Traffic Signal Rehabilitation and Safety Improvements
Champaign, IL
This project consisted of “complete streets” design and included the study of 11 signalized intersections and 9 non-signalized intersections and other geometric improvements to enhance the quality of the Downtown experience.
“Complete Street Design” was utilized to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety within the study area. Key features included:
- narrowing of travel lanes to reduce vehicle speeds
- curb bump-outs to decrease pedestrian crossing times while increasing pedestrian visibility within intersections
- high visibility crosswalks to increase driver awareness of pedestrian crossings
- on-street bicycle lanes to connect regional origins and destinations.
“Sustainable Design” was included as an additional design feature throughout the Downtown. The use of rain gardens not only implemented low impact development strategies but also served as demonstration projects to educate and encourage the community to adopt sustainable practices.
While the above items play an important role within the community, the rehabilitation of the existing traffic signals was a critical component of the study. As with many established downtowns, several of the existing signalized intersections did not meet current industry standards. Our design team addressed the required geometric and signal deficiencies while providing a proposed implementation schedule for the improvements.
As the prime consultant for this project, the Clark Dietz team worked closely with the City’s Engineering and Planning Departments to incorporate the visions of each entity. Our team also engaged the general public, downtown business owners, and the Mass Transit District throughout the project duration.
