Description
Intersection of Cooper Street and Central Avenue needs crosswalk signals on all four corners. Area has busy pedestrian traffic because of surrounding businesses and parking. Intersection has protected green arrows for some lanes, but no indication when pedestrians will be shielded from turning traffic. Crash involving a pedestrian occurred here September 26.
17 Comments
Acknowledged City of Memphis (Verified Official)
marklmorrison (Registered User)
Ashley (Registered User)
ann (Registered User)
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Shibuya (Registered User)
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Display Name Blocked (1489077) (Registered User)
Sge (Registered User)
Beverlyom (Registered User)
KLM (Registered User)
Robert Hatfield (Registered User)
Closed City of Memphis (Verified Official)
Thank you for submitting this request, it is now closed.
Resolution summary: The City plans to modernize this traffic signal and installation of pedestrian signals is part of this project.
Ned (Registered User)
Liz Royer/CYCA (Registered User)
Liz Royer/CYCA (Registered User)
Liz Royer/CYCA (Registered User)
Ned -
Here is what I got back from Nicholas regarding this area. He is a nice man and is on top of things. Due for an upgrade next year:
Good Afternoon,
Thank you for your email, and I fully agree with you on the necessity of pedestrian signals at this location. To add pedestrian signals there will require a complete re-construction of the signals and their wiring; the existing system would not support pedestrian signals. Fortunately, this intersection is already due to receive a complete modernization of the traffic signals that will replace the existing ones with new metal poles, mastarms, and signals, including pedestrian signals with countdown timers. Unfortunately, this work is some time off based on the current schedule.
City Engineering has the resources to internally rebuild, on average, only one or two traffic signals a year. As such, we regularly seek State or Federal grants to cover the cost of these kinds of projects. The signal modernization at the intersection of Cooper and Central is one of these grant-funded projects. A conservative estimate for the cost of modernizing the signals at this intersection nears half a million dollars. The new signals are already fully designed, and work should commence sometime in 2018.
Given the realities of our funding, this is the quickest we can bring pedestrian signals to this intersection. I realize it’s likely not as quick as you and the neighborhood would like to see, but the improvements are planned and pending.
Additionally, the re-paving of Cooper from Central to Washington is also scheduled to be complete in 2018. This will add high-visibility crosswalks at the intersection of Cooper and Central.
Thank you again for your concern, and please let me know if you have any further questions.
Kind Regards,
Nicholas Oyler
Bikeway and Pedestrian Progr