The Ottawa County Road Commission recently hosted a successful lunch-and-learn event this past July, which brought together staff from the Road Commission and local elected state lawmakers.
The hour-long session aimed to enhance communication and understanding of transportation issues within the community.
During the event, the Road Commission staff highlighted their ongoing road maintenance projects, discussed issues related to road funding and road maintenance, as well as future initiatives and road funding needs.
The session also allowed staff and locally elected state lawmakers to discuss current legislative initiatives related to transportation and infrastructure funding. Legislators received valuable feedback on the impact of state policies on local road maintenance.
Road Commission staff appreciates any opportunity to meet with locally elected officials to discuss road maintenance projects, road funding, and other transportation priorities.
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Ottawa County Public Utilities Director Pat Staskiewicz, P.E., was recently reappointed to the Michigan Water Use Advisory Council.
Pat was reappointed to represent municipal water suppliers, for a term commencing July 27, 2023, and expiring February 26, 2027.
The Water Use Advisory Council advises the Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Natural Resources, and Department of Agriculture and Rural Development on the State’s Water Use Program, which includes the following major elements: Great Lakes Compact, water withdrawal, and water use conflict.
Pat has over 30 years of experience in municipal drinking water and wastewater systems. He served as the Past-Director of the Michigan Section, American Water Works Association (AWWA) and is also a Past-Vice-President of AWWA.
Pat holds a Professional Engineer license in the state of Michigan plus Waterworks System Operator licenses from EGLE: S-1 (water distribution), D-2 (limited treatment).
Will a stop sign slow down traffic on your street?
A stop sign placed at the right place and under the right conditions, tells drivers and pedestrians who has the right of way.
Stop signs installed at the wrong place for the wrong purpose usually create more problems than they solve.
One common misuse of stop signs is to arbitrarily interrupt traffic, either by causing traffic to stop or by causing such an inconvenience that motorists are forced to use other routes.
Traffic studies indicate that there is a high incidence of intentional violations where stop signs are installed as "nuisances" or "speed breakers." The studies also show that drivers increase their speeds between unwarranted stop signs to make up for the lost time. Based on these studies and the increased speeds of drivers on streets with unwarranted stop signs, the Michigan Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MMUTCD) clearly states that "Stop signs shall not be used for speed control."
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Can a “children at play” sign be placed on your street?
At first consideration, it might seem that a “children at play” sign would provide some safety for youngsters playing in a neighborhood. Unfortunately, this type of sign encourages parents to believe that children have an added degree of protection, which the signs do not and cannot provide.
Studies have shown there is no evidence that this type of sign reduces vehicle speeds or collisions with pedestrians. Obviously, children should not be encouraged to play in the roadway. In contrast, the "children at play" sign suggests that it is acceptable to do so.
Federal standards discourage the use of this sign.
Additionally, this sign is not recognized in Michigan’s traffic sign manuals. As an alternative, the Road Commission strives to remove vision obstructions to provide a safe roadway for both pedestrians and motorists.
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How effective are cross traffic warning signs?
Cross traffic control signs and devices at intersections warn drivers that not all approaching vehicles are required to stop. Sometimes drivers on the "minor" roadway assume that drivers must also stop on the "major" roadway.
While a number of factors may cause the resulting "right-angle" collisions, crash data show that some locations reported reduced accident frequency after installing cross traffic warning signs. Other locations reported no significant change. These signs are not standardized and are used inconsistently. Increasing the use of cross traffic signs may cause drivers to expect them and to assume that in their absence all traffic must stop. The research suggested that the signs would be helpful in locations where driver perceptions are a major factor in crashes and/or where rights-of-way have changed.
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There are still several more months of road construction ahead, and drivers are reminded to continue to pay attention in work zones and watch for Road Commission vehicles along the side of the road.
We want to make sure our crews make it home safe at the end of the day. To help do your part to keep work zones safe, the following tips are recommended:
Expect Changes: Normal speed limits may be reduced, traffic lanes may change, and workers, vehicles, or equipment may enter without warning.
Minimize Distractions: Dedicate your full attention to the road. Do not use your phone or other handheld device. It is against the law.
Obey Workers & Signs: Crews know what is best for moving traffic safely in work zones. Follow all signs and instructions to merge, slow down, or stop.
Don't Speed/Tailgate: Fines double for speeding in a Michigan work zone, so slow down. Keep a safe distance between you and the vehicle ahead of you.
Pay Attention: Vehicles may slow, stop, or change lanes unexpectedly in a work zone. Watch for brake lights and be prepared to react to traffic.
Be Patient & Calm: Work zones are not there to inconvenience you. They are necessary to improve our roads and make your future drive better.
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School will soon be back in session for the 2023-24 school year, and the Ottawa County Road Commission wants interested classrooms to help decorate plows!
Teachers and school administrators in Ottawa County who think their classrooms have what it takes to design a creative plow for our trucks are encouraged to get ahold of us!
Painted plows are frequently featured in community events such as parades, touch-a-truck events, school visits and more, in addition to being seen out on the road each winter!
Those who are interested are asked to contact OCRC Communications Administrator Alex Doty for more information.
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