Proposal
from The Druker Company
Urban Design and Architecture
Traffic
A traffic circulation philosophy is proposed for the University Gateway
Center area which provides flexibility and minimizes circuity and vehicle/pedestrian
conflicts. Although the offset nature of street intersections along the
High Street corridor complicates implementation of certain vehicular circulation
strategies, opportunities exist to restructure certain movements and provide
new balance between pedestrian and vehicular service within the area.
| To encourage a more pedestrian-friendly environment within the University Gateway Center area along High Street between 9th Avenue and Chittenden Avenue, several traffic flow changes are being explored. Some of these are portrayed and involve creating parking bays on both sides of High Street. On the east side of High Street, there would be dedicated parking with "bump-outs" at corners; off-peak curbside parking would be provided on the west side of High Street. In addition to increasing the parking supply and providing a buffer between vehicular traffic and pedestrians, this will physically reduce the size of the High Street intersections thus creating shorter pedestrian crossing distances. The remaining High Street pavement would be operated with three lanes‹one through lane in each direction and a center lane to be used for left turns where needed. While we agree that this strategy greatly enhances the pedestrian quality of University Gateway Center, it must be comprehensively analyzed in the context of the entire High Street corridor. |  Traffic diagram |
Other alternatives being explored include the conversion of 11th Avenue east of High Street from one-way eastbound operation to two-way operation to enhance connectivity between High Street and I-71. Since there is limited distance between the east and west legs of 11th Avenue at High Street, northbound and southbound left turns may not both be adequately served from the center left turn space in High Street. Consequently, the northbound left turn would likely need to be prohibited. High Street may need to be widened slightly throughout the Gateway area to create an appropriate three-lane width.
Another alternative to be evaluated would stripe High Street as a four-lane facility similar to its existing operation allowing off-peak parking on both the east and west sides. This does not create as much benefit for pedestrians but may be required by City traffic officials to serve the High Street traffic with two lanes in the appropriate peak flow direction. This alternative would eliminate the widened sidewalk "bump-outs" which are shown and which facilitate pedestrian crossing.
The proposed parking deck located east of High Steet between 9th Avenue and 11th Avenue will be served with excellent flexibility from either 9th Avenue or 11th Avenue as both will be considered as two-way facilities. In the High Street concept with on-street parallel parking bays and only three lanes of travel, the northbound High Street curb lane at 9th Avenue would become a right turn lane thus facilitating access to the south entrance to the parking deck. The proposed parking facility serves to substantially increase parking supply while also reducing travel circuity within the Gateway area.
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