I sent this letter to Chief Fuller on 3/18 with copies to Brian Fox and David Shaver.
Dear Chief Fuller,
I hope you are feeling better. I have heard that you are battling an illness and I wish you well. I am sending you this, not to bug you, as I know your plate is full, but asking that you forward this to the individual(s) who might be able to address this issue.
For the past two months, perhaps longer, the traffic situation at the intersection of SR 256 and SR 204 has lapsed into intersection failure on many occasions. These failures occur during non peak rush hour times, not the morning or afternoon commute times. The Outbound flow from Pickerington, North onto I - 70 and the Taylor Square area is backing up at the signal at the I-70 Ramp entrance just South of the Reynoldsburg border. This snarls up the traffic clear back into the SR 204/256 intersection and beyond farther South into Pickerington. Traffic cannot move onto 256 from 204 or from Tussing Road and the traffic backed up last Saturday clear to Nationwide Auto Parts on SR 256 because of this failure. Additionally, the I-70 off ramp traffic heading into Reynoldsburg backs up onto the highway at times because vehicles cannot exit the ramp to go Northbound into Reynoldsburg because it is bumper to bumper at this signal. At first I thought this was because of signalization timing between the Taylor Square signals and the I-70 signal. After several weeks of observation, sitting in traffic, it seems to be a problem with the I-70/256 signal not allowing enough volume of traffic to pass into the Reynoldsburg roadway North of the Pickerington border as there is NO BACKup when the cars move beyond the I-70 signal to the Reynoldsburg side. Is it possible to adjust this signal timing to allow more cars to go Northbound to Taylor Square and to I-70? Do I need to contact ODOT district Five about the situation to help resolve it?
I am a representative on the Taylor Square, Tax Increment Financing District Board for Violet Township. At our last meeting the developer of Taylor Square, Noble properties, stated that he is in negotiations for a New Giant Eagle store and Kohl's Department store to be located on the Northwest side of SR 256 behind the Logan's Roadhouse. The projected date of completion for this area is 2003. Being able to buy socks and underwear at Kohl's and cheaper groceries at Giant Eagle on the other side of I-70 will be even more of an enticement for City and Township Residents to get out of town since we are tired of waiting in line at Wal-Mart! Please evaluate the traffic situation constantly in view of this future development. I wish this retail was going to be in Pickerington, but once again we appear to be the bridesmaid in that department as Reynoldsburg enjoys taking millions of dollars each week from residents of this community who have a need to utilize retail closer to home than Brice Road.
I hope you can tweak the signal timing so the traffic snarl is lessened. I would hate to see an injury to anyone because of the situation or the inability of emergency equipment to get to the other side of I-70 when needed as this appears to be a potential problem that may not be obvious. I hope it does not take a commission and a traffic study to evaluate the problem as it will drag the process out, but I would understand if you had to go that route. I'd hate to see the city spend any more taxpayer dollars on commissions and studies or attorneys if the problem could be solved by simple human observation, listening and action.
Thank you for your interest in my observations.
Respectfully,
Lisa Ross
Dear Chief Fuller,
I hope you are feeling better. I have heard that you are battling an illness and I wish you well. I am sending you this, not to bug you, as I know your plate is full, but asking that you forward this to the individual(s) who might be able to address this issue.
For the past two months, perhaps longer, the traffic situation at the intersection of SR 256 and SR 204 has lapsed into intersection failure on many occasions. These failures occur during non peak rush hour times, not the morning or afternoon commute times. The Outbound flow from Pickerington, North onto I - 70 and the Taylor Square area is backing up at the signal at the I-70 Ramp entrance just South of the Reynoldsburg border. This snarls up the traffic clear back into the SR 204/256 intersection and beyond farther South into Pickerington. Traffic cannot move onto 256 from 204 or from Tussing Road and the traffic backed up last Saturday clear to Nationwide Auto Parts on SR 256 because of this failure. Additionally, the I-70 off ramp traffic heading into Reynoldsburg backs up onto the highway at times because vehicles cannot exit the ramp to go Northbound into Reynoldsburg because it is bumper to bumper at this signal. At first I thought this was because of signalization timing between the Taylor Square signals and the I-70 signal. After several weeks of observation, sitting in traffic, it seems to be a problem with the I-70/256 signal not allowing enough volume of traffic to pass into the Reynoldsburg roadway North of the Pickerington border as there is NO BACKup when the cars move beyond the I-70 signal to the Reynoldsburg side. Is it possible to adjust this signal timing to allow more cars to go Northbound to Taylor Square and to I-70? Do I need to contact ODOT district Five about the situation to help resolve it?
I am a representative on the Taylor Square, Tax Increment Financing District Board for Violet Township. At our last meeting the developer of Taylor Square, Noble properties, stated that he is in negotiations for a New Giant Eagle store and Kohl's Department store to be located on the Northwest side of SR 256 behind the Logan's Roadhouse. The projected date of completion for this area is 2003. Being able to buy socks and underwear at Kohl's and cheaper groceries at Giant Eagle on the other side of I-70 will be even more of an enticement for City and Township Residents to get out of town since we are tired of waiting in line at Wal-Mart! Please evaluate the traffic situation constantly in view of this future development. I wish this retail was going to be in Pickerington, but once again we appear to be the bridesmaid in that department as Reynoldsburg enjoys taking millions of dollars each week from residents of this community who have a need to utilize retail closer to home than Brice Road.
I hope you can tweak the signal timing so the traffic snarl is lessened. I would hate to see an injury to anyone because of the situation or the inability of emergency equipment to get to the other side of I-70 when needed as this appears to be a potential problem that may not be obvious. I hope it does not take a commission and a traffic study to evaluate the problem as it will drag the process out, but I would understand if you had to go that route. I'd hate to see the city spend any more taxpayer dollars on commissions and studies or attorneys if the problem could be solved by simple human observation, listening and action.
Thank you for your interest in my observations.
Respectfully,
Lisa Ross
