Title
Resolution Directing the City Administrator to Review the Ann Arbor Crosswalk Ordinance (Section 10:148 of Ann Arbor City Code)
Body
Whereas, On June 15, 2009, the Ann Arbor City Council passed Resolution 09-0543 acknowledging that educating pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists is an essential part of making sure streets, sidewalks, crosswalks and bicycle lanes are used safely and authorizing up to $10,000 for development and implementation of a non-motorized safety education outreach program;
Whereas, On July 19, 2010, the Ann Arbor City Council adopted an ordinance to amend Section 10:148 of Chapter 126 (Traffic), Title X of the Code of the City of Ann Arbor to require that “[w]hen traffic-control signals are not in place or are not in operation, the driver of a vehicle shall stop and yield the right-of-way to every pedestrian approaching or within a crosswalk.”
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor adopted the Michigan Uniform Traffic Code (UTC), effective January 13, 2011,“to the extent not in conflict with existing or future ordinances and regulations of the City” and further providing that “[t]he City's adoption by reference of the UTC does not simultaneously prohibit the existence, addition, and adoption of further ordinances or regulations, provided such ordinances or regulations do not conflict with State law;”
Whereas, On December 19, 2011, the Ann Arbor City Council amended Section 10:148 of Chapter 126 (Traffic), Title X of the Code of the City of Ann Arbor to require that “[w]hen traffic-control signals are not in place or are not in operation, the driver of a vehicle shall stop before entering a crosswalk and yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian stopped at the curb, curb line or ramp leading to a crosswalk and to every pedestrian within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is on the half of the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger;”
Whereas, Vehicle-pedestrian crashes have continued to occur since the December 19, 2011 amendment of Section 10:148,
Whereas, On December 2, 2013, the Ann Arbor City Council voted 6-4 to eliminate the requirement for motorists to stop for pedestrians “stopped at the curb, curb line or ramp leading to a crosswalk,” which action was vetoed by the Mayor; and
Whereas, Several members of the public have raised concerns about the unique nature of the City’s crosswalk ordinance;
Whereas, An eight-day enforcement in August 2017, officers stopped 377 drivers, gave out 316 failure to yield tickets, six tickets for various other offenses and issued 56 warnings;
Whereas, The City has removed curb ramps from locations including, but not limited to, the intersections of southwest Pauline & Van Dusen facing north; southwest Pauline & Birk facing north; southeast Pauline & Birk facing north; southeast Seventh & Madison facing west; southeast Seventh & Jefferson facing west; northeast Seventh & Jefferson facing west; northeast Liberty & Mulholland facing south; southwest Liberty & Fifth facing north; southeast Liberty & Fifth facing north; northeast Huron & Ninth facing south; southeast Huron & Ninth facing north; northeast Huron & Revena facing south; southeast Huron & Revena facing north; northeast Russell & Redeemer facing south; southeast Russell & Redeemer facing north; southeast Sherwood & Arbordale facing north; northeast Stadium & Edgewood facing south; southeast Stadium & Edgewood facing north; northwest Kingsley & State facing east; southeast Kingsley & State facing west;
RESOLVED, That the Ann Arbor City Council directs the City Administrator to take the following actions in reviewing Section 10:148 of Chapter 126 of Title X of the Code of the City of Ann Arbor:
• Provide an engineering review of the Section 10:148 of City Code by an appropriately credentialed professional engineer;
• Review the applicable definition of a crosswalk;
• Review and summarize the infrastructure added since the adoption of the 2010 ordinance and its appropriateness;
• Provide the rationale for the recent removal of curb ramps;
• Present the above items to the City’s Transportation Commission for review and policy recommendations;
• Present the City’s Transportation Commission’s recommendations to the Council’s Policy Agenda Committee; and
RESOLVED, That the Ann Arbor City Council refers the task of promoting a uniform set of State laws governing pedestrian and crosswalks for all Michigan communities to the Council Policy Agenda Committee; and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator present the results of the above efforts to the full City Council on or before the Council’s December 18, 2017 meeting.
As Amended and Approved by Ann Arbor City Council on September 18, 2017
Sponsored by: Councilmembers Eaton and Lumm