The city has been planning Second Street Pedestrian Improvements for sometime now. The big question is why the city has not decided to deal with the more troublesome B and Second Street Intersection which would appear to be dangerous for pedestrians and hazardous for vehicles who are trying to make a left onto Second Street or turn in either direction onto B Street.
According to the city’s description of the process, “Four intersections of C, D, E and F will be improved with “build-outs” to reduce the pedestrian crossing distance, improve accessibility and provide traffic calming. Each corner will include new trees, plants and LED energy efficient light fixtures. Two designated bus stops will be improved and on street parking spaces will be re-striped to increase parking space. Storm drainage will be extended to improve gutter flow drainage at the “bulb-outs”.”
The total expected cost is around $54,000, coming out of the Enterprise Fund rather than the general fund.
Here is what the city is planning to do on Second Street. I do not have a problem with these types of road improvements, particularly in the core. The question is really how much of a safety issue it really is moving down or across Second Street at C, D, E, and F. At times, it can be a little confusing with the four way stops, but generally it is not a great hazard.
On the other hand B Street and Second can be seen a huge hazard. Presently it is a two way stop, stopping traffic only on Second Street. There are many times of the day when crossing B Street is not a huge issue, which is probably why the city has always come up with idea that there is not enough traffic to warrant a traffic light there.
But if you are trying to cross the street either as a pedestrian, bicyclist or even an automobile, it is a problem, particularly for going straight across or turning left in either direction.
Traffic flow freely on B St, it is congested, and as you look in the northerly direction, the view is somewhat obstructed. Put that all together and it is a recipe for problems.
But every time the issue has come up, the city has claimed there is not enough volume of traffic to warrant the light. Traffic lights are in expensive but it seems to me if there is a spot that needs them, it is that intersection.
It seems little baffling that if the city is going to fix the intersections along Second Street, why would they not want to do something about the worst intersection along that stretch, which is B Street. But I suspect the reason is that the fix is a bit different for that intersection, but it should be a priority.
My other pet peeve that I have been complaining about for the last four years is still the corner of D and Fourth Street. The solution there would appear rather simple and inexpensive, put up a stop sign to make it a four way stop.
Here’s the problem. If you are traveling, especially south on D, but even North, Fourth Street does not stop. But a lot of people do not realize it is only a two way stop. And so, people unfamiliar with D Street will often act like it is a four stop. People traveling on Fourth will often stop even though they do not have to stop.
But you cannot predict who is going to stop and who is going to go. Adding to the hazard is the obstruction from parked cars, this is notable especially driving south on D Street. Often you have to creep out, halfway into the intersection before you can see if there is incoming traffic and by that point you are often obstructing the lane.
Again it would be far safer just to make it a four stop like everyone who drives believes it ought to be. The stop at Fourth and E is Four Way. The stop at Fourth and C is three way (with Fourth Dead ending into the park). Even the stop at D and 3rd is Four-way. So why is D and Fourth not four way?
I understand as well as anyone that the city does not have a lot of money, but it seems these kinds of improvements are needed at least as much as the ones the city is recommending on 2nd Street. Again, not necessarily opposed to those, particularly since the cost is relatively affordable and coming from Enterprise funds. However, I just believe there are other key priorities that should be taken into consideration as well.
Are there other intersections people think need to be addressed? Post them in the comments below and we can create a list of needs.
—David M. Greenwald reporting
Is there any data on traffic reports, accidents at 2nd and B? I agree its a very tricky intersection and a lot of people use 2nd and B to cross to and from campus even though 3d and B has a light.
To be consistent, all streets in the downtown core should be four-way stops. I find it confusing when some streets are four way stops, but others are only two-way stops, especially because parked cars make visibility a problem…