New Albany is a state of mind … but whose? Since 2004, we’ve been observing the contemporary scene in this slowly awakening old river town. If it’s true that a pre-digital stopped clock is right twice a day, when will New Albany learn to tell time?
Thursday, November 04, 2010
A new era of quiet on Mansion Row. Well, the trains, at least.
The quiet zone will have a substantial positive effect for those of us along the railroad corridor. It’s not just Main St.; streets like Dewey, Troy, Galt and Market are impacted too. I hope the long term impact also includes more residents opting to invest in homes in this area. It certainly won't hurt.
For me, the impact is professional as well as personal. My office is about 1000 feet from the 6th St. crossing. Many times I had to interrupt conference calls as the horn blew. It did not convey the most professional impression to potential clients or others.
I'm glad the city did its part in seeing the plan come along. Valla Ann certainly deserves credit too. I heard her talking about the zone years before anyone else was. She kept it on the radar and I don’t think we’d have the Zone now without her efforts.
Because E. Main was a state highway, the city never had authority to do anything about the motorcycles, or semi-trucks, or other host of ails along this corridor. That changed a few weeks ago.
The SR 111 Relinquishment Agreement between INDOT and the city specified a state match, dollar for dollar, for improvements along Main Street between State and Vincennes. The match cap was somewhere around $500,000. The match funds could be used for a number of improvements, such as repaving, a grassy median, parking “bump outs,” tree planting and maintenance, bike lanes, benches, stop signs, trash bins and/or (very sorely needed) sidewalks. The relinquishment agreement didn’t really put limits on the use except that the match does not apply to other parts of relinquished 111.
That being said, I’m unaware of any plans for Main St. Other sections of former-111 will see improvements first. Those areas certainly have issues too and since funds are limited, I’m not going to complain about a wait. However, it will be reassuring to see that good design improvements are in the pipeline for this very important corridor.
Now, let's everybody drive carefully and watch your crossings, so that no one gets hit by a train, sues the shit out of the railroads, and ends the silence.
Before the Quiet Zone process began, there were no cross gates and no warning lights at these three crossings. The gates were installed to facilitate the zone. The three intersections are safer today than they were before the quiet zone process was begun. Gates are safer than horns.
Quiet zone to start Friday along East Main corridor in New Albany (Tribune).
The quiet zone will have a substantial positive effect for those of us along the railroad corridor. It’s not just Main St.; streets like Dewey, Troy, Galt and Market are impacted too. I hope the long term impact also includes more residents opting to invest in homes in this area. It certainly won't hurt.
ReplyDeleteFor me, the impact is professional as well as personal. My office is about 1000 feet from the 6th St. crossing. Many times I had to interrupt conference calls as the horn blew. It did not convey the most professional impression to potential clients or others.
I'm glad the city did its part in seeing the plan come along. Valla Ann certainly deserves credit too. I heard her talking about the zone years before anyone else was. She kept it on the radar and I don’t think we’d have the Zone now without her efforts.
I'd wholeheartedly agree with Dan's comments. If we can then put a stop to motorcycle drag races up and down our residential street it will help too.
ReplyDeleteI'm just trying to give credit where debit is due.
ReplyDeleteThen again, I don't have to live next to ... the ... railroad track.
LOL.
Because E. Main was a state highway, the city never had authority to do anything about the motorcycles, or semi-trucks, or other host of ails along this corridor. That changed a few weeks ago.
ReplyDeleteThe SR 111 Relinquishment Agreement between INDOT and the city specified a state match, dollar for dollar, for improvements along Main Street between State and Vincennes. The match cap was somewhere around $500,000. The match funds could be used for a number of improvements, such as repaving, a grassy median, parking “bump outs,” tree planting and maintenance, bike lanes, benches, stop signs, trash bins and/or (very sorely needed) sidewalks. The relinquishment agreement didn’t really put limits on the use except that the match does not apply to other parts of relinquished 111.
That being said, I’m unaware of any plans for Main St. Other sections of former-111 will see improvements first. Those areas certainly have issues too and since funds are limited, I’m not going to complain about a wait. However, it will be reassuring to see that good design improvements are in the pipeline for this very important corridor.
Now, let's everybody drive carefully and watch your crossings, so that no one gets hit by a train, sues the shit out of the railroads, and ends the silence.
ReplyDeleteBefore the Quiet Zone process began, there were no cross gates and no warning lights at these three crossings. The gates were installed to facilitate the zone. The three intersections are safer today than they were before the quiet zone process was begun. Gates are safer than horns.
ReplyDelete