Drivers on Jackson Boulevard won't be turning right on red to West Main Street for much longer.

The city's Public Works Committee on Tuesday approved the city traffic engineer's recommendations for improving safety on West Main Street, including ending right turns on red. Also on the table is installing a raised median between West and Cross streets to prevent left turns to and from the businesses along the city's busiest thoroughfare.

Mayor Alan Hanks asked city staff in late July to study the merits of installing a raised median on West Main Street, after a fatal motorcycle accident that claimed the life of a 33-year-old man and his 8-year-old son.

According to police, the man's motorcycle struck a van that was crossing eastbound lanes after leaving a business parking lot in the Gap.

The committee did not make a decision on the median Tuesday and instead sent the proposal to the city's Capital Improvement Program committee for further discussion. A raised median would cost about $199,000, according to city estimates.

Traffic engineer John Less said West Main could benefit from a median, especially because accidents in the Gap cripple the city's east-west traffic flow. But he stopped short of saying it was a necessity.

"This is a main artery for our community. We're making the recommendation that yes, this is a candidate for a median installation," Less said. "Based on the crash history compared to other roads in the city, is that the No. 1 priority? I'll leave that up to the council."

West Main has a fairly low crash rate compared with the city's other major arteries, Less said. Between 2000 and 2008, there were 24 crashes between Cross and West streets, with only six reporting injuries.

Eliminating the right turns on red on Jackson would not have a significant impact on drivers, Less said. He estimated it would delay vehicles two to three seconds during peak travel hours.

The turns were prohibited when Jackson Boulevard and West Main were state highways, but in 1992, the Rapid City Council lifted the ban.

Businesses on West Main agreed something needs to be done to improve safety but didn't know whether a median was the best option.

Pat Tlustos of Northwest Engineering said they hired their own consultant to evaluate traffic issues on the 1300 block of West Main. NWE offices were in the Gap before moving to the new Founders Park business park off Omaha Street.

Tlustos said a median would only be a temporary solution, because businesses need access from the east and west.

"There's quite a stretch of property that's going to be redeveloped in the near future," Tlustos said. "When you start thinking about a median, you're really talking about an interim solution."

Ty Ferley, owner of Tile & Stone Imports, said a traffic signal at Cross Street could alleviate those problems. Drivers could make U-turns, instead of driving through businesses' parking lots, like they do now. More traffic could also be diverted onto Omaha Street if drivers could easily turn left onto Cross.

"You can't get across during busy times," Ferley said. "If there were a light there, people could turn left."

Contact Emilie Rusch at 394-8453 or emilie.rusch@rapidcityjournal.com.