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  Monday night the city commission is discussing what to put on the ballot, and when, for Division St.  The two options are a divided boulevard from 14th St to 8th St, which could go on the ballot in August, or a plan to remove the traffic lights from 14th St to Grandview Parkway and replace them with roundabouts.  The roundabouts plan needs more modeling, and therefore is not ready for the ballot yet, but could go on a month from now for November. 

Boulevard

A divided boulevard could go from 14^th St to just south of 8th St.  The boulevard would have a landscaped median except at the intersections, where it would have center turn lanes, similar to Woodmere (but no bike lanes).  Each travel lane would be a foot wider than it is now (from 11 feet to 12 feet).  Reconstruction of Division including the boulevard would cost $10 to 13 million.  The boulevard would need a 30-foot strip of parkland on the west side.  The boulevard would provide a more scenic corridor and would provide pedestrian refuge space in the medians.  On the downside, wider lanes would mean faster speeds, and the boulevard would not address the stretch north of 8th St. 

Roundabouts

The lights at 14th St, 7th St, Front St, and Grandview Parkway would be removed and roundabouts would be installed at 14^th St, 11^th St, a new 8½ St (or perhaps 7th St), Front St, and Grandview Parkway.  The roundabouts plan would cost about $1.5 million per intersection, and could be phased in one at a time as funds allowed.  (Either option would likely require federal funding, perhaps an earmark designated to implement this as part of the Grand Vision).  It would require parkland at 11th St, 8½ St, and Grandview Parkway.   

Advantages of roundabouts are that they allow traffic to move in a slow but consistent speed, are safer for pedestrians and bicyclists, reduce dangerous left turns, reduce noise and vibrations, and reduce traffic accidents.  A roundabout could also create a more scenic corridor by eliminating overhead signals and wires.  The roundabouts plan came from the steering group representing neighborhoods and businesses along the corridor and has been endorsed by Munson, the GT Commons, and the TBA ISD, among others.  http://planfortc.com/2010/04/29/munson-and-the-commons-weigh-in-on-division-st-april-30/

Next steps

More modeling is needed for the roundabouts.  The individual roundabouts have more than enough capacity for the traffic on Division St, but the relationship of the roundabouts to other intersections needs to be modeled (14th St and the light at Veterans Drive, for example).  Therefore, the city could put the boulevard on the ballot for August, but needs the modeling before making a decision on the roundabouts – which could allow a November vote.  Another option is to target one intersection for a roundabout.

Observations

It seems to me that the roundabouts plan – because it is such a dramatic change – needs to be done carefully and with all the issues worked through prior to a vote.  Some points that need discussion.

1.  Treat the corridor as a system.  Benefits to the neighborhoods are based on this being a system, not a roundabout here or there.  In addition, the US-31 corridor needs to be looked at as a whole.  The South Campus entrance to the GT Commons and Munson could help take some pressure off Division.  Finally settling on an E-W alternative around town would take some pressure off the US-31 corridor.  (More on this in a later post).  
 
2.  The plan needs to be well thought out, meaning the various issues need to be addressed.  As Central Neighborhood rep Mike Devries pointed out, current designs show a  discrepancy from Lockwood’s concept.  Lockwood designed traffic slowing geometry, but the current designs have some speedy on-ramp shapes. 

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Correcting the designs could reduce the condemnation needed at Front St.  Also needed is a solution to through traffic on the residential side of 11th St.  Also needed is an acceptable plan for 8½ St, or an acceptable alternative to it. 

3.  Bring back the steering committee.  The steering committee included Munson, the GT Commons, Central, Kids Creek and Slabtown neighborhoods, and other representatives along the corridor.  These people represented the stakeholdes on the corridor well.  They know the needs of the neighborhoods and businesses in that area.  They are best positioned to work through solutions to these issues.  
 
4.  Implement interim changes now.  This includes street trees, sidewalks, and pedestrian crossing signs and paint.  An example from Lockwood’s sketches is here: 

If the boulevard is taken off the table (hence no widening), we could start getting these kinds of measures going now.  They could help calm the feel of the street and perhaps reduce speeds while the roundabouts are worked through and implemented one step at a time. 

What do you think?  Let us know here, by email to the CC, or at Monday’s meeting – 7 pm in the Governmental Center.