Warsaw Traffic Safety Commission Thursday heard new pedestrian signals have been installed at the intersections of Ind. 15 and Main Street and Ind. 15 and Fort Wayne Street.
Warsaw Police Department Lt. Kip Shuter said the signals were installed recently by the Indiana Department of Transportation.
"I really appreciate the speed of which the pedestrian signals were installed because I know there were citizens crossing the street to get to Central Park without a pedestrian signal," Commissioner Joe Thallemer said.Shuter said, in order to activate the signals, a pedestrian must push a button on the light pole. He said a sign above the buttons advise pedestrians to push the button to activate the signals.
The signals being installed were a result of requests from several residents who suggested pedestrian signals be installed.
During the Sept. 4 meeting, Shuter said there had been several requests for pedestrian signals to be installed at the two locations.
Shuter also gave an update for a request for a traffic signal at Ind. 15 at Kincaide Street.
The commission, at its Sept. 4 meeting, discussed INDOT conducting a warrant study for a traffic signal at Ind. 15 and Kincaide Street.
The request for a traffic signal at the location came from Washington Elementary School and several other individuals, according to Shuter.
Shuter read an e-mail from Dana Plattner, INDOT Fort Wayne district traffic engineer, that stated the area did not warrant a traffic signal based on a traffic study.
The e-mail said there was not enough traffic on Kincaide Street throughout the day to warrant a traffic signal be installed and the crash rate at the intersection is low.
Shuter also gave an update on handicapped parking in downtown Warsaw.
He said the mayor's office received concerns this summer that handicapped parking spaces were not van or lift accessible in downtown Warsaw.
Shuter said he and Street Superintendent Lacy Francis looked at American Disability Association requirements and found, for small towns, there are regulations for handicapped parking and parking lots, but not for off-street parking.
Shuter and Francis said they went to the handicapped parking spots downtown to research which were van accessible and which ones were not.
Along with the handicapped parking signs, they put an additional plaque that stated "van accessible."
"The specific issue was that there were inaccessible vehicle spaces where some people could not put a wheelchair lift against the on street curb because planters were in the way," Shuter said.
Shuter recognized Dan Hampton as a new commission member. Hampton replaces Bill Rhoades on the commission.
The commission will not meet in December. The next meeting will be Jan. 8 at 1 p.m. at the Warsaw Police Department.
Commission members are Hampton, Thallemer, Skinner, Shuter, Dan Robinson, Greg Schroeder, Ann Sweet and George Clemens.
