St. Clair Avenue Target Speed Pilot Project (1174-2026)
At a glance
Based on auto-generated captions; names and details may be misheard and outcomes incomplete.
- What: Ordinance 1174-2026 (Councilmember Howse-Jones, Councilmember Conwell and others, by departmental request) consents to a state-run target speed pilot project on St. Clair Avenue between East 101st and East 156th Street, with city payment of its share.
- Where it stands: approved as amended by voice vote in the Municipal Services and Properties Committee on 2026-10-12, after the longest discussion of the consent items.
- Next: bids April 2027; construction June to October 2027; Councilmember Slife wants a deeper Transportation Committee discussion.
The project
- The state set aside about $20 million for a pilot on its most dangerous corridors; St. Clair was one of about ten chosen, and staff said a half-mile segment ranks first in Ohio for fatal and serious injury crashes. Crash data for 2020 to 2024 cited 14 killed and 79 seriously injured on this stretch.
- Cost $7.3 million: just over $5.6 million federal, local share $1,628,937. The briefing summary said $2.1 million and a different end street; staff called these errors and will send a corrected version.
- Features: resurfacing, road diet from two lanes each way to one lane each way with a center lane, raised medians, buffered bike lanes on both sides separated by vertical posts, floating bus stops, high-visibility crosswalks and the city's first raised crossings. The goal is speeds of 20 to 30 mph, measured before and after.
Main concerns
- Councilmember Kazy asked whether adding bike lanes to the most dangerous corridor in the state puts cyclists at risk and whether traffic could be calmed first. Staff said bike counts are likely low because the street feels unsafe and the other features are meant to slow traffic.
- Councilmember Hudson asked about concrete separation (posts were chosen for cost), the number and placement of raised crossings (to be sent), and emergency vehicle use.
- Councilmember Jones asked for traffic volume and an economic impact review for businesses, saying road diets elsewhere on the East Side (Miles Avenue) coincided with business losses and drivers crossing the median.
- Councilmember Harsh questioned effects on ambulances and the likelihood of requests for speed bumps on every main street; he supports the project with a caution. Councilmember Slife asked how road diets could backfire.
Amendment and vote
- Councilmember Harsh moved to strike "and future road and bridge bonds that include this purpose" in section 12; seconded by Councilmember Kazy and adopted by voice vote. The ordinance was approved as amended.
Sources
Discussion time
About 42 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).
| Meeting | Minutes |
|---|---|
| 2026-10-12 - Municipal Services and Properties Committee | 42 |
Log
- 2026-10-12 - Municipal Services and Properties Committee - Heard in committee (about 42 minutes); safety, bike lane separation, emergency access and business impact questioned; bond-language amendment adopted; approved as amended by voice vote.