Columbus Underground Messageboard » Tag: downtown action plan

Columbus Underground Messageboard » Tag: downtown action plan - Recent Posts http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/tags/downtown-action-plan ColumbusUnderground.com Messageboard en-US Thu, 23 May 2013 05:45:18 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/search.php News on "Downtown Action Plan" http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/new-contract-downtown-for-road-converstion-and-parking-study-dispatch-article#post-467686 Thu, 18 Oct 2012 08:20:18 +0000 News 467686@http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/ <a href="http://www.columbusunderground.com/how-the-downtown-action-plan-will-change-columbus-part-1">How the Downtown Action Plan will Change Columbus: Part 1</a> <a href="http://www.columbusunderground.com/how-the-downtown-action-plan-will-change-columbus-part-2">How the Downtown Action Plan will Change Columbus: Part 2</a> <a href="http://www.columbusunderground.com/how-the-downtown-action-plan-will-change-columbus-part-3">How the Downtown Action Plan will Change Columbus: Part 3</a> johnwirtz on "Public Meeting: High Street Parking Meters" http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/public-meeting-downtown-action-plan#post-459997 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 10:32:49 +0000 johnwirtz 459997@http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/ If we're going to spend money hoping to revitalize a retail district, it makes much more sense to me to put money directly into the retail space than to allow on-street parking that has other negative effects and hope that it has an indirect positive effect on retail: <blockquote>Five to 10 new independent retailers will open along St. Clair Avenue between East 61st Street and Addison Avenue through a new program of the St. Clair Superior Development Corporation. Inspired by Oakland's Popuphood initiative, the program includes six months free rent, storefront renovations, marketing assistance, security, and business training for merchants.</blockquote> Source: <a href="http://planning.co.cuyahoga.oh.us/blog/2012/08/#012574" rel="nofollow">http://planning.co.cuyahoga.oh.us/blog/2012/08/#012574</a> More: <a href="http://www.freshwatercleveland.com/devnews/stclairpopuphood081612.aspx" rel="nofollow">http://www.freshwatercleveland.com/devnews/stclairpopuphood081612.aspx</a> Analogue Kid on "Public Meeting: High Street Parking Meters" http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/public-meeting-downtown-action-plan#post-454339 Fri, 03 Aug 2012 21:39:28 +0000 Analogue Kid 454339@http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/ <blockquote><cite>johnwirtz <a href="http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/public-meeting-downtown-action-plan#post-454338">said</a>:</cite> What if parking in City garages were free for the first hour? That's what we do in Evanston at three public garages downtown, and it seems to do a good job of allowing people to make short trips (like the farmer's market or bookstore) at no extra cost. The next hour is $2, which isn't bad. </blockquote> The parking meters in Lakewood (near Cleveland) will give you something like 30 minutes for free, it's a pretty good idea. johnwirtz on "Public Meeting: High Street Parking Meters" http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/public-meeting-downtown-action-plan#post-454338 Fri, 03 Aug 2012 21:36:53 +0000 johnwirtz 454338@http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/ What if parking in City garages were free for the first hour? That's what we do in Evanston at three public garages downtown, and it seems to do a good job of allowing people to make short trips (like the farmer's market or bookstore) at no extra cost. The next hour is $2, which isn't bad. Pasquar on "Public Meeting: High Street Parking Meters" http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/public-meeting-downtown-action-plan#post-454333 Fri, 03 Aug 2012 20:00:13 +0000 Pasquar 454333@http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/ <blockquote><cite>Walker <a href="http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/public-meeting-downtown-action-plan#post-454278">said</a>:</cite> The whole transportation system through Downtown needs a comprehensive redesign. Which I guess is exactly what the Downtown Action Plan is supposed to be. </blockquote> I totally agree, but it seems (at least at this point) that the changes are designed to be around parking instead of the redesign including parking at some level. I was there at the meeting and is seemed that the only reason that the two bus stops were to be consolidated were to mitigate delays that the parking would cause, not to improve COTA service for any other reason. The transit system does need improvement, but this should not be ancored on parking. As for the idea of moving main lines to 3rd and 4th, that would involve a much bigger redesign and sounds similar to the idea that was shut down earlier (to reroute some lines to Front street) because it was acting toward getting the working class out of the view of downtown. This in favor of on street parking seems a bit classist. RubenCastillaHerrera on "Public Meeting: High Street Parking Meters" http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/public-meeting-downtown-action-plan#post-454311 Fri, 03 Aug 2012 16:06:29 +0000 RubenCastillaHerrera 454311@http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/ Thanks Walker for the story. Here is our report on the meeting. We are not looking to impress, just organize, show up and speak with and for the community. <a href="http://www.fightingforohiojobs.org/cbus_speaks_out_for_public_transport" rel="nofollow">http://www.fightingforohiojobs.org/cbus_speaks_out_for_public_transport</a> Polis on "Public Meeting: High Street Parking Meters" http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/public-meeting-downtown-action-plan#post-454280 Fri, 03 Aug 2012 14:05:42 +0000 Polis 454280@http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/ <blockquote><cite>byJody <a href="http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/public-meeting-downtown-action-plan#post-454271">said</a>:</cite> This is turning into bus vs business, which is unfortunate. I was not impressed by the bus advocates, complaining about slower service and then also complaining about removing stops which is designed to make service more efficient. Our system has way more stops than average for a comparable city, so it seems like making it more efficient is a good thing. I am hopeful that the metering will expedite the need to create some kind of transit center downtown, hey Dayton has a nice one, but we just keep using our Statehouse as the Defacto transit center - you'd never see the US Capitol used this way. </blockquote> Less stops does not always equate to faster service. Since the stops along High St. in the Downtown area are so heavily used, removing a stop is going to create longer dwell times at that particular stop for a particular line. Essentially, what is likely to occur is there will be an even larger "bus wall" accumulating during peak times at certain stops. A transit center is expensive and not needed in this instance. Transit centers are best used when feeding multi-modal uses and when the area served is not so dependent on a "spine", such as Columbus. Realigning off High St. or using multiple transfer locations on the periphery of Downtown for expresses would be a better use of funds. While I agree that bus circulation could use a hard look at by COTA and the city (cooperating together, unlike the #1 debacle), the solutions presented to the public were not ideal. Walker on "Public Meeting: High Street Parking Meters" http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/public-meeting-downtown-action-plan#post-454278 Fri, 03 Aug 2012 13:59:29 +0000 Walker 454278@http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/ <blockquote><cite>Analogue Kid <a href="http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/public-meeting-downtown-action-plan#post-454276">said</a>:</cite> I especially like the idea of consolidating bus stops. The stops were designed for an earlier time when there were more destinations and thus more boarding and alighting that needed to take place. </blockquote> +1 I believe one of the stops planned for consolidation is the south-bound stop between Gay & Long. This entire block on that side of the street is a parking lot. Which means that exactly ZERO of the bus passengers getting off are arriving at their destination. They're walking at least a block in another direction to get where they're going. Meanwhile, there's a stop a block north and a stop a block south. There's no reason for this bus stop to exist in between those two. The whole transportation system through Downtown needs a comprehensive redesign. Which I guess is exactly what the Downtown Action Plan is supposed to be. Analogue Kid on "Public Meeting: High Street Parking Meters" http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/public-meeting-downtown-action-plan#post-454276 Fri, 03 Aug 2012 13:52:19 +0000 Analogue Kid 454276@http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/ Didn't go to the meeting but I reviewed the presentation. I was very uncertain about the idea at first but I think the design goes a long way to addressing most of my concerns. I especially like the idea of consolidating bus stops. The stops were designed for an earlier time when there were more destinations and thus more boarding and alighting that needed to take place. Eliminating stops will help improve COTA service and I think make up for any additional delay from parked cars. I also really like the idea in Phase II of having a bus priority signal. I believe they have that on the Health Line BRT in Cleveland. As far as bikes go, I think anyone riding on High Street has a death wish (especially since most people don't wear helmets), so the position of sharrows/lane markings isn't going to matter that much. People will just ride where they want to anyway. I'll stick to the Scioto trail and walk my bike when in Downtown or go on Front Street. byJody on "Public Meeting: High Street Parking Meters" http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/public-meeting-downtown-action-plan#post-454271 Fri, 03 Aug 2012 13:38:29 +0000 byJody 454271@http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/ Great write up Walker. You hit on my concerns, Sharrows directing a bike rider to ride in the door zone are not a good idea. The question is, how do you show one place for bikes during peak hours and another during off peak? Maybe just "Bikes may use full lane" signage and paint in both lanes, because either way, the cyclist will be taking the lane. (sometimes right lane, sometimes left lane). This is turning into bus vs business, which is unfortunate. I was not impressed by the bus advocates, complaining about slower service and then also complaining about removing stops which is designed to make service more efficient. Our system has way more stops than average for a comparable city, so it seems like making it more efficient is a good thing. I am hopeful that the metering will expedite the need to create some kind of transit center downtown, hey Dayton has a nice one, but we just keep using our Statehouse as the Defacto transit center - you'd never see the US Capitol used this way. Walker on "Public Meeting: High Street Parking Meters" http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/public-meeting-downtown-action-plan#post-454134 Thu, 02 Aug 2012 22:59:02 +0000 Walker 454134@http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/ The meeting tonight was pretty well attended. Maybe 40 people in the room, which I'd consider a win for a public meeting on parking meters. ;) The plan was presented and ran through in detail, followed by a brief Q&A session that was cut short before all questions were answered because of time constraints. The questions and comments seemed to veer more toward issues with the project rather than overall approval, though some attendees praised the overall concept before getting into the details. The biggest concerns that I heard were (and anyone feel free to chime in if I'm forgetting anything... wasn't really taking notes): • Not enough consideration is being made for bikers. The glowing example of this is the placement of the "sharrows" in the door zone of the curb-side lanes. Bikes would be riding very dangerously along side parked cars if this makes it into the final plan. • The addition of meters will negatively impact COTA bus routes, bus stops, bus riders and bus timeliness. There were representatives there from COTA including CEO Curtiss Stitt, and reps stated that COTA has been involved in the process from the beginning and only would consider a final proposal that calls for no significant change to bus operations through this corridor. That said, this concern was one still brought up several more times by several people. • The scope of the project is too narrow and doesn't take other considerations or accommodations into play. The contractor was tasked with figuring out how to add metered parking to High Street, and that is specifically what their plan is yielding. Some attendees wanted to see alternatives for more metered parking on side streets that do not currently have it, or accommodations through parking lots or garages. • A group of attendees passed around a one-sheeter that proposed the alternative of keeping High Street transit-centric and making better improvements to transit systems and bike accommodations to further enhance the retail appeal of High Street. They also had signatures of over 150 people who oppose the plan. More info on that, here: <a href="http://www.fightingforohiojobs.org/tell_the_columbus_city_council_don_t_disrupt_the_downtown_bus_routes" rel="nofollow">http://www.fightingforohiojobs.org/tell_the_columbus_city_council_don_t_disrupt_the_downtown_bus_routes</a> ------------ I didn't raise any concerns myself at the meeting, but left my feedback via comment form. As a daily bus rider, I don't want to see bus service disrupted. If that can be figured out, then I'm in favor of adding strategic placement of on-street meters to High Street for the same reason that they exist in The Short North, South Campus, North Campus, Clintonville, South High Street, Gay Street and every other area with any sort of retail vibrancy. Parking meters are one factor that can assist with retail businesses, and the lack of them on High downtown is a hinderance to retail development. I think there's a happy medium in there somewhere that can be found for cars, buses, bikes, pedestrians and parked cars. Might not have reached it tonight, but I think we can get there. Walker on "Public Meeting: High Street Parking Meters" http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/public-meeting-downtown-action-plan#post-454003 Thu, 02 Aug 2012 13:14:19 +0000 Walker 454003@http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/ Bump! This meeting is this evening for anyone interested in attending! MRipley on "Public Meeting: High Street Parking Meters" http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/public-meeting-downtown-action-plan#post-453601 Wed, 01 Aug 2012 11:38:51 +0000 MRipley 453601@http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/ <blockquote><cite>byJody <a href="http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/public-meeting-downtown-action-plan#post-453595">said</a>:</cite> Here is a link to a PDF of the High St Map. I've been told it includes Sharrows in the Shared bus/bike lane, but I am not seeing it on this schematic. Which is a concern. <a href="http://www.considerbiking.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/HighSt-Columbus-dt-parking-sharrows-Aug2012pdf.pdf">PDF MAP LINK</a> </blockquote> Looks like it might have sharrows from Rich to Gay. Not sure though, my eyes aren't that young anymore. byJody on "Public Meeting: High Street Parking Meters" http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/public-meeting-downtown-action-plan#post-453595 Wed, 01 Aug 2012 11:27:13 +0000 byJody 453595@http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/ Here is a link to a PDF of the High St Map. I've been told it includes Sharrows in the Shared bus/bike lane, but I am not seeing it on this schematic. Which is a concern. <a href="http://www.considerbiking.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/HighSt-Columbus-dt-parking-sharrows-Aug2012pdf.pdf">PDF MAP LINK</a> News on "Public Meeting: High Street Parking Meters" http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/public-meeting-downtown-action-plan#post-453548 Wed, 01 Aug 2012 08:49:44 +0000 News 453548@http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/ Parking Meters Coming Soon to High Street through Downtown Published on August 1, 2012 9:45 am By: Walker <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/parking-meter.jpg" /> Look north and you see parking meters. Look south and you see parking meters. But on the central Downtown stretch of High Street, there’s not a parking meter to be found. That will soon begin to change as the Department of Public Service plans to begin the installation of approximately 130 new parking meters before the end of the year. READ MORE: <a href="http://www.columbusunderground.com/parking-meters-coming-soon-to-high-street-through-downtown" rel="nofollow">http://www.columbusunderground.com/parking-meters-coming-soon-to-high-street-through-downtown</a> BCNation on "Public Meeting: High Street Parking Meters" http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/public-meeting-downtown-action-plan#post-453510 Wed, 01 Aug 2012 00:28:27 +0000 BCNation 453510@http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/ "My ass will be there." (at the meeting) RubenCastillaHerrera on "Public Meeting: High Street Parking Meters" http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/public-meeting-downtown-action-plan#post-453149 Mon, 30 Jul 2012 13:42:48 +0000 RubenCastillaHerrera 453149@http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/ I will attend with a group of concerned Columbus residents to ask more questions about how this decision was made. As a COTA rider, I am concerned about the needs of riders and my advocacy for mass transportation. As cyclist and pedestrian, it's clear....more cars means more hazardous biking and walking. Pasquar on "Public Meeting: High Street Parking Meters" http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/public-meeting-downtown-action-plan#post-453147 Mon, 30 Jul 2012 13:41:37 +0000 Pasquar 453147@http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/ "More people on High Street and a vibrant downtown, everybody's neighborhood." Does this truely mean 'everybody' or does it mean 'those who have cars'?? I think it's clear what kind of people this move will benefit and what kind of people this move will hurt. Add parking meters to the busiest area for COTA to facilitate access to those with cars while impeding the safety and efficiency of riding the bus for lower-income residents who can't afford a car. A move like this reveals what is really meant by 'everyone's neighborhood', and it does not include bus riders. I will be at the meeting. Neutzy on "Public Meeting: High Street Parking Meters" http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/public-meeting-downtown-action-plan#post-452992 Mon, 30 Jul 2012 00:32:42 +0000 Neutzy 452992@http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/ How will this impact COTA service? The bus lane where they plan to allow cars to park is the backbone of COTA's entire system. I foresee that this plan will cause delays for everyone that rides the bus as already backed-up buses will now also have to weave in and out behind parked cars. Does adding 130 new parking spaces to a sea of thousands really justify causing delays for perhaps all of COTA's 64,000 daily (weekday) riders? Was one bus lane in the entire city really too much to ask? I'll be at this meeting too. :) Walker on "Public Meeting: High Street Parking Meters" http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/public-meeting-downtown-action-plan#post-452030 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 23:20:17 +0000 Walker 452030@http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/ I'll be there! ;)