The traffic along Grant Line Road hasn’t been as bad, apparently because the recession reduced the number of passing trains where the state of Indiana proposed an overpass, and in turn, eliminating it as a need.
Did it then become a “want”? We await clarification from Professor Erika’s Tea Kettle Serenade.
Of all the news stories to come down the information rutted dirt goat path of late, this is the one that requires a master’s degree in protocol before finally managing to tunnel through to the actual topic. The city of New Albany has wrested 4.5 miles of Indiana 111 from the state, and before I can express cautionary mixed feelings, there must be a discussion about whom to thank and in what order they must be congratulated.
Alphabetically, the contestants are State Representative Ed Clere, Mayor Doug England, and Deputy Mayor Carl Malysz. I imagine that John Rosenbarger and Scott Wood should be included, but they are not listed in the press release. Some might suggest that Governor Mitch Daniels receive credit, but I’d rather drink Bud Light than stoop to that.
Thanks, guys. Does Clere’s opponent, Shane Gibson, get equal time here? Just in case, go ahead and throw his name in the pot, too.
Now comes the part that we’re all waiting to hear: A detailed plan to allay fears that the settlement cash won't go toward future widening and upkeep of 111. I can already hear Dan Coffey demand that it be divided among flood victims or used to subsidize sewer rates.
As for widening, a bicycle lane connecting downtown with IUS now becomes a possibility, doesn’t it? One that passes the city's largest public park?
After all, it’s the city’s road to control. Daniel Suddeath's article mentions adding a fifth auto lane near the Interstate. Given current conditions, green makes more sense, doesn't it?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
I wish that I had your ability to rewrite song lyrics. "What's sense got to do with it?"
I wish that those who believe that the bike lanes are only being used by "a few" would have been watching Spring St. over the last couple of weeks. I've watched everything from single cyclists to large groups using the bike lanes. They can be an important part of our downtown identity and the addition of more lanes, I think, are paramount to the continued revitalization.
Woo hoo! Should kick the signage project into high gear now.
I live on 111.
The Main Street Preservationists have advocated for a “boulevard” re-design for Main Street for years. Is the city going to incorporate the neighborhood master plan? Any other neighborhood master plans?
As a resident of 111, I’m naturally interested. I’m also interested in seeing Main Street become New Albany’s “Main Street” again, rather than a truck highway.
In the past our neighborhood has proposed making Main Street from Bank to Silver St., a pedestrian zone on Sundays. Will we now get to talk about how to divert traffic to other more commercial areas if desired? State Street?
I guess the bigger question is - if New Albany continues to return to it’s old historic residential patterns, how would the city redraw the commercial traffic patterns to: allow proper storm drainage (this is vital to sustainability) and direct the heavy commercial traffic safely within the context of our former, and hopefully future, dense residential neighborhoods?
The historic houses on Main Street suffer constant structural vibration from the increasing number of 18 wheel tractor-trailers using the neighborhood as a Highway. Oops, it is a highway... Just the loss of irreplaceable historic plate glass in our windows should be of concern. Forget what the freight trains do to the buildings! Combined, the volume, sound, and weight of commercial traffic through our neighborhood is simply not compatible with a it’s continued viability as a residential neighborhood.
I will say, because I’m, you know, everyone’s fav Cassandra, that if the citie’s goal in taking control of 111 is to get it’s hands on the $6+million cash in the deal, then this whole thing might signal further “ghettoization” of downtown. If in fact, as the city says in the article you link, that it wants to take 111 to IMPROVE the city, who can’t be for it?
Post a Comment