Proposed turn lane in Clintonville causes criticism
From This Week News:
Proposed turn lane causes criticism
By Jennifer NesbittAn outcry from residents caused the Clintonville Area Commission to table a resolution opposing the widening of East North Broadway. Residents of the neighborhood near North Broadway and North High Street packed the commission’s Jan. 8 meeting to voice their concerns.
Members of the CAC have been in contact with the Columbus Department of Public Service about the possibility of widening East North Broadway at the intersection with North High Street to allow a turn lane to alleviate traffic problems in that area.
At its January meeting, the CAC considered a resolution to the city clarifying that while widening to allow for a turn lane might be acceptable, the CAC would not support the overall widening of North Broadway between North High Street and Indianola Avenue.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, January 15th, 2009 at 1:30 pm and is filed under Transit.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS feed.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Related Tags: Clintonville • clintonville area commission • north broadway • north high street • street widening • traffic • traffic alleviation • traffic engineering • turn lane
January 15th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Why can’t the current left hand west bound lane be marked as a left only lane? That’s how it is eastbound at High and at Indianola. You wouldn’t have to widen the road at all. An arguement could be made that the elimination of one westbound thru lane would cause traffic to back up, but the lane in question doesn’t hold that many cars. Is there a traffic standard that prevents this from happening?
I agree that this stretch shouldn’t be widened the entire length - it’s a great residential street.
January 15th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
This intersection does get very congested at peak hours and sometimes on off peak hours. If you are there at rush hour or around the time school is letting our, the traffic can build for several blocks back toward Indianola and in the other direction towards 315. I don’t know what the answer is, but there has got to be some solution to the problem.
January 15th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
Sounds like an imbroglio. Will this entail the knocking out of buildings, or just some rearranging of pavement and paint? That intersection has always been a nightmare; I avoid it. I am wondering as well, what will happen with all of those old, empty buildings on the west side of High there? Is this the area that will be widened? Some of those buildings are very old and beautiful, as opposed to the building across the street (the big bland business building, not the school of course). The old dance school and appliance store, the old post office.
There has to be another solution. That stretch is already uglified to its breaking point, with widening it will be so much worse.
BTW, kudos to the school there, their use of their property is very attractive and germane.
January 16th, 2009 at 8:05 am
Pablo, from a traffic engineer’s perspective, I think you answered your own question. Removing one through lane would probably back up traffic to an unacceptable length based on the information ColumbusKid provided.
January 16th, 2009 at 9:55 am
If they do need to widen, perhaps they can claim some of the parking lot land that belongs to Kroger at that corner so that no buildings need removed.
Honestly though, I think we should be looking at alternative ways to relieve traffic congestion through the north corridor of Columbus.
January 16th, 2009 at 11:03 am
Perhaps the best solution is to keep the intersection as it is. Locals know how to avoid it - I certainly do. The widening mentioned was for Broadway and not High St. A southbound right turn lane was added to High St. in the early ’90’s. The city plan for Indianola shows a train station at the end of Oakland Park near 71. If this were ever to happen traffic would probably increase on Broadway as people make their way to the station (busses, kiss & ride…). For those interested, it’s depicted on the cover of the plan: http://assets.columbus.gov/development/planning/IndianolaCorrPlana.pdf
January 16th, 2009 at 11:19 am
Yeah, clipping the almost always-empty Kroger parking lot would be ideal, although as Walker says, focusing on other ways of lightening the traffic in that area would be preferable.
January 16th, 2009 at 11:29 am
I think the issue is the westbound traffic on North Broad not being able to make a left turn onto High. If you want to go south on High, you’ve got to shoot past it, then turn left and drive through some residential streets. I’m sure the residents on Brighton see it all day long. I’m not sure what cutting into the Kroger lot would do for the problem.
January 16th, 2009 at 11:55 pm
Oh, I don’t know, that whole intersection is a major nightmare, not just the left hand turn from going west on N.Broadway.
I’ve never gotten through that intersection in less than a minute, and the light there takes FOREVER. It’s just really offputting… and looking at all that boarded up stuff makes it even more gross. It seems to be a pox on what is otherwise a pretty fun part of town.
January 22nd, 2009 at 1:53 pm
READ MORE
January 22nd, 2009 at 7:31 pm
This just sounds like paranoia from the people living on North Broadway. Widen the road by 10 feet. Install a 100′ long left turn lane with a 200′ long taper and then promise not to widen the rest of the road. 300′ is about the distance from High to the alley. So it would only be widened in front of three houses on the north side of the street and it would mostly just take up their tree lawn/planter strip.
January 25th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Stop pampering grown-ups like they’re infants. Don’t want to sit in traffic here? Then don’t cause it, ya big dufus. It doesn’t help when these traffic engineers insist on breast feeding these motoring babies. Now how much is it going to cost to undo this and much of the rest of High St. once the city adopts a Clintonville Mobility Plan?
January 25th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
^Umm, I think you need to re-read the article Walker posted two comments above your comment:
“City officials said they proposed the turn lane for Broadway in response to complaints about heavy traffic from residents on neighboring streets. Those east of High said drivers turn west off Indianola Avenue and Calumet Street onto their streets to turn south onto High; those west of High said westbound Broadway traffic is crossing High, then cutting back through their neighborhoods to turn south onto High.”
Something you still need to learn is that to have “calm” traffic on residential streets usually requires congestion-free traffic on arterial streets.
January 27th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
From This Week News:
After a heated public meeting to discuss the possibility of a left turn lane on East North Broadway at High Street, the Clintonville Area Commission will wait for more information from the city before making a recommendation on the issue.
“We do have a number of questions,” said CAC Chairwoman D Searcy. “We’re backing up. We’re saying, ‘Let’s get some more information.’ ”
During the Jan. 21 meeting, the city’s public works department presented three options for the intersection: leaving it as is, widening East North Broadway by 10 feet at North High Street to add a left turn lane and adding a left turn lane without widening the road.
READ MORE
January 28th, 2009 at 9:17 am
I used to live on Brighton Rd. at Hennepin and witnessed car after car makign the left turn off of Broadway onto Hennepin and then turn east on Brighton towards High St. The comments by the Broadway residents that there’s no proof of cut through traffic is BS. I’ve tried to see their point of view. I certainly don’t want to see Broadway widened the entire length between High & Indianola. I wouldn’t be opposed to building the left turn lane. Cut through traffic is always a problem in any part of the city and if a 300′ lane would help, build it!
My cynical side thinks this will never happen becuse of the political connections of some of the Broadway residents.
February 10th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
I’m betting this issue is now dead - all the protest signs on Broadway have been replaced with “thank you Mayor Coleman” signs.
February 10th, 2009 at 10:44 pm
City wants more talks on turn lane
By JENNIFER NESBITT
East North Broadway residents who posted signs reading “Thank you, Mayor Coleman” might have acted too quickly.
The signs were placed last week in areas around the intersection of East North Broadway and North High streets, where the city proposed adding a left turn lane onto High Street.
East North Broadway residents were vocal in their opposition to the plan, and the signs were erected after Mayor Michael B. Coleman met with attorney Dana “Buck” Rinehart, who was hired to represent the North Broadway Street Association.
Association president Carole Tomko said Coleman told Rinehart that the proposal was “off the table.”
February 20th, 2009 at 12:17 am
N. Broadway-High details to be revisited
By JENNIFER NESBITT
ThisWeek Staff Writer
Two city officials will address the community next month to set the record straight on proposals for improving traffic flow at the intersection of East North Broadway and North High Street.
In a meeting between local leaders and city officials last week, Clintonville Area Commission Chairwoman D Searcy was asked to organize a public meeting regarding the intersection.
At that meeting, planned for 7 p.m. March 18, Columbus Department of Development Director Boyce Safford and Department of Public Service Director Mark Kelsey will talk about traffic problems at the intersection and potential fixes, Searcy said.
READ MORE
February 22nd, 2009 at 11:34 pm
The way the CAC representatives, other neighborhood “leaders”, and their minions are acting is an embarrassment to Clintonville. The “my solution is best” and “I’ll get rid of my problem by making it your problem” mindsets, along with the petty bickering, lack of direct communication, behind-the-scenes drama/plotting, armchair traffic engineering, and general grade-school playground behavior is just ridiculous, a waste of time, and, quite frankly, sad.
Coleman’s staff are understandably taking a step back and letting the residents figure out what they want done. They’re not about to waste valuable city funds to piss people off; better the status quo than inviting a referendum (a la Morse-Bethel connector).
The damn no-left-turn situation has been there for 40+ years. It doesn’t need to change tomorrow; it also doesn’t need to stay that way for another 40 years. Grow up already and work together to figure out a solution that works for the community. Work WITH the professional traffic engineers instead of forming vigilante traffic/pedestrian counters. Hire a facilitator if it’s that hard to sit in the same room together. Talk to EVERYONE about your concerns and your suggested solutions instead of inciting your “enforcers” and baiting your neighbors.
Think “what can I do to repair the damage done to Clintonville’s reputation?” instead of “how can I make the other side look like they’re wrong?”
You get the gist…
March 14th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Group seeks long-term fix for North Broadway-High
Wednesday, March 11, 2009 12:57 PM
By JENNIFER NESBITT
ThisWeek Staff Writer
A new group of Clintonville residents is looking to get involved in the discussion regarding the city’s proposed changes to the intersection of North Broadway and North High Street.
Calling themselves the Heart of Clintonville Association, the residents have come together to advocate for changes they believe would improve traffic and mobility in the neighborhood.
READ MORE
March 26th, 2009 at 11:32 am
Columbus: Left turn lane is best fix
Wednesday, March 25, 2009 1:41 PM
By JENNIFER NESBITT
ThisWeek Staff Writer
At a public meeting last week, city of Columbus staff maintained that adding a left turn lane to East North Broadway at North High Street would increase the efficiency of the intersection and reduce cut-through traffic on side streets.
READ MORE
April 8th, 2009 at 10:48 pm
I live on W Longview (2 blocks south of N Broadway). It is absolutely true that people improvise their own detours around N Bdwy and High intersection. There is nothing else possible! I am impressed by the E N Broadway residents ability to organize but turned off when I see that, oh, they have gigantic houses and lavish cars! I wish there was more sympathy for the people who have much narrower streets having to absorb a lot of this traffic.
I agree with many of the people demanding alternitives. The north central part of town has such few E-W connectors. Dodridge will never be finished. Henderson is terrible and is slated for major construction bw High and Olentangy after this year. And then you have to go all the way to 161?!?! Seriously? Let’s get serious about connecting Bethel and Morse with some mega-bridge! Oh wait, old money lives there too… so much for that idea.
May 22nd, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Columbus: Roundabout would take years
Wednesday, May 20, 2009 3:53 PM
By JENNIFER NESBITT
ThisWeek Staff Writer
Establishing a roundabout at North Broadway and North High Street, as proposed by a Clintonville Area Commission task force, would take at least five to seven years to implement after funding is found, according to city officials.
READ MORE
June 22nd, 2009 at 2:01 pm
[...] 22, 2009 by johnwirtz The intersection of High Street and North Broadway is in the news again. This time, it’s an alternate proposal from the community to build a roundabout at the [...]
June 25th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
John, you have a lot to learn about urban planning. You can either make the area attractive for residents, visitors, businesses, developers, etc or you can let it be a traffic sewer for speeding cars. Can’t have both.