LAKEWOOD, Ohio – City and Greater Cleveland RTA officials say they want to work with residents upset about what some consider "sign pollution" on Clifton Boulevard.

However, the signs for the Cleveland State University line will stay in place for at least a year.

The Regional Transit Authority is completing a $20 million bus transportation improvement project in Cleveland and Lakewood that includes installing new bus shelters, increasing the frequency of buses, and creating dedicated bus lanes during rush hour traffic. New higher-capacity buses also were put on the routes beginning today.

While Lakewood officials and most residents welcome the additional bus service, some -- including Mayor Michael Summers and council President Mary Louise Madigan -- object to hundreds of bus lane signs that RTA has posted along the approximately three miles of Clifton Boulevard.

Residents have contacted City Hall and council members to complain about the number of signs. There are at least six signs between every intersection, three on each side of the street.

"It's way more than we need in Lakewood," Summers said.

The signs instruct drivers when the dedicated bus lanes are in use and when they must turn right.

The pattern is repeated at every intersection. With 29 intersections in roughly three miles of road in Lakewood, that means motorists encounter a lot of signs, Summers said.

However, RTA officials said they posted the signs to comply with Ohio Department of Transportation guidelines. The specifications are spelled out in the Ohio Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

"We have to meet the standard of care because if we don't, and someone has a little wreck at the intersection, we're liable," said Mike Schipper, deputy general manager for engineering and project management for RTA.

Requiring three sets of signs per intersection may make sense in some communities, but not in Lakewood where streets are close together, Summers said.

After one year operating with the existing signs, the city of Lakewood and RTA can consider scaling back the signage. However, RTA wants to leave the existing signs in place for at least a year to ensure the public is aware of the new bus lanes.

Paul Szentkiralyi, of French Avenue, Lakewood, addressed City Council in late October, raising concerns about the signs.

"I was talking with my wife and the word that comes to mind is sign pollution," Szentkiralyi said. "We're happy we got some federal money for the bus lanes, and it's good we're promoting public transportation, but the same three signs at every intersection, I think it's a little overpowering and people will probably ignore them after a while."

Residents also have posted comments on RTA's Facebook page objecting to the signs. And at least one resident wrote a letter to The Plain Dealer objecting to the signs.

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