The Shroyer Road improvement project was prompted by longstanding goals and objectives in the Oakwood Comprehensive Plan, and by a citizen petition expressing concerns about roadway and pedestrian safety after an elementary student was struck on Shroyer Road in 2015. Initially, the citizen group asked for a traffic signal along the Shroyer corridor. A safety study was completed to investigate possible countermeasures to improve safety on Shroyer Road. It was quickly determined that signalized intersections were not warranted, as described in the Ohio Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices, and would not be effective.
After several heavily attended public meetings, City Council approved the Shroyer Road improvement project with the primary focus being on safety improvements.
Accident data that was reported via the Transportation Information Mapping System (TIMS) maintained by the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) was used to complete a safety analysis on the Shroyer corridor. Over a three year period before the project, there were 62 crashes on Shroyer Road, with nearly 25% of these crashes resulting in injury. Almost 40% of the accidents were caused by rear-end crashes. The data showed excessive vehicle speeds at 6-11 miles per hour above the posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour.
The project objectives were to reduce the number of crashes; to reduce crash severity by reducing vehicle speeds; and to increase pedestrian safety. This project also created an opportunity to improve and enhance the roadway streetscape.
As a result of the Shroyer Road improvement project, there has been a dramatic drop in accidents, as well as accidents with injury. There has been a 66% reduction in total crashes over the three year period from 2017-2019, and there has been an 87% reduction of crashes resulting in injury over that same time frame. The road improvements have resulted in an 85% reduction in citations issued by the Oakwood Public Safety Department. Mr. Klopsch stated that the best way to control speed is through the design of a roadway and not through enforcement.
Mr. Klopsch closed his presentation by acknowledging and thanking Traffic Engineer Scott Knebel, P.E., Crawford, Murphy & Tilly Engineers, Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission (MVRPC) Staff, ODOT District 7 Staff and the city of Kettering Engineering Staff for their contributions to the project.
Mr. Stephens commented that there are just as many cars traveling Shroyer Road as there were before the roadway improvements. He commented that the Shroyer Road improvements turned out wonderful.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Mr. Epley reminded everyone that the Primary Election is on March 17.
Mr. Stephens commended Miami Valley Communication Council (MVCC) Executive Director Jay Weiskircher and MVCC staff for all of their work on the GATEway Fiber Network project. MVCC and its member cities of Centerville, Kettering, Miamisburg, Moraine, Oakwood, Springboro and West Carrollton have been recognized as a global ‘Smart 50 Award’ winner for 2020.
Mayor Duncan shared that he recently read an article from Site Selection magazine announcing that the Dayton metro area ranked first among cities of its size for economic development projects in its annual Governor's Cup rankings. This is also the 14th consecutive year the Dayton metro area has ranked in the top 10 for economic development projects.
Mayor Duncan read the comments he made at the February 2015 meeting regarding the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp:
“Last month marked the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp. Tonight, I want to tell you the story of Richard Dutro of Lakewood, OH, a suburb of Cleveland, OH. At age 19, he served in the famed 42nd Rainbow Division of the American 7th Army and was awarded a Bronze Star. His division liberated the Dachau Concentration Camp.
He would not talk of his war time experiences for almost 60 years. In response to numerous reported instances of Holocaust deniers in the news media, he now describes his personal experiences to middle school and high school students. I have heard his story and it is compelling.