Is Councilman Esslinger concerned about safety or not? It seems to depend...

On Tuesday the Oshkosh Common Council will consider what to do with the proposed reconstruction of the intersection at Jackson Street and Murdock Avenue. It will also learn at that time if the state DOT is willing to consider a less expensive alternative to a roundabout in redoing the intersection. This particular intersection needs to be redone, we’re told, because it is unsafe. According to public works director David Patek at the last council meeting, the intersection ranks as one of the worst in the city for accidents – ranking in the top 10, possibly the top five, for accidents each year in recent years.

This article from the Oshkosh Northwestern lays out the specifics of what’s being proposed by the DOT, but some councilors would prefer to see something different to save money. If it can be done for less money, great, as long as safety is improved. But it sounds like property will have to be acquired regardless of whether the intersection is done in a traditional way or with a roundabout; and that will drive up the cost regardless.

The article also includes comments from councilor Paul Esslinger, which are, without question, some of the silliest, most hypocritical I’ve heard in some time. In the piece, Esslinger questions whether the number of accidents at the intersection are really a result of its design. He is quoted as saying "Accidents are not caused because of design… it's due to inattentive drivers."

I guess not only is Mr. Esslinger an expert in economic development (based on previous comments about whether an office building will be successful along the riverfront), but in traffic design and safety, as well. His comment clearly goes against what the DOT has said and I bet if he talked to people in law enforcement or accident reconstruction he’d find road design is most definitely a cause of accidents. Is it always the culprit? No, but it’s not always just inattentive drivers either. If that were the case then Mr. Esslinger must expect us to believe that drivers are only inattentive at this and a few other select intersections in town and that they pay much closer attention at all others. Esslinger's argument doesn’t make sense.

Mr. Esslinger is also quoted in this article as saying this about the proposal of a roundabout at Jackson and Murdock: "I can't understand why we'd pay more for an intersection for people who don't want roundabouts to begin with."

I know councilman Esslinger professes to always do his homework, but the dog must have eaten his homework this time around. After all, data clearly shows that roundabouts are safer than traditional intersections. That should put this project in the positive column on Esslinger’s ledger. He’s the same guy, after all, who shoved sidewalks down the throats of River Mill Road residents in the name of safety only a month or so ago.

It’s also interesting that Mr. Esslinger claims people “don’t want roundabouts to begin with.” Many people didn’t want or think sidewalks were necessary at this time on River Mill Road, but he turned a deaf ear to them. Now in this case he's listening to people.

Most people in the city don’t yet know enough about roundabouts to know if they want them or not. What is probably more the case here is people naturally resist change and in Oshkosh, progress usually seems to be met with resistance more often than not by some. They seem to have the attitude that just because we’ve always done something one way, it should always be done that way. That is, to coin a phrase, pedestrian.

But, if Paul Esslinger is right and it’s only inattentiveness that causes accidents, then I would submit we really didn’t need sidewalks on River Mill. He could have saved himself a lot of political hell, and instead of the hoopla and divisiveness he created just given motorists a lecture about being more attentive when they drive. Thank you, councilor Esslinger. I'm sure we all feel much safer knowing you're "leading" the charge for safety - at least when you want to.