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I have a transportation planning issue that has confounded my community for the last 50 years. I'm interested in hearing /n/'s opinions and their ideas for a solution.
Many commuters travel from the southern suburbs to downtown along the green path. Currently there is a road (blue) that is a four lane divided expressway with few stop lights that connections directly to the interstate in the south but not to the north. The expressway follows a rail/stream trail and cuts through the city which allows few stops and higher speeds. The missing gap (red) are urban streets with dense buildings and many pedestrians/transit. Currently intersections become very congested and the area is very unpleasant with all of the extra traffic not from the area. The issue is what to do with the congested urban traffic that is not local but through-traffic from the suburbs to another city.
Here are some of the ideas proposed and I’d love to see if you have other ones.
1. Connect the expressway to the interstate at the north. This would remove traffic from local streets but increase traffic in the expressway which wealthy neighbors oppose. Various issues related to induce demand are presented. This would be expensive because of right of way and no help from the federal government. The road is almost entirely local with no county or state aid. This is also unpopular because the idea that all of the traffic is through traffic that doesn’t aid the city.
2. Convert the expressway to a parkway with one lane of traffic in each direction.
3. Remove all roads completely and convert it to a linear park.
Options 2 and 3 usally include adding bike lanes to connect with Midtown Greenway, an extremely successful separated rail trail in the neighboring city. There are concerns about 2 and 3 shifting traffic onto other city streets.
How would you reduce through-traffic on city streets, and satisfy NIMBY neighbors who would prefer park to roads? Any other ideas?
