Shelby Township enhances pedestrian safety, unveils crosswalks as students return to school
As students gear up to return to school and our sidewalks become bustling thoroughfares once again, Shelby Township is proud to unveil a significant initiative to make their journeys safer.
The township introduced new pedestrian crosswalks at critical intersections, enhancing safety for students, pedestrians and drivers on 24 Mile Road, 25 Mile Road, 22 Mile Road and 21 Mile Road.
The Shelby Township Sidewalk Committee and Township Trustee Lisa Casali secured a $291,219 Transportation Alternatives Program grant from the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments for the project, and the township provided a 20 percent match, totaling approximately $72,000.
As defined by SEMCOG, TAP focuses on transportation-related improvements to roadways, local streets and corridors. Projects emphasize enhanced bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure such as pathways, bike lanes, sidewalks and pedestrian crossings to improve transportation options while ensuring safety.
The new crosswalk projects include:
• 25 Mile Road Crosswalk: This crosswalk accesses Eisenhower High School and Malow Junior High School at the traffic signal at Eisenhower High School's Performing Arts Center entrance, offering safe access from the neighborhoods north of 25 Mile Road.
• 24 Mile Road Crosswalk at Wolf Drive: This crosswalk provides safe passage into Mae Stecker Park, the municipal campus and the Shelby Township Library. It plays a crucial role in enhancing connectivity to community assets.
• 21 Mile and 22 Mile Road Crosswalks: Two crosswalks each on 21 Mile and 22 Mile roads improve safe access to the pedestrian bridges over the M-53 Expressway, which open River Bends Park and Whispering Woods Park to homes east of the M-53 Expressway.
"As an avid cyclist and grandparent, I know how frustrating it can be to run into areas that you do not feel safe traveling,” Casali said. “By providing these safe crossings to our parks and schools, we ensure more people have access to our township, and more people can freely travel by bike or foot without compromising safety."
The new crossings differ from traditional, signaled crosswalks at major intersections. When initiated by a pedestrian seeking to cross, the new crosswalk lights illuminate with white, rapid and intermittent flashes. This lighting pattern notifies drivers approaching the crosswalk and signals the presence of a potential pedestrian crossing.
The flashing light does not signify a red stop signal for vehicles, though. It serves as a heightened awareness signal for drivers, and motor vehicle operators are encouraged to proceed through the signal with caution. Pedestrians should exercise their right to cross only when traffic conditions permit, ensuring a safe crossing.
The primary objective of the upgraded crosswalks is to enhance driver awareness regarding the potential presence of pedestrians seeking to cross the roadway. This approach aims to reduce pedestrian-related incidents and improve safety for all road users.
"There are three things that bring families into our township, and those are public safety, the schools and our parks,” Township Supervisor Rick Stathakis said. “That is what makes this award so important. We can coordinate these three prime assets to serve more residents and families safely."
Prior initiatives to build upon pedestrian safety include more than 6,000 feet of sidewalks near Switzer Elementary and the Macomb Orchard Trail in 2019 and reconstructed wetland crossings on the Shelby Metro Bike Trail in 2019.
Additionally, the township introduced the Shelby Township Connector trail this year, which serves as a local route on the statewide Iron Belle Trail. This pathway gives 4,500 homes and 15,000 residents pedestrian access to River Bends Park and gives 7,350 homes and 24,300 residents access to the Iron Belle Trail.
"The Township Board made a commitment to make our township safer and more walkable, and I am extremely proud to help lead this effort,” Casali said. “We're not done, but you can see our progress by the number of people who safely travel in and around our township. It's truly inspiring."
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