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Downtown One-way Streets

Started by mrB, July 14, 2008, 02:52:53 AM

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mrB


I particularly like the last two paragraphs of the article!

quote:

Downtown Oklahoma City streets switch to two-ways

by Brian Brus
The Journal Record
July 14, 2008

OKLAHOMA CITY â€" Most of the few remaining one-way streets in downtown Oklahoma City were changed to support bidirectional traffic over the weekend as city planners prepare the area for the impending Interstate 40 Crosstown relocation.

“Other cities of our size, by and large, are getting away from one-way streets,� Oklahoma City Public Works Director Dennis Clowers said.

New painted lane markers and street signal lights were put into use at Hudson, Harvey and Robinson avenues from NW Sixth Street to NW 13th Street, and at NW Fifth and NW Sixth streets from Western to Walker avenues.

Clowers said the street changes were recommended by a study more than seven years ago in which planners were asked to examine the effects on traffic from recent major capital improvement projects in the area, the Oklahoma City National Memorial, increased business development and the planned move of I-40.

Other streets had since been converted in accordance with the study. Saturday’s changes leave few one-ways in the city, Clowers said, and they probably will be converted as well.

One-way signs are a relic of smaller city growth, City Planner Wiley Rice said. Some of the first one-way street transitions were made in Heritage Hills and Mesta Park neighborhoods in northwest Oklahoma City in the early 1980s at the beginning of the “New Urbanism� design movement. When those residential areas were first developed decades earlier, city planners had wanted to move people as quickly as possible between the NW 23rd Street corridor and downtown. Now they support two-way traffic or are peppered with stop signs to slow down traffic, he said.

The latest downtown conversions draw the traffic flow aspects of that urban redesign movement to a conclusion, Rice said.

“The movement of I-40 is what’s driving this, pardon the pun,� said Randy Entz, transportation planner.

“Typically one-way streets tend to increase speed a little bit and increase flow when they’re used correctly, and traffic management is about efficient movement of traffic through an area. Two-way streets tend to narrow things a bit and slow drivers down,� Entz said.

Moving I-40 south to the Oklahoma River removes a fast-flowing, feeder artery from downtown.

But as the study also suggests, he said, “It’s difficult to maneuver through a city you don’t know when it’s a combination of one-way and two-way streets. When you’re always wondering, ‘All right, am I making the right kind of turn?’ it’s not intuitive to drive.

“If you want your downtown to be more of a tourist area, you’ve got to make it as easy to get around as possible. Ideally, you would have a public transit system that would do that for them, but that’s a whole other discussion,� Entz said.


Copyright © 2008 The Journal Record All Rights Reserved
101 N. Robinson Ave., Ste. 101, Oklahoma City, OK, 73102 |
P.O. Box 26370, Oklahoma City, OK, 73126-0370 | (405) 235-3100
415 S. Boston Ave., Ste. 101, Tulsa, OK 74103 | (918) 295-0098

http://www.journalrecord.com/article.cfm?
recid=90498





TheTed

I never thought they were that difficult. Most downtowns have them. You just drive around the block to get where you're going.

I usually see at least one person a day going the wrong way on a downtown one-way.

But I also see one person a day disregarding a stoplight, going straight out of a turn lane, etc. Tulsa drivers just aren't very good at driving.
 

TURobY

I have no problem navigating the one-ways in Tulsa, but I have had difficulties in other cities. I got completely flustered in Wichita and went around the same block 3 times trying to get to an office. [:P]
---Robert

TheArtist

#3
quote:
Originally posted by TheTed

I never thought they were that difficult. Most downtowns have them. You just drive around the block to get where you're going.

I usually see at least one person a day going the wrong way on a downtown one-way.

But I also see one person a day disregarding a stoplight, going straight out of a turn lane, etc. Tulsa drivers just aren't very good at driving.



Its not always just one block.

Here is my usual routine...

hunting for a place where I am supposed to meet someone I head down a street that exited off a highway or other street into downtown... realize I have to turn left because the place I am going is on that street, but cant since its 1 way, go down to the next street, turn left but then need to turn left again only to discover that that street is also 1 way in the opposite direction,,, so go down yet another block, turn left, I am finally on the street headed to the corner where the business is, OK now I know where it is and what part of downtown its in, So now where is the nearest parking place... which then leaves me going in other circles, "nope thats private" Ooops missed that one because of the car riding on my tail wanting me to drive faster"  Hmmm there are some parking spots but I dont see where you pay so can I park there or not? Ooops cant go down that street because its blocked off for construction or some event,,, make a wrong turn down another 1 way street and then suddenly find myself on a highway going to Joplin. Finally show up at meeting late, grumpy and pissy.  

I usually have to find the place first since I dont know the street names and whether the place is on one side of downtown or not, or whether there is any parking nearby or its just best to park well away. I am always afraid to pull into a parking garage because they never seem to label whether they are private or public or only for the building next door. etc. etc.
"When you only have two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a lily with the other."-Chinese proverb. "Arts a staple. Like bread or wine or a warm coat in winter. Those who think it is a luxury have only a fragment of a mind. Mans spirit grows hungry for art in the same way h

Michael71

I have often gotten confused.  Although, I live close enough to walk downtown.
--------------------------
"Why be part of the 'brain drain' that gets sucked out of Tulsa...The opportunity IS there, you just gotta make it!!"--Eric Marshall

PonderInc

Downtown Tulsa should be ENTIRELY two-way!  While those of us who drive downtown every day may know the routes, they totally frustrate visitors...and rightly so.  Combine one-way streets with various closed blocks (the Williams Tower/Crowne Plaza, the BOK Arena, the Boulder Bridge) and it's hell to get from point A to point B.  

Recently, an older gent asked me how to get to the PAC.  He was at 1st and Boulder, and I had to draw him a map.  Thank god 3rd is now 2-way, or I would have had to tell him to go left on 1st, left on Cheyenne, left on 2nd, right on Cinn, and right on 3rd.

If 1st street were 2-way, the directions would have been: Take 1st to Cincinnati.  Turn right.  It's on the corner of 3rd and Cinn.

1st Street being one way is also a huge problem for the Brady District.  B/c the Boulder Bridge is closed, people either have to cross the tracks at Denver ("go past the homeless shelter, the city jail, and the bail bonds...take a right...") or they have to swing out east all the way to Detroit.  B/c of the Williams tower/Crowne Plaza being in the way, they can't take 2nd and cross on Main.  Cheyenne is often blocked by trains.  Boston is pedestrian only.  Cincinnati is one way the wrong way....

This is especially awful now that the BOK Arena will be opening.  Since it will take years to fix the Boulder Bridge, it would have been a simple thing to make 1st street two-way.  No clue why this wasn't done.  Denver Ave going north works, but it's not especially nice or welcoming to visitors who are already "scared of downtown."

jne

quote:
Originally posted by PonderInc

Downtown Tulsa should be ENTIRELY two-way!  While those of us who drive downtown every day may know the routes, they totally frustrate visitors...and rightly so.  Combine one-way streets with various closed blocks (the Williams Tower/Crowne Plaza, the BOK Arena, the Boulder Bridge) and it's hell to get from point A to point B.  

Recently, an older gent asked me how to get to the PAC.  He was at 1st and Boulder, and I had to draw him a map.  Thank god 3rd is now 2-way, or I would have had to tell him to go left on 1st, left on Cheyenne, left on 2nd, right on Cinn, and right on 3rd.

If 1st street were 2-way, the directions would have been: Take 1st to Cincinnati.  Turn right.  It's on the corner of 3rd and Cinn.

1st Street being one way is also a huge problem for the Brady District.  B/c the Boulder Bridge is closed, people either have to cross the tracks at Denver ("go past the homeless shelter, the city jail, and the bail bonds...take a right...") or they have to swing out east all the way to Detroit.  B/c of the Williams tower/Crowne Plaza being in the way, they can't take 2nd and cross on Main.  Cheyenne is often blocked by trains.  Boston is pedestrian only.  Cincinnati is one way the wrong way....

This is especially awful now that the BOK Arena will be opening.  Since it will take years to fix the Boulder Bridge, it would have been a simple thing to make 1st street two-way.  No clue why this wasn't done.  Denver Ave going north works, but it's not especially nice or welcoming to visitors who are already "scared of downtown."



Wow, it would have taken me a year to put together that summary.  I drive downtown weekly, often wandering errantly until I stumble onto my destination.  It is next to impossible to give or take directions.  With some 2 ways and some 1 ways, I am just as confused.  Be assured you will play chicken with someone form out of town.
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Gold

My problem with the newer two way streets downtown (Boston) is that they didn't make many allowances for delivery vehicles.  Every morning when I drive to work, it's an adventure of weaving around parked FedEx and UPS trucks.  Traffic doesn't flow well when the left lane is taken up by someone looking for the courthouse.

If it's going to be two lanes, it should really be two lanes instead of one lane between the hours of 9 and 11 am or 3 and 5 pm.

SXSW

I totally agree about 1st Street, that should be the next downtown street to get the 2-way treatment because of its importance in linking the arena to Blue Dome and eventually the ballpark.  We also need the Boulder Bridge to be rebuilt...badly.
 

cannon_fodder

I was leaving the PAC a couple weeks ago and notice a stop sign facing me on a previously one-way street in the other direction.  I figured they changed it so I turned to head South on Detroit just in front of the Greyhound station.  Dutifully stopping at the sign.

Just then a car was heading towards me, in my lane, and also came to a stop.  "Poor bastard, he doesn't realize they changed this street around."  As I turned the corner I see that it is a cop...

Lights come on, I stop.  I had just finished a pint (had to try to Pub Ale while in the area, it's great), but was still unnerved by the situation.  I pointed out that the stop sign faced me and all he did was roll his eyes and apologize for the messed up streets.  He made a comment that it made it much easier to spot drunks downtown when people paying attention were going slow and lost and the drunks were going confidently the wrong way.

When he said I could go I then proceeded to run the red light I was stopped in front of.  Cops make me nervous.  [}:)]
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AVERAGE JOE

quote:
Originally posted by Gold

My problem with the newer two way streets downtown (Boston) is that they didn't make many allowances for delivery vehicles.  Every morning when I drive to work, it's an adventure of weaving around parked FedEx and UPS trucks.  Traffic doesn't flow well when the left lane is taken up by someone looking for the courthouse.

If it's going to be two lanes, it should really be two lanes instead of one lane between the hours of 9 and 11 am or 3 and 5 pm.


We do have allowances for delivery vehicles. They're called alleys. We just don't force delivery vehicles to use them like we should be doing. It's a simple matter of police enforcement.

btw, it's worse on Main, where the delivery trucks block an entire lane on a two-lane street. But police not only don't enforce the law, they're part of the problem. The dipsh*t police officer who sits in their patrol car downtown on weekday mornings does exactly the same thing -- parks in the 400 block of Main (in a no parking zone) and blocks an entire lane of traffic on a two-lane street during morning rush hour.

Townsend

Saw this yesterday and forgot to post it.


Downtown streets transforming from one-way to two-way


Quote
A handful of roads in Downtown Tulsa are set to transform from one-way to two-way streets. This action comes after thirty blocks are identified as in-need of conversion.

Main Street from 6th to 10th will soon be accessible two ways. This is funded by two separate groups, with one common goal, to make it less confusing for drivers.

"We built our streets to get people out. Two way streets help keep people in," says Elliot Nelson. To help keep people in downtown and at one of his seven businesses, Nelson is pushing for traffic to flow two ways on Main. Even if it's twelve blocks away from his closest pub.

Nelson says, "We all took a chance on our urban core. It's important not only for me as a business owner, but for those people as business owners, for the city as a whole. This is our economic driver, where most of the good high paying jobs are."

$115,000 will convert Main Street at 8th and 9th. The transformation is paid for by two different groups.

The funding comes from the Downtown Coordinating Council and non-allocated assessment money. Main at 6th and 7th Streets are funded by Vision 2025. "Two-waying the streets gives better access, bottom line. A retailer or developer isn't willing to put money into downtown if they do not have good access," says Mark Brown, director of traffic for the city.

Each intersection is estimated to cost $35,000 to $40,000. That cost is doubled if crews have to replace the electrical hardware at each intersection, which is common downtown.

"You'll have to convert the stripping over from 10th to 9th. As well as the signs for two-way traffic. I'm not including parking meters on this project," Brown says.

Both projects are set to be complete by fall of 2012.

The next streets and avenues officials want to transform are 4th, 5th, Cheyenne, and Boulder. However, these projects are not yet funded, just proposed.



Read more: http://www.kjrh.com/dpp/news/local_news/downtown-streets-transforming-from-one-way-to-two-way#ixzz1ibu3e8HZ

TheTed

Sweet. That portion of main street that's one way is ridiculous. I avoid Main because of that. It's not possible to remember exactly where it goes from two-way to one-way and back to two-way again.

Making Cheyenne two-way will sure slow down post-BOK Center crowds. I think that's the only reason that street, with all its excess capacity, is even remotely useful.
 

nathanm

pancakes is so hard to understand about one way streets? You want difficult navigation on one way streets, try downtown Orlando. Random turn restrictions make it very weird. Somehow, though, I don't find it terribly frustrating to go around the block if I get messed up. I am much more annoyed by having to make left turns across heavy traffic when there is no turn arrow and everybody blasts through the yellow lights.
"Labor is prior to and independent of capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration" --Abraham Lincoln

jacobi

I miss downtown one way's.  Only south tulsa owld people turist types wanted them to change.  Whatever.  let's hope they will be dead in a few years.
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