Old West End Neighborhood Association

The reconstruction of SR 32 (Main St and Jackson St) posses some challenges for the Old West End.

The board received a presentation from Bruce Frankel on his ideas for the project.

Following the presentation, the board decided to seek input from the neighborhood.

We are asking:

''WHAT DO YOU WANT SR 32 TO BE LIKE WHEN IT IS RECONSTRUCTED?''

For example: safer for pedestrians, pretty, slower traffic. Please try to provide as detailed of ideas as you can.

By Stephan

lanes

Okay I have driven down the streets that will be effected and here are my thoughts. In Bruce's presentation he stated that it would be beneficial to have these streets turned in to one lane residential streets. After thinking about it I don't see how this would be a good idea. All of the other one way streets are two lanes. Main street and Jackson are the tow main vessels into and through downtown. If we made these streets one lane it would draw a lot of the traffic to the remaining two lane streets which ARE residential streets. It would seem odd that the neighborhood streets are tow lanes but the highway in and out of town are only one lane. As for the added parking that a one lane street would provide. Jackson doesn't have much of a need for parking and on main street most of the houses that are on the side of the road without street parking have driveways. As for what I would like to see... I would like the streets to become more pedestrian friendly. Bruces proposed intersections sounds nice. They have those in Bloomington made out of brick. It really draws your attention to intersections. I would like to see a bike lane. Or a larger side walk with sloped curbs at each intersection. I would like to see a reduced speed limit with children at play signs. I would like to see Historic district signs. Trees should be planted whereever trees are lacking or where they have been taken down. I do agree that money for home renovation should be given. Signs should clearly mark when drivers are entering a residential area. I'll think of some more.

correction

I wrote tow several times instead of two.

By bella

towards a decision

I will be part of a meeting with a few residents of the current SR32 this week and I am sure many good ideas will be presented there. However, my preliminary thoughts are very much in line with Bella's. I have my doubts about turning Main and Jackson into one-lane streets, but I would like to see as many cues as possible put into place that this is a street that runs through a NEIGHBORHOOD where children play. The signs stating such should definately be put into place.
Bike lanes and handicapped-accessible sidewalks should be in the minds of any responsible person in charge of a project such as this...especially with all the moms I see pushing strollers and all the residents of Gillespie towers living on 32 itself.
I love the look of bricked intersections (where the pedestrian lane is paved in brick across the road), but would like more information as to how long-lasting these are (with snowploughs running over them) and how easily they are navigated by those in wheelchairs, etc.
A mix of many kinds of pavement-friendly trees should be planted.
I am uncertain about whether power lines will also be affected by the changes, but if there is any way for that to take place, I know the sky on my side of main street (the side along the river) is polluted with power lines running in every direction and could use an up-grade.
One bumpout that would be beneficial is at the point where Main becomes a two-way street (just folowing the turn-off of 32 onto Kilgore). Cars begin to be parked along the right side of the street there. Currently this is marked by lines on the street, but a bumpout planted with perinnials would look much nicer and serve as a better warning to speeding vehicles.
Finally, I do not think Main could do with less parking. The streets are full of cars I identify as belonging to residents of the houses on Main. Many houses have driveways and parking spaces taking up their entire fronts yards at times, but that parking is not sufficient for the two, three, or four apartments of people living in each house.
There are my preliminary thoughts. I'm sure more will follow after further discussion.

~Lezlie

By lezlie