TOLEDO, Ohio — City of Toledo transportation experts say large planters were installed in a west Toledo neighborhood to stop drivers from cutting through a residential street to reach another road, sometimes at a high rate of speed.
The 30-day pilot project is intended to make Marvin Avenue safer for drivers using it to get to Wendover Avenue, according to the city.
Some area residents WTOL 11 spoke with think the new addition is worth it.
Richard Altman has lived Wendover Drive for a year and a half and says he likes the pots.
"It's only been about a week, but I think it cut down on traffic especially through Marvin," Altman said.
Rey Rodriguez has lived on the street for more than 15 years and agrees.
"I think the city did a good job," Rodriguez said. "I think our neighborhood did a really good job of coming together."
Some residents don't like it, though.
"Just to block off a city road, I just don't understand the thought process," said Alison Kuntz, who has lived on Wendover Drive for seven years.
Shannon Pizio has lived in the neighborhood for four years and says the project creates a bigger issue,
"I just think it's not fair to the other residents, and you're pushing the traffic to the other side of the street and making it their problem," Pizio said.
The project was in response to residents' concerns about traffic, according to the city.
Rodriguez said some neighbors went around the street to gather signatures for a petition about safety.
"We went around the neighborhood five-plus years ago and did a survey and went door-to-door to have people sign a petition for safety," Rodriguez said.
But Kuntz said she never saw it.
"I'm very heavily involved in the community here in both my work and my personal," Kuntz said. "I was very confused. How did I not know this was happening?"
Whether the residents are fans or not, the city is looking for their opinion.
"I don't know what to suggest to improve the problems people have been complained about, but I don't think this is the solution," Pizio said.
The city has an online survey, where neighbors can let the city know their opinions.