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Home About Us B2B Club Breaking News Contact Donate Events / Programs Feedback Ideas Incubator Industry Clusters Links / Resources Progess Funds Progress Teams Public Art / Murals Publications		Breaking News July 12, 2005 - Grand Avenue lights changed for 7 weeks By Beth Burger, Daily Tribune Staff A seven-week traffic experiment in downtown Wisconsin Rapids started with a learning curve Monday as flashing red stop lights confused some drivers. "I thought something was wrong with the lights," said Pat Fieweger, 52, of Wisconsin Rapids as she came out of the post office to cross Grand Avenue. Monday marked the first day the city temporarily changed all the traffic signals to flashing red lights on East Grand Avenue and West Grand Avenue downtown. Drivers must treat each intersection as though it is controlled by four-way stop signs, instead of green, yellow and red lights. The trial will last until Aug. 26, as part of a Community Progress Initiative committee's efforts to slow the traffic and promote a pedestrian-friendly downtown. But residents weren't so sure the change will work to attract pedestrians. "I liked it better when they had a full light there. I think people will pause and go. I think it might be more dangerous," said Fieweger, who said she drives on Grand Avenue twice a week. Residents called the mayor's office and the police station to complain or tell officials the lights were out. But not everyone was opposed to the idea. Marcia Jahnke, 27, of Wisconsin Rapids lives a few blocks from Grand Avenue. She normally takes daily walks with her 10-month-old son, Louis, and said she thought the traffic change could help pedestrians, even though it might annoy motorists. "Traffic does move pretty fast through here," said Jahnke, who said she thinks the frequent stops will slow motorists. Dan Block, 53, of Wisconsin Rapids isn't so sure the change is a good idea. Pedestrians, in particular small children and families, will have to rush before the next car continues through the intersection, he said. "Parents with small children no longer have the assurance of a green light and a walk sign," Block said. "I can't imagine this being more helpful to pedestrians. If I had kids in their pre-teens, I'd be a lot more nervous because you can't tell them to push the walk button when they go to the movies." Mayor Jerry Bach said he had heard concerns from a resident about children crossing the street. "Well, how do they cross Pepper and Lincoln? And how do they cross 16th and Baker? There are intersections that don't have stop lights that are reasonably busy, too," Bach said. "I've been through town four times now. To me, you could notice an appreciable slowing of the traffic." Drivers who do not want to make downtown a destination should take the Jackson Street Bridge, he said. Near the intersection at Third Street and East Grand Avenue, where Block was standing, one woman jogged across the street before traffic continued. Another car turning right off of Third Street rolled through the stop when he saw the driver on East Grand Avenue already stopped. "You just saw it right there," Block said. But he acknowledged that the flashing red lights might help with traffic flow after drivers adjust to the change. "There have been lots of times when I was stuck at one of the lights when no one's coming," he said. Jane Manion, manager at Book World on West Grand Avenue, said she hopes the change will help downtown. "I think it's worth a try. I'm sure there's going to be people who don't like it, but it's worth a try," Manion said. "I'll be kind of curious to see what happens. Anything we can do to help our downtown, I'm for. So we'll just see if it helps." Randy Carpenter, owner of Schmidt's Jewelry on East Grand Avenue, said he wasn't sure the traffic change would help the downtown area or his business. "I was quite surprised," Carpenter said when he drove to work Monday morning. "The only thing I thought was the lights weren't working." Carpenter said with the traffic change, which would be "a pain to get used to," pedestrians would have to rely on drivers to be courteous to safely cross.
		Copyright © 2005, Community Progress Initiative, South Wood County & Town of Rome