[Carfreeliving] Oak and Masonic - small update

[Brinkman, Cheryl]

Frank Markowitz assured me he would let me know what the plan is before
anything gets done. I am encouraging a complete look at both
intersections, Fell and Ok @ Masonic.  They both are still quite scary.
 
Cheryl


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From: Brinkman, Cheryl 
Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2005 1:17 PM
To: Carfreeliving at livablecity.org
Subject: Oak and Masonic


Oak at Masonic used to be a double turn lane from Oak to Masonic.  A few
months ago, June I think, the second turn lane was removed - well, the
tow away zone was removed so cars can now park along the left side of
Oak all the way up to the crosswalk.  This meant that there is only one
lane of cars turning left across the Masonic cross walk that connects
the two halves of the Panhandle.
 
This was accomplished after a comprehensive e-mail string to DPT
engineering listing all the reasoning behind improving pedestrian and
bike safety, the fact that the left turning cars simply meet a red light
at Fell, and that Oak street does not appear to be at capacity - cars
come in clumps across all four lanes, but no clump seems to be deeper
then about four or five cars, and of course that the City Charter states
blah blah blah....
 
Now my lovely "ark here and help slow the cars down"is going be removed
for morning rush hours 7-9 apparently due river complaints and the fact
that the intersection backs up.  I did not go out and publicize the
removal of the turn lane to peds and bikes, thinking that perhaps it was
better to fly under the radar and not call attention to it.  That was a
mistake I guess, the drivers complained and the peds did not state their
happiness at feeling safer crossing Masonic. Drivers win again.
 
Would the correct ultimate decision maker be Jack Fleck of DPT
engineering?  As usual,  I don't understand why driver convenience
trumps pedestrian safety but I want to keep the intersection at one turn
lane only.  It really is safer for peds.
 
Any advise would be welcome.
 
Cheryl

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