At a recent Workshop, City Council directed staff to move forward on recommendation to paint and landscape the new traffic signal cabinet on the corner of Hudson-Aurora Road and N. Main Street.
Prior to the recent N. Main Street Improvements Project, traffic signal controls for the Hudson-Aurora Road/N. Main Street intersection were housed inside the Clock Tower. To replace the traffic lights, larger circuitry was needed, making it no longer feasible to house the signal controls in their current location.
Having the controls inside the Clock Tower presented safety issues due to the tight space where people maintaining the tower clock had to navigate close to electric components. Also, the new signal technology requires a larger box to house and operate the computer electronics.
As part of the design of the North Main Street Improvements Project, the signal cabinet was placed at the corner of Hudson-Aurora Road and N. Main Street. After the new cabinet was installed, concerns were raised about the visual impact of the cabinet.
The City presented five options to a committee for discussion. The Committee was comprised of City staff, the Ward Councilman and a representative from Hudson Heritage Association. Options ranged from painting the cabinet, to creating an art mural on the cabinet, to landscaping and/or relocating the cabinet.
Each option had pros and cons. The Committee recommended repainting the box green, adding landscaping to help shield the cabinet, and bumping out the curb.
After a lengthy discussion, Council directed staff to start with the most cost-effective, minimal solution to see how it would impact the look. The cabinet will be painted a forest green and landscaping will be placed behind the box to minimize the visual impact. Council also suggested adding a few of the larger planters, like those across the street, on the sides of the cabinet. The curb will not be reconfigured at this time.
