After Nearly a Half-Century of Effort, Earlham to Get Traffic Signal at Entrance

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 11, 2009

RICHMOND, Ind. – Nearly 47 years after Earlham College student David Rantanen was killed while attempting to cross National Road West in front of the College, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) has said that it will place a traffic signal at the College’s entrance. Earlham President Douglas C. Bennett made the announcement today.

President Douglas C. Bennett announced that the College's entrance will get its long-awaited traffic signal.“This new traffic light at the entrance to Earlham will make National Road a safer place for all Richmond residents,” said Bennett. “We know from traffic studies conducted by the Richmond Police Department that up to 80 percent of vehicles who pass in front of the College exceed the posted speed limit. They don’t slow or stop for pedestrians. Consequently, people have been killed or injured in front of our campus for decades. This is a wonderful day for Earlham, Richmond and Wayne County.”

Bennett also praised state Sen. Allen Paul (R-Richmond) who, Bennett says, has been advocating for the traffic signal in Indianapolis.

“We are indeed grateful to Sen. Paul for his dedication to increasing the safety of all pedestrians and motorists who use this important thoroughfare. Sen. Paul has been instrumental in making sure that this day finally came.”

After an Earlham student was struck by a vehicle in front of the College last summer, Bennett sent a letter to Gov. Mitch Daniels inviting him to visit Richmond and cross National Road with him.

Although the governor declined Bennett’s invitation, INDOT’s Office of Traffic Safety prepared a safety audit of the roadway last fall after Bennett asked for a more pedestrian-focused review of traffic in front of the College. Bennett, and representatives from the city of Richmond, INDOT and the Federal Highway Administration all participated in the review, but the group failed to reach consensus on a solution after agreeing that more safety measures for pedestrians were needed.

Earlham students approach the crosswalk at the College's National Road West entrance on Feb. 11, 2009. INDOT has pledged a traffic signal for the intersection, making it safer to cross the busy roadway. Wayne Co. Leaders Support Traffic Signal
Last year Bennett assembled a group of community leaders and elected officials from Wayne County to discuss the need for a traffic signal at the College’s entrance.

“Of course, they agreed that we needed a light,” said Bennett, “and this group got behind the effort 100 percent. We asked our Wayne County neighbors for help and Wayne County delivered. Now, thanks in part to their efforts, the roads will be safer for all of us.”

In making the announcement, Bennett also thanked Gov. Daniels and former INDOT Commissioner Karl Browning for assisting the College.

“President Bennett has been absolutely tireless in his efforts to secure this traffic signal,” commented Avis Stewart, vice president for community relations, who noted that Bennett even had video cameras installed at the College’s entrance to track traffic and pedestrian interaction.

“There were plenty of near-misses on those tapes,” said Stewart. “There’s no question that the Richmond community will benefit from the new traffic light.”

According to Bennett, INDOT has agreed to install the traffic signal at Earlham’s entrance at the completion of road construction planned to begin this year. In 2004, INDOT spent more than $1.3 million to acquire rights-of-way along National Road West in preparation for the project, which will widen the road and replace the bridge over Clear Creek.

Brief History of the Need for a Traffic Signal at the Entrance to Earlham College
1962 – Earlham student David Rantanen killed attempting to cross National Road.
1965 – The first of many traffic engineering studies undertaken.
1972 – Richmond resident Dallas Wayne Jones, 16, struck and killed in the crosswalk.
1985 – Student Allison Sandberg killed attempting to cross National Road.
1999 – Two Earlham students seriously injured after being struck trying to cross National Road.
2006 – Student struck trying to cross National Road.
2007 – Student struck in crosswalk.
2008 – Student struck in crosswalk.
2008 – Doug Bennett invites Gov. Daniels to cross National Road with him.
2008 – More than a dozen Richmond community leaders discussed urgency of traffic signal.
2009 – INDOT agrees to place traffic signal on National Road West at the main entrance to Earlham College as part of a planned road construction project.

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Contact:
Mark Blackmon, director of media relations
765/983-1256 — E-Mail Mark