Monday, March 11, 2013
Solon City Council narrowly approved hiring GPD as its new traffic engineer by 4-3 vote.
GPD Group, the company used by Twinsburg to design its roundabouts on Darrow Road, has been hired as the traffic engineering firm in Solon. After years of using the same company to handle its traffic engineering services, Solon City Council plans to hire a new firm to try to help alleviate that city's traffic woes on 91. Some Solon officials expressed concerns over a potential conflict with projects in Twinsburg -- GPD is designing roundabouts on Darrow Road in Twinsburg near the Solon border. Solon Councilman Rick Bell has been adamant in recent weeks that he believes GPD has a conflict of interest because its designing two roundabouts on Darrow Road in Twinsburg near the Solon border. He worries that the roundabouts will affect traffic …
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Solon has concerns about Twinsburg's plans to install two roundabouts near the cities' borders.
Twinsburg's plans to build two roundabouts on Darrow Road are causing some concerns north of the border in Solon. The concerns came about in Solon as council members there are looking to hire a new traffic engineering firm. One of the companies up for the contract is GPD, which is designing the roundabouts for Twinsburg. Solon councilmen have said that while they understand Twinsburg is relying on the judgement of their experts, Solon officials have general concerns about what the roundabouts will do to traffic in their city. Solon Councilman Rick Bell said that Solon has a traffic light just over the border that cost the city $250,000. He's uncertain how that light will be affected by the roundabouts. He said that GPD is already being …
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Two residents spoke to city council Tuesday night, starting an interesting discussion
It wasn't mentioned anywhere on the agenda, but the State Route 91 improvements project was a major topic of discussion at Tuesday's city council meeting. During audience participation, two residents got the conversation started, opposing the project and upset with city council. Laura Giammaria started an online petition against the project and explained to council why she did. "I’m not opposed to change, but I will stand up for what I believe in," Giammaria said. The petition was created to give residents the opportunity to have their voices heard. She has watched the “highly touted” roundabout in Green closely and has seen no pedestrians and even semi trucks that have been reckless in driving the roundabouts. “At no time during my …
Sunday, March 25, 2012
If you called the shots, what would you do with the State Route 91 improvements?
It's the great debate in Twinsburg: Roundabouts or no roundabouts on State Route 91? As the project stands now, Phase I will widen SR 91 from Post Road to Glenwood Drive and build a roundabout at the Glenwood intersection. Phase II--which is still to be decided--would widen SR 91 to four lanes going to Solon and build a roundabout at Ethan's Drive and Meadowood Boulevard. But many residents aren't happy about this decision. Some believe it will cause even more traffic problems and be more dangerous for drivers and pedestrians. One resident even started an online petition, discouraging city council from building the roundabouts. Some would much rather see the road widened at Glenwood and a full left turn signal installed. Others think the …
We have this week's top headlines
Phew! This past week just blew by! It was another busy one here at Twinsburg Patch as we brought you some new stories on the impending roundabouts and other big headlines. Twinsburg Patch brings you the news recap for this week: That's just a quick recap of the big stories. Don't forget about our Announcements page, Events calendar, Local Voices blogs, and our newly revamped "Places" business directory listing for more Twinsburg news and information.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Twinsburg Patch took some time to ask Twinsburg's City Engineer Amy Mohr to address some questions and concerns residents have with the State Route 91 project
With all the talk about roundabouts and road construction on State Route 91 lately, it can be easy to get confused about what's going on. Twinsburg Patch talked with Twinsburg Engineer Amy Mohr to get answers to the most common questions folks ask. Twinsburg Patch: Is the SR 91 project with roundabouts a "done deal?" Amy Mohr: I have approval to move forward with the roundabout at the Glenwood intersection, which is Phase I. Before they make the decision about Meadowood Drive, they want to make sure everything is functioning the way they feel is good and get everyone acclimated in the area. We're moving forward on Phase I, which is the Glenwood/SR 91 area. TP: Will this project require another vote from city council? AM: It won't require a…
Thursday, March 1, 2012
The controversy over a roundabout at State Route 91 has now taken to the web
With many Twinsburg residents coming forward in opposition to the proposed road constrction at State Route 91, opponents have now started an online petition. Using the website www.change.org, a petition to Twinsburg City Council has been started, titled "Vote against installing roundabouts on the Route 91 widening project." Phase I of the project would widen SR 91 from Post Road to Glenwood Drive and construct a roundabout at the Glenwood intersection. Started by Laura Giammaria, the petition offers residents multiple reasons why they should oppose the project including: As of 3 p.m. Wednesday the petition had 282 of 500 signatures. People who sign the petition also have the opportunity to leave comments on why they disagree with the idea…
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
City council still trying to decide best path for the future
Even though there wasn't any legislation about the State Route 91 project Tuesday night, Twinsburg City Council still spent plenty of time discussing the issue. At the end of the meeting At-Large Councilman Gary Sorace made a motion to to hold the project and consider other options. However, only he and Ward 2 Councilman Bob McDermott voted for it. “The longer we continue to head in this direction, I think we sending the message that it is a done deal,” Sorace said. "Let’s show them what the other options are." Phase I of the project would widen SR 91 from Post Road to Glenwood Drive and construct a roundabout at the Glenwood intersection. Sorace said he has only heard from two residents in favor of the roundabouts, and continues to hear …
Thursday, February 23, 2012
The community spoke its mind on roundabouts at a meeting in October, now here is how the city responded to questions and concerns
After city council voted 4-3 last week on posting the comments from a State Route 91 improvements meeting in October, the community questions and answers are now live on www.mytwinsburg.com. City Engineer Amy Mohr said last week that posting these comments doesn't neccesarily lock the city into the changes, it simply keeps the process moving so they don't lose money if they do wish to proceed, rather than staying at a stand-still. Here are a few things to keep mind while reading the comments: According to the document, "public comments showed that 11 were in favor of the project (with minor concerns), eight were against the project in any form, and 72 were in favor of the project (widening of SR 91), but were against the use of roundabouts…
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Catch up on this week's headlines
Another busy week has come and gone with some major new developments in the news world of Twinsburg. Twinsburg Patch brings you the news recap for this week: That's just a quick recap of the big stories. Don't forget about our Announcements page, Events calendar, Local Voices blogs, and our newly revamped "Places" business directory listing for more Twinsburg news and information.
ScottRAB
4:16 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Mr Bell should be worried, I guess, modern roundabouts are much more efficient and safer intersections that signals. Residents driving between the two will surely begin to wonder why they have to keep waitng to go at the signal. The FHWA has a video about modern roundabouts that is mostly accurate (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhHzly_6lWM ). Modern roundabouts are the safest form of … more ›