Councilman Cimperman take lead on traffic safety issues in Tremont
by Jerleen Justus

(Plain Press, October 2009) Ward 13 Councilman Joe Cimperman has taken the lead in addressing parking and safety concerns by teaming up with area residents and promoting the need for sign compliance in the Tremont community. City of Cleveland's Traffic Engineer Commissioner Rob Mavec's plans to replace all the many missing or damaged parking regulator signs on a piece meal basis. In the meantime, pedestrians, cyclists and motorists can begin to navigate a number of intersections under safer conditions.

While the neighborhood is still dozens of signs away from being compliant, the twenty plus, newly posted "No Parking Zone" and "No Parking Any Time" signs have no doubt opened up more visual paths for drivers and pedestrians entering and exiting the intersections, side streets and alleyways where the signs were missing.

Residents of Thurman Alley, South of Jefferson, say they have been waiting a long time for help in clearing a safe exit without having to drive blindly into the middle of Jefferson Avenue. "Having these spaces cleared and properly posted removes some of the threat of being plowed into by on-coming traffic in attempting to get out onto the main street." stated one long-time Thurman Alley homeowner.

Many residents are praising the Councilman and others who have vigorously pushed this project forward and made the community a safer place for their children to live and play.

The Old South Side Community Coalition gave Councilman Cimperman a standing ovation at their meeting on September 21, upon hearing a detailed progress report addressing the signage replacement, street stripping, bump-outs and other solutions for speed control in all of Tremont that would be implemented and completed in 2010. The Councilman stated that he and Commissioner Mavec (along with Ward 14 Lincoln Heights/Scranton Starkweather Co-chair and TWDC Board Member Henry Senyak) had conducted several walk around surveys that pinpointed the locations most hazardous to public safety. These sites were noted and placed on a first priority list.

The Councilman further stated that the City of Cleveland would be addressing resident concerns surrounding the West 14th Street Roundabout by installing white speed zone signs and that law enforcement will be keeping a closer watch on traffic moving in and out of the roundabout. Flexible lane barriers will be installed which will assist in keeping motorists in the proper lanes and aid in speed control as well. Councilman Cimperman and Commissioner Mavec said the Ohio Dept of Transportation has been informed of the seriousness of the Roundabout situation and they will be taking a closer look at the possibility of stop signs, traffic lights and other traffic control devices.

A follow up meeting (open to the public) for further discussions, up-dates and details is scheduled for October 13, 2009, in the upstairs conference room of the Polish Legion of American Veterans FDR Post 58 at 2442 Professor Avenue.

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