central or via 27th Ave from Grand Blvd. East to one of the North / South streets like Miami, Newton, or one of the other streets.
3. The project is supposed to Ease Traffic Flow and Reduce Hazards from "T-Bone Accidents" and Ease the Traffic into Residential areas.
4. One other main benefit of the project will be Drainage Improvements to stop the floods during heavy rains. In Addition to the roadwork, the project would Add Sidewalks, and Improve Access to a Residential Area and Improve the Area's Appearance. Many details have Not been worked out yet.
Also see: Lake Station City Council Minutes ORD. 2015-07: ESTABLISHING A FUND & BUDGET FOR CENTRAL / FAIRVIEW ROUNDABOUT PROJECT
Sources: http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/lake-station-council-discusses-roundabout-project/article_ddd8ffd5-16fe-5da0-b2fe-3d47b437ad94.html and http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/lake-station-continues-infrastructure-project-discussions/article_6445085e-e00b-5abc-ba25-e6bc03121fca.html and http://indianaeconomicdigest.com/Main.asp?SectionID=31&SubSectionID=66&ArticleID=79333
The Issue
Lake Station Residents AGAINST Proposed ROUNDABOUT - Lake Station : It's UnNeeded here, will Cause Accidents, Cost too Much $ Locally, & Waste Federal $. Roundabouts are Confusing. Let some other Community have it who Needs it more. Do Not Forget to Leave a Comment along with your Vote in the box to the Right -> (Note: you may have to Change the Language to English - Scroll all the way down to Bottom Right corner) - Above photo = Proposed Roundabout Area Plans. Click on pic to make Bigger. (You may have to Download and Enlarge with % scale settings on your photo viewer to see street names, etc.)
- COST : 10 % Plus - or $ 819,000 to $ 841,000 will be Lake Station's Share of the County income tax - which could be used on other Much More Needed Projects. The Other 90 % or 2.3 Million Dollars will be from a Federal Grant. Many people feel this will be a Waste of Both Federal and Local Dollars - of which could be used for More Needed projects. Not sure if that figure included Buying the Adjacent properties or Not. We don't have room for it without doing so. It would be located at the "Point" - by ABC Store where Central and Fairview are parallel near the Library and City Hall. In addition to the 10 %, they also have to buy several properties to make room for this project - such as the ABC store and possibly the Storage place. But the Majority of our residents do Not want it. Even if it's Free (or Partially Free) from a Government Grant, they are going to be / have been Taking Time, Attention and Man Power Away from other More Serious Problems in their trying to Secure this and to get this going and set up. They Should / Could have taken the Time and Attention spent on this to Look for ways (Grants, Fundraising, whatever) to get the money to have the other Roads, etc. Fixed. Any Jobs created from the construction of this Project will probably Not be Local. And during the Construction phase, it may even hurt Businesses as people will Avoid the area, etc.. Let another Community who needs one of these get the Federal Funding and use Our Portion for more Important Improvements. There are Tons of Possible Sources for Funding for our Needed Projects such as Drainage and Sidewalks throughout the city (found in Only a 5 minute Search) plus Many Comments in this Post Thread in this Group (Read Previous Comments), but it's a "Secret" / Private group - which means It's like a Private Club or Chat, and No One else (non-members ) can Even Find it let alone even See it, nor it's members Nor any of the comments - except Other Members. And you can Not just Join the group - have to be Added by a member, so someone has to Add you to it. If you interested in seeing what we talk about in there - Non-members just Ask me. If anyone else want to Join or knows anyone who wants in - let me know and I'll add you (subject to Approval by Administrator of the Group) :
Lake Station Residents :
https://www.facebook.com/groups/402931813128230/permalink/812964592124948/ http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/lake-station-council-discusses-roundabout-project/article_ddd8ffd5-16fe-5da0-b2fe-3d47b437ad94.html#.VTjwr_2o0yw.facebook and http://indianaeconomicdigest.com/Main.asp?SectionID=31&SubSectionID=66&ArticleID=79333 - TIME / DETOURS: This will be a Nightmare. The project will take nearly 2 to even 3 Years to Complete (2 Construction Periods = April thru October ) during which traffic will be Detoured of which No plans have been made, but either from Grand Blvd. to Marquette East to Pike and then back to Central or via 27th Ave from Grand Blvd. East to one of the North / South streets like Miami, Newton, or one of the other streets. There are aslo Concerns for how would this Affect Emergency Vehicles such as Police, Fire and Ambulance service vehicles having to try to get through the Roundabout - and in a Hurry. Can a Fire Truck even make those Turns ? If traffic is Blocked at the proposed intersection and the EMS has to use Marquette and a Train blocks that at Grand Blvd. and or Putnam St. - there could be a problem. If there is Traffic (even just a few cars) in the Roundabout at the time an Ambulance has to Pass through and No Side / Emergency Lane to pullover in, how are they going to pass ? or if there is an accident IN the Roundabout - then what ? And when there is Construction or Accident and a huge Backup on Interstate 94 and travelers decide to avoid it then heavy traffic builds on Central Ave. - will this Work ? I don't think so.
- NEED : There is Not enough Traffic nor Related Problems in the Area to Justify the Need for such a Costly and Displacing Project. This is Not a Busy City, especially right there. We have No Traffic to Relieve at the place where they want to put it at - there is Not even a Stop Sign nor a Light there now. No Studies have been Done to see if it's even Congested enough for this (It is NOT).
- SAFETY : International research says roundabouts are safer than stoplights and associated “T-bone type accidents”. That’s Not exactly what’s happening here. You are 2.6 times more likely to collide at a roundabout than at a traffic signal. Other types of collisions are common. This is based on 2010 collision rates. A local roundabout will see 1.56 collisions per million entering vehicles; a traffic signal will see 0.61 collisions per million entering vehicles. This finding Confirms that local roundabouts are plagued by fender benders. This analysis by The Record compares 472 roundabout collisions to 4,506 traffic signal collisions based on regional government data. All collisions are on regional roads with similar traffic volumes. The data is for 2006 through 2010. See Link - http://www.therecord.com/news-story/2606479-the-safety-showdown-roundabouts-vs-traffic-lights/ Also, Are roundabouts safer than stoplights ? Crash data from Loveland, Colo., show the number of crashes at three roundabouts were about the same as two signalized intersections with similar traffic patterns : http://www.wyomingnews.com/articles/2010/03/20/news/01top_03-20-10.txt#.VVEsdo5Vikp
- CONFUSION: Drivers get Confused when they are using Two-lane roundabouts. Many people are Not good at driving anyway. We fear it will cause More Accidents - Not Less. These are very Frustrating and Many people will Avoid driving this way all together. I Know I will.
NOTE : The NIRPC (Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission) Council meeting is on Thursday - May 21st, 2015 - at 9 AM. at 6100 South Port Rd. - Portage, Indiana (219) 763-6060. Tim (Owner of Storage) is allowed Five (5) minutes to Speak to the council. Anyone against the roundabout is Welcome to be there. And Mayor Keith Soderquist is on the board of this - so we Need people to Show Up. We will have this Petition to Present to them about Not Wanting the Roundabout. See Link Below for Meeting Event Page and any additional Info about the meeting : https://www.facebook.com/events/106839062982554/
Other Links:
http://jalopnik.com/5318776/five-reasons-american-drivers-will-never-love-roundabouts/
For More Comments from Residents go here :
NWI News group :
https://www.facebook.com/groups/nwinews/permalink/712067262252865/
People for a Better Tomorrow – Lake Station & Beyond :
https://www.facebook.com/groups/PeopleForABetterTomorrow.LakeStationIN/permalink/1066468243368082/
You Know you are from Lake Station:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/181064381961464/permalink/839501052784457/
and :
https://www.facebook.com/groups/181064381961464/permalink/840198739381355/
There are Tons of Comments in this thread in this Group, but it's a "Secret" / Private group - which means It's like a Private Club or Chat, and No One else (non-members ) can Even Find it let alone even See it, nor it's members Nor any of the comments - except Other Members. And you can Not just Join the group - have to be Added by a member, so someone has to Add you to it. If you interested in seeing what we talk about in there - Non-members just Ask me. If anyone else want to Join or knows anyone who wants in - let me know and I'll add you (subject to Approval by Administrator of the Group) :
Lake Station Residents :
https://www.facebook.com/groups/402931813128230/permalink/812964592124948/
This was what was Stated at the Meeting April 23rd and 25th, 2015 -
1. The project is being 90% paid by a Federal Grant of about 2.3 million, the City is Responsible for the other 10% or about $841,000.00 (don't know how those figures compute) but that amount is also a Gift or Grant or Lake Stations share of the County income tax (Economic Development Income Tax Proceeds), so basically this project will Not Cost the City Anything. Lake Station would Not Pursue a Bond Issue for the project, and Property Taxes would Not Increase as a result of the initiative.
2. The project will take nearly 2 - 3 Years to complete (2 construction periods= April thru October ) during which Traffic will be Detoured of which No plans have been made, but either from Grand Blvd. to Marquette East to Pike and then back to Central or via 27th Ave from Grand Blvd. East to one of the North / South streets like Miami, Newton, or one of the other streets.
3. The project is supposed to Ease Traffic Flow and Reduce Hazards from "T-Bone Accidents" and Ease the Traffic into Residential areas.
4. One other main benefit of the project will be Drainage Improvements to stop the floods during heavy rains. In Addition to the roadwork, the project would Add Sidewalks, and Improve Access to a Residential Area and Improve the Area's Appearance. Many details have Not been worked out yet.
Also see: Lake Station City Council Minutes ORD. 2015-07: ESTABLISHING A FUND & BUDGET FOR CENTRAL / FAIRVIEW ROUNDABOUT PROJECT
Sources: http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/lake-station-council-discusses-roundabout-project/article_ddd8ffd5-16fe-5da0-b2fe-3d47b437ad94.html and http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/lake-station-continues-infrastructure-project-discussions/article_6445085e-e00b-5abc-ba25-e6bc03121fca.html and http://indianaeconomicdigest.com/Main.asp?SectionID=31&SubSectionID=66&ArticleID=79333
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Petition created on May 11, 2015