quote:
Originally posted by YoungTulsan
Population could be the same, but more people have cars now. Back in 1960, the family had one car. Now mom, dad, and both kids all have their own cars to go cavorting around town in. Highway and traffic planners only project that driving will continue to increase in the near future.
I still like the idea of many midtown streets converting from 4-lane roads to 3 lanes, or 3 lanes with parking though. Seems possible on certain streets as long as others can offset some of the traffic load.
I see your point about the number of cars...
But as someone who lives near this particular stretch, I'd gladly take a little traffic snarl if it meant the area could actually have some restaurants or something... It's just so stagnant as it is. Businesses seems to come and go every year. Traffic from the neighborhoods near the area could be rerouted to 21st and 11th. I personally would still drive down 15th because I can't imagine that the traffic would be that much worse.
My adopted home of Austin has a few areas like this, where there is a mishmash of architecture - old houses and duplexes that have been converted along with random commercial strucutres - and they have redeveloped into much more pedestrian friendly areas. A trendy restaurant or two, plus a few offices kind of like Boston Avenue between 15th and 18th (another street with on-street parking during off-peak traffic times). I think it would be a big win for Renaissance and Florence Park.