How would a road diet impact traffic? Will it cause congestion and overflow onto residential streets?
Part of the goal is to slow traffic, so that is actually a good thing, to “right size” the road and slow traffic to a level that’s appropriate to our area.
To be clear, the area in question is only between 32nd and 36th, and our traffic levels currently are low enough that even if no one changed routes, we would not see significant congestion… even during peak hours we would likely just see changes in drive time of seconds, not minutes. Traffic would keep moving smoothly, just more slowly.
The City's Transit Master Plan shows that in 2035 the traffic in this portion of Center is still expected to be only between .5 and .7 of its capacity. It also shows that the city thought Center was a good road diet candidate back in 2015, and even gave it project number CS-003 (see page 42).
City traffic data shows 2016 levels at 10-11k per day, well below the 15k considered a road diet candidate. There are actually more vehicles traveling between Martha and Center on 32nd (a narrower 2-lane road with on-street parking and a bike lane) than on this stretch of Center.
Public Works' Road Diet Study in 2017 also indicated that a 3 lane Center Street would still be able to accommodate the additional traffic that would result from future businesses on Center.
That said, we do expect some traffic patterns to shift as people adjust their commutes. Traffic from residents in the neighborhood will probably not change much… people may take a different residential road from their house to 36th or 32nd than the one they currently take to Center. The bigger shift will be among higher-speed commuters heading to 75 who are coming from the VA and further west. We would LIKE this traffic to shift to 42nd or Leavenworth.
To be clear, the area in question is only between 32nd and 36th, and our traffic levels currently are low enough that even if no one changed routes, we would not see significant congestion… even during peak hours we would likely just see changes in drive time of seconds, not minutes. Traffic would keep moving smoothly, just more slowly.
The City's Transit Master Plan shows that in 2035 the traffic in this portion of Center is still expected to be only between .5 and .7 of its capacity. It also shows that the city thought Center was a good road diet candidate back in 2015, and even gave it project number CS-003 (see page 42).
City traffic data shows 2016 levels at 10-11k per day, well below the 15k considered a road diet candidate. There are actually more vehicles traveling between Martha and Center on 32nd (a narrower 2-lane road with on-street parking and a bike lane) than on this stretch of Center.
Public Works' Road Diet Study in 2017 also indicated that a 3 lane Center Street would still be able to accommodate the additional traffic that would result from future businesses on Center.
That said, we do expect some traffic patterns to shift as people adjust their commutes. Traffic from residents in the neighborhood will probably not change much… people may take a different residential road from their house to 36th or 32nd than the one they currently take to Center. The bigger shift will be among higher-speed commuters heading to 75 who are coming from the VA and further west. We would LIKE this traffic to shift to 42nd or Leavenworth.
IS THIS RELATED TO THE PROPOSAL TO CLOSE WoolwortH?
Short Answer: These two projects are being done by different groups with different motivations and are not connected, but also not mutually exclusive or antagonistic. We think they could both benefit the neighborhood, but both should stand on their own merits. However, neighbors should be aware of how one might impact the other.
Long Answer: The Field Club of Omaha, located at Woolworth and 36th, is exploring how to give the club a facelift and make it a more desirable golfing and recreation destination. They are looking at several options… one design that could work with their current layout - with Woolworth staying open as is - and one design that would only be possible if Woolworth were closed. They have asked for neighborhood opinion on the closing, and neighbors are mixed. Many have said that the loss of the pedestrian and bike path to the Field Club trail would be a big problem, and others are concerned about travel from FCHL to 42nd, as well as emergency vehicle access. (In response to the question of pedestrian access, they are currently asking neighbors how they would feel about the idea if FCO was willing to add a pedestrian/bike trail to connect the Center/36th intersection to the Field Club Trail.)
The city has said NO to closing Woolworth, but if the neighborhood is supportive of the idea, FCO may try to go back to the city with another proposal.
If Woolworth was to close BEFORE Center, there would definitely be impact that could jeopardize a road diet, but FCO has expressed support and said they would postpone any kind of revised proposal to the city regarding the closing of Woolworth for as long as possible - hopefully until after Center was finished.
Long Answer: The Field Club of Omaha, located at Woolworth and 36th, is exploring how to give the club a facelift and make it a more desirable golfing and recreation destination. They are looking at several options… one design that could work with their current layout - with Woolworth staying open as is - and one design that would only be possible if Woolworth were closed. They have asked for neighborhood opinion on the closing, and neighbors are mixed. Many have said that the loss of the pedestrian and bike path to the Field Club trail would be a big problem, and others are concerned about travel from FCHL to 42nd, as well as emergency vehicle access. (In response to the question of pedestrian access, they are currently asking neighbors how they would feel about the idea if FCO was willing to add a pedestrian/bike trail to connect the Center/36th intersection to the Field Club Trail.)
The city has said NO to closing Woolworth, but if the neighborhood is supportive of the idea, FCO may try to go back to the city with another proposal.
If Woolworth was to close BEFORE Center, there would definitely be impact that could jeopardize a road diet, but FCO has expressed support and said they would postpone any kind of revised proposal to the city regarding the closing of Woolworth for as long as possible - hopefully until after Center was finished.
Won’t less traffic hurt businesses?
No! Businesses need people not vehicles. Businesses need cars to stop and people to get out and walk around, not go whizzing by. Businesses that people go to as destinations, like big box stores, well-known chains, as well as fast food places (like Abelardo's) do okay in non-walkable areas, but businesses like sit-down restaurants, cafes, and small mom and pop shops need pedestrian traffic like that in the Old Market and Dundee. The link between walkability and economic strength has been well researched!
Why can’t we just get more police speeding enforcement? Can’t people just drive better?
Long, flat straightaways with good visibility make people feel confident to drive fast. Curvy roads, bumpy roads, narrow roads, roads with trees or parked cars along the edges all make people intuitively, naturally drive more carefully and attentively. The best way to change drivers’ behavior is by making it easy and natural for them to drive better through physical changes, not by punishing them for doing the intuitive thing. Plus, enforcing speeding is very high-cost, because it requires police to monitor the area consistently.
Are you adding a bike lane?
We would LOVE bike lanes, but our road is too narrow to do it all. 😢 We have 3 things we want/need: sidewalks, bike lanes, and on-street parking. We can probably only fit 2 of those.
In order to put active businesses where the current empty parking lots are, the city *requires* there to be on-street parking (to avoid overflow onto residential streets). The neighbors have said sidewalks are a bigger priority than bike lanes, so parking+sidewalks are the direction we're likely headed.
If neighbors tell the city that they they are vehemently okay with parking overflow to sidestreets, we could possibly scrap the on-street parking... but based on folks' feedback so far, we don't feel that's likely.
In order to put active businesses where the current empty parking lots are, the city *requires* there to be on-street parking (to avoid overflow onto residential streets). The neighbors have said sidewalks are a bigger priority than bike lanes, so parking+sidewalks are the direction we're likely headed.
If neighbors tell the city that they they are vehemently okay with parking overflow to sidestreets, we could possibly scrap the on-street parking... but based on folks' feedback so far, we don't feel that's likely.
What ARE WE ASKING THE CITY TO PAY FOR?
There is already money in the budget for resurfacing the street after MUD finishes their work, but the current plan is to repaint the stripes exactly as they are. The street will be exactly the same, just smoother (and faster).
The money is ~$25k for civil engineers to do the drawings for where the new lines should go, and ~$120k to get a new light signal to match the new lines.
The money is ~$25k for civil engineers to do the drawings for where the new lines should go, and ~$120k to get a new light signal to match the new lines.
WON'T WE AS TAXPAYERS ULTIMATELY PAY FOR IT?
You already did. We are requesting funds from the Capital Improvement Program (CIP), and we already pay for the $300M+ projects in the CIP through our taxes now. We are asking to reallocate .04% of these existing funds to Center Street. By comparison, the average cost of a CIP project is
Why is it so urgent TO GET THIS MONEY NOW?
What other options do we have if the city says no? THE MAYORS RESPONSE.
Nobody’s investing now… why would a different road make a difference?
Why do you suddenly care about the street when the bar is happening? Is this for the brewery? IS A BIG DEVELOPER BEHIND THIS?
SO WHO *IS* BEHIND THIS? WHAT'S ARE THEY GETTING OUT OF IT?
CAN WE AS NEIGHBORS HAVE A SAY IN WHAT BUSINESSES COME TO THE AREA?
Can we as neighbors control the height OR STYLE of the buildings that are built on Center Street?
IsN'T this JUST HIPSTER gentrification, LIKE BLACKSTONE?
What will happen to my property taxes? WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO MY RENT?
IF THIS GETS POPULAR, WILL PEOPLE PARK IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE?
title 17
