Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

Traffic Problems

I wanted to address some issues brought up here on this posting.

Yes; the recently adopted access management plan was not strictly followed in the new development at the corner of 256 and Diley. However it was adjusted by the recommendations of the City Engineer. Most retail developments want as many access points as they can have. We did allow a south bound right turn only access onto this property. The developer will install a deceleration lane so it will not slow south bound traffic on 256. The developer had wanted a full access on Diley right across from the Drug Mart. As we have seen with the Drug Mart that will not work. They are adding a left turn lane on Windmiller Drive onto Diley if the traffic warrants the new lane in the future. They will have a right in right out onto Windmiller Drive. They will have a full movement access point on Old Diley Road. They will widen Old Diley to three lanes up to their full access point. This new three lane road will go through the Kroger parking lot and out to 256 at the traffic signal. It has recently opened for public traffic. These two developers have paid for this three lane road. The developer will have signage to direct people out to 256.

The Drug Mart access has been under negotiations for months now. I believe the City is very close to getting an agreement. When that is completed and I hope soon they will have a full movement access point on 256 where the current right in right out is located. The current full movement on Diley Road will be converted to a Right in Right out with a barrier in the median strip of Diley to prevent R-O and R-I from and to Diley road.

As for the speed limit on 256 between Diley Road and Courtland Lane. There were some safety issues considered here. When the PYAA was letting cars out they normally employed a police officer. With the 50 MPH during these times of activities at the facilities it created an unsafe situation for the officers. The is an agenda item for next fall in the safety committee to review the number of accidents occurring between Diley and Courtland Lane. That study will either justify the actions of council or give some support to raise that speed limit back up. The ODOT/Pickerington study that I saw indicated a speed of 40 MPD was justified. I believe the number of accidents pushed that speed limit downward. Certainly when we either widen that section of 256 to five lanes the speed limit will be considered again or when we complete the Courtright road east extension we will again consider that speed limit. There is in the access management plan a traffic signal to go in on 256 up toward Diley and if the PYAA can move their access point then the speed limit again will be re-considered.

I think it is imperative that the city works with the commercial properties along our major highways to fix the access points on these roads. Forcing them to spend money and take away access points that may hurt their business is not good public policy. As properties re-develop or develop we can require them to follow the access plan and what is worked out will be reviewed by the City Engineer so as not to cause us more traffic headaches in the City.



By Ted Hackworth

Response to Mr. Hackworth

Mr. Hackworth,

Thanks for the information you provided. Now, if you don?’t mind, I?’d like to ask some questions based on your answers.

You say the access management plan wasn?’t adhered to at 256/Diley based on the recommendations of the engineer. Is this the same engineer that worked with you on the access management plan or is it the in-house engineer? I guess what I mean did Stilson Engineering that has been referenced before consult on the access management plan and the in-house engineer overrode Stilson Company or exactly how did it happen. The reason I ask is that I heard Stilson is receiving renown for their work in Gahanna and to-date, I haven?’t heard the in-house engineer has received any renown for traffic management. I would hope that you didn?’t turn over the recommendations of a renowned form in favor of a lesser experienced opinion.

I have to imagine that converting the right in / right out access point for Drug Mart to be an in-house engineer decision as it as asinine as lowering the speed limit on Hill. I think it was a bad decision to lower the speed limit on an arterial such as this. Was there any direct correlation to speed versus accidents? Was there and correlation to improper turning versus accidents? I guess what I mean here, are we sure lowering the speed limit wasn?’t a knee-jerk reaction by inexperienced people serving the city? By making the Drug Mart access a full access, death awaits. Are you not aware of the dangerous situations that occur there daily just because of the merge lane and the current access? Holy cow, people feel brave enough pulling out in front of you now; I can?’t imagine adding turning into Drug Mart at that location coming northbound as anything but suicidal. When you factor in the entrance to (what is it? Mingo or something just south of that bridge?) you will have traffic absolutely gridlocked with this decision. Mr. Hackworth, please use a little common sense in combination with these engineers?’ advice. Let?’s not kill people to appease a developer.

Back to the lowered speed limit, if ODOT said 40 was justified, who in this city thought they were smarter than ODOT and made it 35? The problem along that stretch is PYAA and Seton. If you address the problem rather than the symptoms you will heal the patient faster. Frankly I am disappointed in Council for approving this without more discussion. Why doesn?’t council become the leaders and tell Seton and PYAA that they have to cooperate and create a joint access point each giving up a little of their property and come out on Courtright? Wasn?’t one of the prime reasons for the light at that intersection just that? Or was it just another Daryl Berry light?

Sir, I am happy to debate traffic and access at your convenience. I think council is making some bad decisions when it comes to our roadways. We need more common sense and less mouth from your in-house engineer. Stick with Stilson Company as they are the experts.


By Frustrated Commuter

oh yeah stilson

Didn't they do a bang up job on that stream at 256 and 70...the experts

Consider this

I'll bet lunch that Stilson fell on their sword in this settlement. I wonder how much the developer was at fault and the city officials at that time instead of Stilson.