Comments on: A proposal for two-way Empire Street at LaSalle Square http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/09/16/a-proposal-for-two-way-empire-street-at-lasalle-square/ Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:31:46 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Dan http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/09/16/a-proposal-for-two-way-empire-street-at-lasalle-square/comment-page-1/#comment-137644 Dan Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:20:28 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=4595#comment-137644 sorry, the pdf on your link shows the original plan as one way. It was natural to think that your proposed change was in reference to that plan. Missed the sentence about how it has already been scrapped. Since that has already been abandoned for a two way proposal I will wait until wait to see what is proposed by the City and State. I think a two-way proposal will not be far off from yours. There are only so many options. sorry, the pdf on your link shows the original plan as one way. It was natural to think that your proposed change was in reference to that plan. Missed the sentence about how it has already been scrapped. Since that has already been abandoned for a two way proposal I will wait until wait to see what is proposed by the City and State. I think a two-way proposal will not be far off from yours. There are only so many options.

]]> By: Peter Brassard http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/09/16/a-proposal-for-two-way-empire-street-at-lasalle-square/comment-page-1/#comment-137643 Peter Brassard Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:18:56 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=4595#comment-137643 Sorry, just realized that the image shows a few cars and construction cones in the monument area. It must be a construction photo, but it does show the relationship of the crosswalks and access points into the monument area. Sorry, just realized that the image shows a few cars and construction cones in the monument area. It must be a construction photo, but it does show the relationship of the crosswalks and access points into the monument area.

]]> By: Peter Brassard http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/09/16/a-proposal-for-two-way-empire-street-at-lasalle-square/comment-page-1/#comment-137642 Peter Brassard Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:13:27 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=4595#comment-137642 Dan makes a good point. When there’s an event the traffic is nightmarish. That won’t change no matter how public transit is in place. Columbus Circle in Manhattan is an example of a compromise solution. It’s a signalized roundabout. There are three main crosswalks to enter the monument area. People can always get in and out and traffic always moves smoothly through the circle. see image: http://www.nyc-architecture.com/MID/17blocks_lg.jpg Dan makes a good point. When there’s an event the traffic is nightmarish. That won’t change no matter how public transit is in place.

Columbus Circle in Manhattan is an example of a compromise solution. It’s a signalized roundabout. There are three main crosswalks to enter the monument area. People can always get in and out and traffic always moves smoothly through the circle.

see image:
http://www.nyc-architecture.com/MID/17blocks_lg.jpg

]]> By: Jef Nickerson http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/09/16/a-proposal-for-two-way-empire-street-at-lasalle-square/comment-page-1/#comment-137640 Jef Nickerson Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:54:30 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=4595#comment-137640 The city is intent on having Empire be two-way straight through the square. I believed they toyed with the idea of having the square act as a round-a-bout (a square-a-bout) with a lane running right up against the BCBS Building, this would allow for mostly merges and few lights, but then the square itself would be separated from pedestrians, who would have to cross the flowing traffic. If traffic proves to be problematic during Dunk events, the police could divert westbound Empire at Washington so that the westbound movement would go away during peak traffic periods. I don't think special event traffic should trump regular daily traffic flow. The city is intent on having Empire be two-way straight through the square. I believed they toyed with the idea of having the square act as a round-a-bout (a square-a-bout) with a lane running right up against the BCBS Building, this would allow for mostly merges and few lights, but then the square itself would be separated from pedestrians, who would have to cross the flowing traffic.

If traffic proves to be problematic during Dunk events, the police could divert westbound Empire at Washington so that the westbound movement would go away during peak traffic periods. I don’t think special event traffic should trump regular daily traffic flow.

]]> By: Dan http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/09/16/a-proposal-for-two-way-empire-street-at-lasalle-square/comment-page-1/#comment-137638 Dan Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:09:49 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=4595#comment-137638 The T at Sabin and Exchange is not a good solution. When something is going on at the Dunk, having traffic back up at a light on Sabin could be a problem. Its far easier to allow traffic to merge instead of having it come to a complete stop to make left hand turns (across a traffic lane) from Sabin to Exchange and Exchange to Fountain. In essence, Sabin, Fountain and the one-way section of Empire create a circulator for the Dunk and the Convention Ctr. Its the most efficient way to move traffic when you have thousands of people coming into the City for an event. It also lets people who are not coming in for that event a quick way to get through the area. The T at Sabin and Exchange is not a good solution. When something is going on at the Dunk, having traffic back up at a light on Sabin could be a problem. Its far easier to allow traffic to merge instead of having it come to a complete stop to make left hand turns (across a traffic lane) from Sabin to Exchange and Exchange to Fountain. In essence, Sabin, Fountain and the one-way section of Empire create a circulator for the Dunk and the Convention Ctr. Its the most efficient way to move traffic when you have thousands of people coming into the City for an event. It also lets people who are not coming in for that event a quick way to get through the area.

]]> By: Peter Brassard http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/09/16/a-proposal-for-two-way-empire-street-at-lasalle-square/comment-page-1/#comment-137635 Peter Brassard Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:27:59 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=4595#comment-137635 Did the original plan show an allowance for a bike lane in both directions? Is that what the 2’ near the curb indicates? The square-off looks good and would work on Fountain Street as well. Traffic flow wouldn’t be impeded because Sabin and Fountain are one-ways that would feed the southbound (or outside)lanes through the square. It still is baffling why 15’ wide lanes are necessary on Fountain Street. Maybe they’re reserving the ability to make the street two-way in the future. It would make it easier to add streetcar rails, although it’s doubtful that’s what they were thinking. Did the original plan show an allowance for a bike lane in both directions? Is that what the 2’ near the curb indicates? The square-off looks good and would work on Fountain Street as well. Traffic flow wouldn’t be impeded because Sabin and Fountain are one-ways that would feed the southbound (or outside)lanes through the square.

It still is baffling why 15’ wide lanes are necessary on Fountain Street. Maybe they’re reserving the ability to make the street two-way in the future. It would make it easier to add streetcar rails, although it’s doubtful that’s what they were thinking.

]]>