North Campus High Street repairs to increase traffic

By: Walker

38 Comments

• 

  Walker November 22, 2008 5:15 pm

  spacernglr wrote Every time I see that construction site i wonder how much more money would it take to put down tracks for a streetcar when they rebuild the street??

  This current High Street project is $13.5 million. I’d guess that you’re talking about adding at least another $40 million dollars on top of that for a .8 mile streetcar route.

  spacernglr wrote Makes me think the city is really not very interested in Streetcars if they pass up an opportunity to install them when the whole street is already torn up.

  That’s some extreme oversimplification.
• 

  lifeontwowheels November 22, 2008 5:37 pm

  When the city is already pissing people off, I don’t think it would be a smart move to start laying track.
• 

  misskitty November 22, 2008 5:51 pm

  spacernglr wrote Every time I see that construction site i wonder how much more money would it take to put down tracks for a streetcar when they rebuild the street??

  Makes me think the city is really not very interested in Streetcars if they pass up an opportunity to install them when the whole street is already torn up.

  They do a lot of stuff that does not make sense when it comes to fixing the roads. That is for sure
• 

  Walker November 22, 2008 6:03 pm

  misskitty wrote They do a lot of stuff that does not make sense when it comes to fixing the roads.

  Such as?
• 

  JohnWirtz November 22, 2008 6:12 pm

  I think the economic effects on businesses makes for an interesting case study of what a streetcar project might be like in the Short North.
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  lifeontwowheels November 22, 2008 6:16 pm

  JohnWirtz wrote I think the economic effects on businesses makes for an interesting case study of what a streetcar project might be like in the Short North.

  I think a streetcar has potentially more benefit in the long run in terms of the hassles of construction. Having the streetcar (whatever area it runs through) can increase foot traffic for businesses. Instead of the 3 meters in front of your space (or the 6 spaces in your back lot) you have a potential of what? 100 customers that are on the streetcar?
• 

  Walker November 22, 2008 6:23 pm

  JohnWirtz wrote I think the economic effects on businesses makes for an interesting case study of what a streetcar project might be like in the Short North.

  I don’t believe the streetcar infrastructure installation has quite as long or quite as disruptive/invasive of a construction timeframe.

  From here: http://www.columbusunderground.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=13890

  By using a shallow track slab design, and by confining excavation to a narrow strip, streetcar tracks can be installed in a brief period, typically three of four weeks for each section of track.

  Additionally, I would like to know the economic effects on eggs during the omelette making period.
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  JohnWirtz November 22, 2008 6:56 pm

  I didn’t intend my statement to be anti-streetcar. I just thought it was an interesting way to figure out what to expect. But Walker’s right, if this started in June, then I would agree that the 5 month project in Old North Columbus is a lot longer than it should take to do streetcar work (1 month).
• 

  Walker November 22, 2008 8:40 pm

  JohnWirtz wrote if this started in June, then I would agree that the 5 month project in Old North Columbus is a lot longer than it should take to do streetcar work (1 month).

  5 months? This project won’t be complete until Fall 2009. Although I don’t imagine the street will be completely ripped up that entire time, as there’s quite a bit of detail work to do after the streets are finished.
• 

  JohnWirtz November 22, 2008 9:23 pm

  Walker wrote
  

  JohnWirtz wrote if this started in June, then I would agree that the 5 month project in Old North Columbus is a lot longer than it should take to do streetcar work (1 month).

  5 months? This project won’t be complete until Fall 2009. Although I don’t imagine the street will be completely ripped up that entire time, as there’s quite a bit of detail work to do after the streets are finished.

  Holy crap. I need to start reading the full article more carefully. That’s a long time.
• 

  Columbusite December 15, 2008 4:42 pm

  The west side of the southern stretch has been repaved. Now what was that about making it bike-friendly, cuz I’m not seeing any bike racks yet.
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  Walker December 15, 2008 5:02 pm

  Construction doesn’t end until Fall 2009. Pay attention.
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  Columbusite December 15, 2008 11:03 pm

  I couldn’t help point out that ripping up and repaving the street for cars got done 1st even though bike racks require much less work. Cars first, bikes…well we’ll get around to it. In the mean time, is the city going to pay for the scratches their rusty sign poles put on my bike? No. I’m right, sadly at the expense of my bike, once again.
• 

  lifeontwowheels December 15, 2008 11:08 pm

  Columbusite wrote I couldn’t help point out that ripping up and repaving the street for cars got done 1st even though bike racks require much less work. Cars first, bikes…well we’ll get around to it. In the mean time, is the city going to pay for the scratches their rusty sign poles put on my bike? No. I’m right, sadly at the expense of my bike, once again.

  And when the bike racks rust?

  It sucks that everything tends to be car centric, but it’s gotta be that way sometime. At least bikes were included in this project. Look at the bright side, when the project is fully completed we’ll have parking practically at the door of every business instead of worrying about finding a meter or side street, then worrying about being towed.

  Count your blessings.
• 

  Mercurius December 15, 2008 11:25 pm

  Columbusite wrote I couldn’t help point out that ripping up and repaving the street for cars got done 1st even though bike racks require much less work. Cars first, bikes…well we’ll get around to it. In the mean time, is the city going to pay for the scratches their rusty sign poles put on my bike? No. I’m right, sadly at the expense of my bike, once again.

  Really?

  I’m pretty ecstatic they are investing so much for us, a small percentage of constituents. It’s not like there is a bike path that runs parallel with High a few blocks over. They invented something called a top tube protector, get one if you are worried about scratches.

  http://wbt1.council.ci.columbus.oh.us/content.aspx?id=7588

  http://wbt1.council.ci.columbus.oh.us/content.aspx?id=7896

  http://xingcolumbus.wordpress.com/2008/05/20/bicentennial-bikeways-master-plan-details/
• 

  Mercurius December 15, 2008 11:28 pm

  Columbusite wrote I couldn’t help point out that ripping up and repaving the street for cars got done 1st even though bike racks require much less work. Cars first, bikes…well we’ll get around to it. In the mean time, is the city going to pay for the scratches their rusty sign poles put on my bike? No. I’m right, sadly at the expense of my bike, once again.

  Oh, last time I checked bicycles use streets too, so isn’t this good for bikes not having pot holes and other things that cause flats and accidents? It sure made my ride much easier when they refinished High St. through the Short North.
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  Walker December 15, 2008 11:39 pm

  Columbusite wrote I couldn’t help point out that ripping up and repaving the street for cars got done 1st even though bike racks require much less work.

  That’s not how construction works.

  Columbusite wrote In the mean time, is the city going to pay for the scratches their rusty sign poles put on my bike? No. I’m right, sadly at the expense of my bike, once again.

  Taxpayers’ dollars have better things to be spent on than repairing your bike that YOU scratched. Quit projecting your personal problems on “the city”.
• 

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