Some Early Returns on the Corridor Online Survey--Take the Time to Add Your Voice!

 The Early Returns on the North Avenue Online Survey—Take the Time to do the Survey and Encourage Others in the Neighborhood Too!

It is important that everyone takes the time to do the online North Avenue survey.

 http://www.ccrpcvt.org/transportation/corridors/north-avenue-corridor-study/

With about 50 taking the survey as of Sunday it is clear that every “thumbs-up thumbs-down” counts and there are dozens of chances to make specific comments.

The North Avenue online survey numbers and comments as of Sunday already show support for cycle track from end-to-end with roundabouts at two of the four intersections where a roundabout option is available.  About 50 people had taken the survey at that point.   Generally, marked bike lanes and “buffered bike lanes”  (a bike lane with a lines about two feet wide to separate the cyclist from the vehicle travelway) got solid thumbs down along every segment and some form of cycle track given thumbs up—since generally there were three types of cycle track it was not possible to conclude one design over another—each received a several vote positive response. 

Hopefully the online survey and Workshop results will be provided in separate tabulations.  The roundabout numbers as of Sunday were: Plattsburgh Ave 9 thumbs-up 16 thumbs-down; Ethan Allen Parkway 23 up, 14 down; VT 127 32 up 17 down; and Institute Drive 18 up 20 down.   In a comment suggesting a roundabout at Shore/Heineberg 10 up 19 down.  Considering there are no busy street roundabouts in Chittenden County and one mile of cycle track (raised) only on Dorset Street in South Burlington acceptance and support for these new treatments is quite encouraging.

       Between Shore Road/Heineberg Road to VT 127—Exiting Left with Roundabouts

One set of important comments express concern about how vehicles can exit Killarney, Village Green and Saratoga (all between Ethan Allen Parkway and VT 127). with roundabouts in place.  One set of street segment options creates three vehicle lanes with the middle one a turn lane while intersection options include roundabouts at VT 127 and Ethan Allen Parkway.  Unfortunately the roundabout choice is in the “intersection” set and the three-lane is separate in the “street segment” set.  In isolation neither works to maximum performance—but together very effective. With the three vehicle lanes (the middle one for turns) and roundabouts at  both intersections, these combined options make a left hand turn quite easy--a left hand turn involves crossing just one lane onto the middle “turn” lane and when the far lane is clear moving into it.  Yes, the traffic will not “platoon” with a roundabout as it does to an extent today with signals in place, but traffic will be moving at 10-20 miles an hour and in no one is in a hurry, nothing like today’s “race to the green” routine behavior.  Finally, these turns—and speed constraints—improve with bike lanes, preferably on both sides, as this results in better sight line to make that move to the center lane.  In many instances traffic will yield to those wanting to complete a left turn from the middle into the travel lane.  And, there is always the easy right-turn option and no more than a block or two in order to use the roundabout to reverse direction, obviously not available today.   During much of the day left turns can be made by just finding the frequent “joint gaps.”