CONTINUED EFFORT TO SLOW TRAFFIC FLOW THROUGH THE CITY
Last week, City Council Safety Committee Chairperson Kathy Ostrander and several city
employees took a city walking tour to evaluate pedestrian crossing enhancements, midblock
crossings, and lack of sidewalks. Helping from Chicago, with the group was LCHS graduate and
Harvard alumnus, Jimmy Young, with a comprehensive “Passive Traffic Calming Measures”
report. His research emphasizes drivers are often speeding because the street design encourages
them to do so. Believe it or not in the majority of circumstances the responsibility for reducing
driver speeds falls more on road design than on the drivers themselves. The three lanes (formerly
the Four Lanes), leading into town from the south, subconsciously signal to drivers that bigger
and wider roads are safer, leading to higher speeds. Young suggests that by thoughtfully
designing certain sections of the roadway to feel more engaging, drivers will naturally slow
down, improving safety for both pedestrians and motorists.
Young’s report outlines several options for the city to consider. These include parklets, which
extend usable sidewalk space, and sidewalk and curb extensions that improve visibility for both
drivers and pedestrians. He suggested hybrid solutions, such as combining parklets with
crosswalk extensions in key areas. While measures like roundabouts and speedbumps could be
useful, he notes their practicality is limited on Main Street which doubles as a state highway.
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) team from Northern Michigan,
represented by Traffic and Safety Engineer Jessica Carpenter and Operations Technician Mary
Lajko participated in the walking tour as well. They offered further suggestions, potential plans
and costs to support the city’s ongoing effort to reduce speeding and prioritize safety for Lake
City’s residents and visitors. The collaboration between city leaders, local experts, and MDOT
highlights a proactive approach to addressing this critical issue. The city would like to thank
Jimmy Young for his perspective and assistance.