What began with better lighting and resurfaced crosswalks in an effort to improve pedestrian safety has culminated with the placement of two electronic signs along Magnolia Avenue.
"For a while we had signs in the middle turn lane with each crosswalk," said David Dorton, Auburn director of public affairs.
Dorton said those signs were problematic, however.
"Cars would hit them," he said. "Some people didn't find them very attractive for that stretch of road--so hopefully this is a better solution to keep people aware that there is all types of traffic on Magnolia."
Owen Parrish, Student Government Association assistant vice president of facilities, said the sign project started with Auburn University and the SGA.
"That was a project initiated by Auburn University Facilities Management," Parrish said. "And we came up with that plan to make it a safer walk here on Magnolia with all the sidewalks, the trees, and the signs were a big part of it."
The construction is a joint project between the University and the city, Dorton said.
"Of course, the city is responsible for the work in the streets and the right of way, and the University has done some work to improve the lighting on campus as well," Dorton said. "As far as planning and coming up with ways to improve safety and visibility, that's been a joint endeavor going on for a while now."
Dorton said the signs' messages can be changed depending on the circumstances.
"The overall purpose is safety and awareness and making sure people know it's a pedestrian area," Dorton said. "Of course, they are dynamic signs; we can put other messages up if there's construction or a closure in the affected area."
Brandy Ezelle, traffic engineer for Auburn, said there is a process for deciding what message to display on the signs.
"There is some guidance in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices," Ezelle said. "We will use that guidance, as well as research we've done on what other communities have done, to decide what messages to put up."
The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, published by the Federal Highway Administration, defines the standards used by road managers nationwide to install and maintain traffic control devices on all public streets, highways, bikeways and private roads open to public traffic.
"(The signs will help create) an increased sense of awareness in the area to promote some additional safety for the citizens, motorists and bicyclists," Ezelle said.
With the construction of the Tiger Transit stop at the Shelby Center and the use of the two electronic signs, Parrish said a safer Magnolia Avenue is the ultimate goal and should be attainable.
"SGA, for the past two years especially, has been pushing for better lighting and a safer condition here on Magnolia, and I think this is another step in that process," Parrish said.
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