The Whitewater Common Council approved a traffic analysis along Main Street Oct. 21 for an effective solution for pedestrian safety.
"One of my overwhelming feelings is we have not gone about this whole process in a proper fashion," Councilman Lynn Binnie said. "I know it's very easy to respond, irrationally or unreasonably to pressure, but the reality is that's what we've done, and I think we have missed out on the proper procedure for dealing with this sort of situation."
The issue was debated at the last four meetings since former student Mike Chaloupka was hit by a car Aug. 26 while crossing the Whiton and Main intersection. He died Sept. 9 due to severe injuries.
The decision came after Luke Holman, traffic engineer for Strand Associates, Inc., told the council they did not recommend the High-intensity Activated Crosswalk system. The system would allow pedestrians to push a button, activating a red light meant to bring cars to a complete stop.
Only Councilmember Marilyn Kienbaum voted in opposition of the analysis.
Holman said reasons for not supporting the HAWK system included confusion for drivers and pedestrians by having a third, experimental control system within three blocks, and it could disrupt traffic unreasonably since it gives pedestrians control.
There also could be liability issues since it has not been approved by the Federal Highway Administration or the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. It is only in experimental stages in Arizona and will be revised by the Manual on Uniform Traffic control devices.
This means the city could only install the HAWK system by a grant from FHWA for experimentation, according to Strand Associates, Inc.
"There's a lot of science that goes into this," City Manager Kevin Brunner said. "In retrospect, I think we put the council in a very bad situation bringing all these alternatives to you, it was a knee jerk reaction and an emotional reaction.
"I've heard more complaints about this particular intersection and the lack of response than any other issues since I've been city manager for four years."
The study will include data on turning movements, signal timing, and evaluation existing traffic operations between Prince and Prairie streets along Main Street. The results will determine two or possibly three alternate systems of traffic control using computer traffic modeling software.
Councilmember Roy Nosek asked for volume of traffic and peak times to be included in the study, and ways to possibly defer traffic.
"Something needs to be done," Nosek said. "I hope the study will include involvement from citizens of the city of Whitewater."
Brunner said he received an e-mail from Chancellor Richard Telfer saying the university would be willing to look into contributing funds for the $6,000 study.
Holman said the study would take about 30 to 45 days to complete.
Councilman Max Taylor said he was concerned the study would further delay a final resolution.
"I'm sure the one thing we can all agree on here is that we want to see a resolution, a well thought out resolution to this as soon as possible," Taylor said. "A lot of people are getting real frustrated because nothing has truly been done except the trombone arms … but in order to get the best results for the people, we need to [explore] this as much as possible."
Harriet Kaluva, chairperson of the Whitewater Handicapped Discrimination Commission, said she sees handicapped students scared to cross Main Street everyday because they cannot reach the activation buttons for the trombone-armed signs.
"There is a big problem and it has been a problem for a long time," Kaluva said. "If a few bucks can save a life, then lets do it ... (Chaloupka) crossed this street and was killed and we have to do something about it."
Findings will tentatively be reported to the council in mid-December.
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