KALAMAZOO, MI — When a vehicle sped through a traffic “bump out” at 48 miles per hour during a demonstration meant to show how the new devices were supposed to calm traffic, it joined a list of reasons the city should change its plans, City of Kalamazoo Public Services Director James Baker said.
Now, the city is working on a plan to install speed bumps instead, Baker said.
“It was very clearly demonstrated that the chicanes may not be the right solution for this area,” Baker said on Aug. 7, the day after the city announced that it would pause plans for construction of more chicanes or bump outs throughout the Northside neighborhood.
Related: Kalamazoo pauses installation of ‘bump outs’ in streets after complaints
Chicanes are marked-off areas extending from the curb that create a physical barrier for traffic to navigate through, placed in a neighborhood with a 25 mph speed limit. By design, chicanes encourage drivers to slow down when going through them, the city said.
The speeder passed the one chicane the city installed on William Street, near LaCrone Park, during a demonstration on Thursday, July 30, Baker said. The city received criticism of the devices during the event, and several people also called in to the Aug. 3 Kalamazoo City Commission meeting to complain about the chicanes.
Serena Smith, who lives within view of the one chicane, said she understands the intent of the devices, but said it simply does not work for crazy drivers in the neighborhood.
“This is a racetrack,” she said.
Smith believes speeding drivers treat the LED signs that display their speed like a game, to see what their speed is measured at, rather than slowing down as a result.
The chicane is not helping the speeding problem, she said, and it may be making the situation worse when drivers zigzag around them.
Related: Kalamazoo installs ‘bump outs’ in streets to slow neighborhood traffic
Her children play outside and she worries about the traffic. Smith wants a speed bump instead.
“They can bring the tar,” Smith said. “We can lay it down ourselves.”
In response to the criticism and other indications the chicanes may not be the right fit for addressing the neighborhood’s speeding problem, the city has pivoted, and now is working on plans to install some speed bumps, Baker said.
“We’re kind of working toward being able to put speed bumps on Elizabeth (Street), and I think that’s the direction we’re going to be going now,” he said.
The city will install one or two speed bumps first and evaluate how it goes, Baker said.
The goal of the traffic calming chicanes, Baker said, was to put something in place this summer. The city is still working toward that goal to do something about the issue this summer, Baker said, through installation of speed bumps or other measures. The city is also exploring if any adjustments can be made to make the chicanes more effective, he said.
Baker said speed bumps, like the ones installed in the city currently such as on Maple Street and elsewhere, cost about $70,000. Baker said the cost could be reduced if city crews can pave the speed bumps themselves, and they are exploring that option. Crews need training to do that, he said.
Another resident, Jordan Smith, said he has seen speeding cars in the neighborhood. Slowing down traffic would help with neighborhood safety, Smith said. He is happy to see the city working to solve the issue, but he does not know if chicanes are the right solution.
“People don’t listen,” Smith said, when asked if drivers heed the new traffic calming devices.
Related: Kalamazoo will show off new street ‘bump-outs’ meant to calm traffic
Baker said the July 30 community meeting was incredibly successful, and that city officials are happy to receive the input from citizens. The city installed only one chicane, he said, so officials could gather input before proceeding with the original plan to put chicanes throughout the Northside neighborhood.
“We got pretty overwhelming feedback that it wasn’t going to be the right application for what our homeowners, property owners and residents of the Northside neighborhood were experiencing,” Baker said.
Restrictions related to COVID-19 has created challenges for the city in the process of gathering input from citizens, he said.
The existing chicane on William Street will remain in place, Baker said, though the city is considering making adjustments to it.
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