CHATTANOOGA / Downtown / Re-imagining Broad Street / Proposed Traffic Lane Reductions, Parking reduction, increased sidewalk widening

[MidTenn1]

The City of Chattanooga has hired the firm of Dover, Kohl and Partners Town Planners to guide the effort to, as they describe it, 

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Reimagining Broad Street will be a detailed, block-by-block urban design analysis that will address public realm improvements, multi-modal transportation enhancements, integrate technology, green infrastructure, parking, economic development opportunities, all while supporting existing businesses and urban residents. Reimagining Broad Street will be a detailed, block-by-block urban design analysis that will address public realm improvements, multi-modal transportation enhancements, integrate technology, green infrastructure, parking, economic development opportunities, all while supporting existing businesses and urban residents.

My card with the location and limits,

Apparently, this effort has been going on for a while as public meetings have been held and on-line surveys are being conducted. The people in charge of this effort have settled on three scenarios for the public to ostensibly choose from. The website is here.  The three scenarios are as follows,

Plan A

 

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Features include:

• Much of the walking space is in the center of the street with a shaded path of trees, similar to Las Ramblas in Barcelona.

• Both sides of the street will have wider sidewalks, but most activity would take place in the center.

• The travel lanes would be right sized, with the ability to still accommodate deliveries, fire trucks, and larger vehicles.

• The street is curbless. Bollards and trees would help to define the space but allow for flexibility to repurpose the street for events.

Plan B

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Features include:

• Right sizing the number of vehicle travel lanes and parking spaces to provide opportunity to recapture space for pedestrians.

• The sidewalks are wider on both sides, providing room for activity and shared public spaces.

• The center median is slightly wider to create a signature linear green of trees and urban landscaping.

• Bike lanes are moved to above the curb, integrated with the sidewalk instead of below the curb along the street.

 

Plan C

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features include:

All cars are shifted to one side of the street, allowing for the super-sizing of the sidewalk on one side of the street. The opposite sidewalk will also be wider.

Existing trees are preserved along with additional rows of trees added.

Bike lanes are located alongside the street trees, providing a natural delineation for walking, biking and running.

The reconfiguration creates countless opportunities to incorporate events, meeting spaces, and cafes. Broad Street will feel like a street within a park.

Oddly, Broad Street already has a tree canopy, a median with planters and marked bike lanes in both directions. It seems the City could build on what they have already at a lower cost but still achieve much of what they are aiming for. It won't be a Las Ramblas in Barcelona, but it could provide most of the benefits listed in the summaries above.

The current view toward the beautiful Tivoli Theater.

Cutting the laneage down to one lane is a mistake in my opinion. It will create additional delay at the signalized intersections which will require more green signal time for Broad Street thus subtracting time from the busier cross streets (3rd and/or M L King Blvd). Reducing lanes does not uninduce demand. The problem becomes exacerbated at the intersections on Broad Street and also transferred to adjacent streets such as Chestnut and Market. And I could argue that pedestrian safety could be challenged at the intersections on Broad. They should hire an independent Traffic Engineering firm to evaluate the impact on congestion and safety through proper research and evaluation.

[FrankNash]

^^^I like number 2 best.

[chc3]

Some shots from a Thursday night visit to Chatt. Stayed at The Kinley for the second time and had another great dinner at Alleia.