Submitted by Chris Smith on Mon, 10/17/2005 - 7:44pm.
Sam, you need to work on your analogies. Everett and Glisan are a poor comparison to what traffic on a Burnside/Couch couplet would be like. Because they are not signalized at each intersection, they tend to have higher traffic speeds.
Washington and Alder are a much better comparison and speeds would be comparable to these streets, MUCH slower than the current speed on Burnside.
Because Burnside is two-way today, the traffic engineers' solution to move the traffic is to turn all the lights green at once and let as many cars through as possible. This incentivizes motorists to drive as quickly as possible.
As a couplet, the signals would be progressed as they are on most downtown one-way streets. If you drive 12-15 mph you keep getting green lights. That's how the same capacity is maintained at lower speeds - you don't have all the time waiting at red lights.
The couplet is a great project that has been carefully planned by PDOT and stakeholders from all the affected neighborhoods in two year-long planning processes.
Burnside today is a major barrier between the two halves of our central city - this project will be transformative in reuniting our neighborhoods and creating a much improved pedestrian and retail environment.
And oh yeah - you'll be able to make left turns!
I'll post a longer piece on the merits of the project over at PortlandTransport.com shortly.
re: BLOG: Smoldering Argument over West Burnside Couplet
Sam, you need to work on your analogies. Everett and Glisan are a poor comparison to what traffic on a Burnside/Couch couplet would be like. Because they are not signalized at each intersection, they tend to have higher traffic speeds.
Washington and Alder are a much better comparison and speeds would be comparable to these streets, MUCH slower than the current speed on Burnside.
Because Burnside is two-way today, the traffic engineers' solution to move the traffic is to turn all the lights green at once and let as many cars through as possible. This incentivizes motorists to drive as quickly as possible.
As a couplet, the signals would be progressed as they are on most downtown one-way streets. If you drive 12-15 mph you keep getting green lights. That's how the same capacity is maintained at lower speeds - you don't have all the time waiting at red lights.
The couplet is a great project that has been carefully planned by PDOT and stakeholders from all the affected neighborhoods in two year-long planning processes.
Burnside today is a major barrier between the two halves of our central city - this project will be transformative in reuniting our neighborhoods and creating a much improved pedestrian and retail environment.
And oh yeah - you'll be able to make left turns!
I'll post a longer piece on the merits of the project over at PortlandTransport.com shortly.