The end of the beginning: "Blame the road design, not the phone."

When one's only strong impression about street design is that it should facilitate his or her rapid passage through populated urban areas, certain nuances are bound to be missed -- "steamrolled" might be a better way of putting it.

Here in New Albany, two-way streets are being put into service this month without the ballyhooed "enhanced" crosswalks being finished. The first such crosswalk was installed earlier this year at Main at W. 1st following a period of years during which City hall insisted it couldn't be done.

ASK THE BORED: Tucson's first rainbow crosswalk -- and we get stuck with dozens of lousy anchors enabled by municipal cowardice.

CM David Barksdale added that in his experience, the flashing lights not only fail to make an impression on drivers far too busy checking their iPhones, but also taper off too quickly once daring walkers have waded into the street.

Allow me to add that if solar-activated yellow flashing lights do not convince drivers to yield to pedestrians, soon-to-be ubiquitous sharrow symbols painted on streets do not convince drivers to share space with bicyclists.

Except that Main Street really hasn't been calmed in terms of design, has it?

With everything being done to encourage humans to pass on foot from the south side to the north side, and vice versa, Main Street remains a high-speed wasteland of automobile-centric design all the way from the sewage treatment plant to the beginning of the beautification area on Mansion Row.

The enhanced crosswalk at W. 1st is pleasant enough, but until street design on both sides supports its use -- and assuming drivers give a damn -- it's a very small pleasantry, indeed.

Just remember: The current realization of two-way streets and improved street design is not the end of a necessary adjustment to New Albany's auto-centric streets.

It's just the end of the beginning. Note that yet another media source blames the car for the accident .. not the driver.

BLAME THE ROAD DESIGN, NOT THE PHONE, by Rachel Quednau (Strong Towns)

In one of many recent news stories on "distracted walking," WPVI-TV Philadelphia reports that a "girl chatting on FaceTime [was] struck and critically injured by [a] car in Abington." As Lloyd Alter, writing for TreeHugger, summarizes it:

There was a serious crash recently near Philadelphia; a fourteen year old girl was crossing a street in a crosswalk, in a school zone, with signs posted on posts and tent signs all over the place saying that pedestrians have right of way. There are no trees, no obstructions, no reason whatsoever that the driver couldn't see that there was a pedestrian.

And yet, unsurprisingly, the WPVI-TV article focuses almost solely on the fact that the now-critically injured girl was on her iPhone when she was hit and implies that she is to blame for her injuries. In the 27-sentence article, there are only two mentions of the driver who struck this high schooler—one to explain that the driver stopped the car after the crash and the other mentioning that "no charges have been filed at this time."

In the article, we read about how bystanders dutifully called 911, how first responders rushed the girl to the hospital, and even how school counselors "have been made available to her peers." However, nowhere do we read that local officials are reassessing the design of the road on which this crash occurred to prevent future crashes from happening ...

Just monetize, baby: Mirror imagery at Main & W. 1st.

In New Gahania, first we look at the purse.

Mark of Duggins: "An anchor fixes a potentially moving object to a place. It gets stuck in the mud and silt and keeps things from moving. That's why it's called an anchor."

W. 1st crosswalk propaganda: Other cities allow artists to create art. Ours merely glorifies its own fix-is-in muddy anchor.

W. 1st crosswalk propaganda: Other cities allow artists to create art. Ours merely glorifies its own fix-is-in muddy anchor.

The good news: The crosswalk the city denied was possible is almost completed.

The bad news: Nothing prepares you for the public propaganda installation on W. 1st.

Anybody got a bucket?

ASK THE BORED: Anti-climactic paving bids, Elm Street speedway work and the forthcoming W. 1st and Main intersection.

ASK THE BORED: A progress report on paving, two-way streets and the crosswalk on Main at W. 1st.

ASK THE BORED: It's a pretty penny, but safety for humans at the intersection of Main and W. 1st draws nearer.

ASK THE BORED: Anti-climactic paving bids, Elm Street speedway work and the forthcoming W. 1st and Main intersection.

The minutes from May 23 are in, and the low bid for this season's citywide paving extravaganza ... like always ...

MAC! MAC! MAC!

No word on the inevitable re-dos, do-overs, or other famous stuffed-envelope-driven hallmarks of beak wetting borne of annual paving -- but guys, low bid!

Meanwhile, two other items about grid modernization (i.e., paving) and the W. 1st and Main work.

Elm Street paving begins now. There'll be a second street where average traffic speeds increase by 15% prior to the two-way restriping.

Finally, the quarter-million dollar W. 1st Street and Main Street Crosswalk project, photos of which follow, draws nearer to completion.

For a reprise of the long exhausting march toward a human-friendly intersection, with Team Gahan resisting every step, consult this popular previous post.

ASK THE BORED: It's a pretty penny, but safety for humans at the intersection of Main and W. 1st draws nearer.

This is welcome news, and takes on added importance given the resistance with which City Hall initially greeted the idea. I'll never forget being informed in detail as to the absolute impossibility of such a human-friendly notion -- although negotiating with INDOT to ensure 2015 election-year street paving on Main rather than substantive dialogue about safety proved to be a very do-able priority.

They do excel at certain things.

ASK THE BORED: A progress report on paving, two-way streets and the crosswalk on Main at W. 1st.

From the BOW meeting of May 16, in their own words, an update on downtown grid paving and the crosswalk project at Main and W. 1st.

---

A MEETING OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS & SAFETY OF THE CIVIL CITY OF NEW ALBANY, INDIANA, WAS HELD IN THE THIRD FLOOR ASSEMBLY ROOM AT THE CITY/COUNTY BUILDING ON TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2017 AT 10:00 A.M.

PRESENT: Mickey Thompson, member, Cheryl Cotner-Bailey, member, and Warren V. Nash, president. 

OTHERS PRESENT: Fire Chief Juliot, Fire Marshal Koehler, Mike Hall, Sandy Boofter, Chris Gardner, Bryan Slade, Sidney Main, Larry Summers, David Hall, Jessica Campbell, Police Chief Bailey, Alicia Meredith, Courtney Lewis and Mindy Milburn

(excerpt follows)

Sunny Dickerson, HWC Engineering, reported on the progress of the two-way conversion. He explained that the underground conduit is in on Spring Street as well as the pit bores for the detector houses. He stated that they are starting on Elm Street today and they should be done with that by the end of the week. He added that the work will be contingent upon MAC completing their paving work but as of right now everything looks to be on schedule.

Wes Christmas explained that the south side of the milling is completed and they are already working on the north side, so it should be completed today. He stated that there may be a few side streets that need to be finished but they plan to start paving tomorrow. He explained that the plan is to have all the paving work completed by Thursday and Friday if the weather cooperates. He stated next week is an off week for paving activities while they wrap up the underground work, and the week of May 30th they will begin the same process on Elm Street.

Mr. Nash asked about the temporary markings that will be put out.

Mr. Christmas explained that it will be the same configuration as it is now and will not change until all the new signage and signals are complete.

Mr. Nash asked if Market would be done after Elm

Mr. Christmas replied yes and explained that all paving is anticipated to be complete before the end of June. He added that Police Chief Bailey suggested installing additional signage to let the residents and businesses know what is going on so they have small signs every 30 feet down the corridor as well as an additional message board.    

Mrs. Cotner-Bailey asked if they could have door hangers.

Mr. Christmas explained that they haven’t done it in the past but they could check on that if they need to.

Mr. Nash asked if the signs have been working.

Police Chief Bailey stated that there hasn’t been a tremendous problem and they have the few incidents under control. 

Mr. Summers asked Mr. Christmas to touch on the West 1^st and Main Street project.

Mr. Christmas explained that this is for the bump-outs and pedestrian crossings and the work is under way. He stated that the majority of the concrete is poured on the southeast corner and they started demo on the southwest corner. He explained that once the south side is done they will jump over the north side and do the other two corners. He added that beyond the intersection the only work that is being done is the addition of a few trees.

Mr. Nash commented that some of the trees on State Street look too big for the bump-outs.

Mr. Christmas stated that the trees were suggested by Greg Mills and are supposed to be of a smaller variety. 

ASK THE BORED: It's a pretty penny, but safety for humans at the intersection of Main and W. 1st draws nearer.

Three weeks ago, councilman David Barksdale confided that the Redevelopment Commission would be seeking bids at its March meeting (no minutes will be available until they're approved in April) for the crosswalk and "intersection improvements" at Main and West 1st.

This is welcome news, and takes on added importance given the resistance with which City Hall initially greeted the idea. I'll never forget being informed in detail as to the absolute impossibility of such a human-friendly notion -- although negotiating with INDOT to ensure 2015 election-year street paving on Main rather than substantive dialogue about safety proved to be a very do-able priority.

Thanks again to Barksdale and others who helped resolve the impasse, which as this excerpt from October, 2016 was facilitated by the Redevelopment Commission, not BOW.

Note that while Bob Caesar remains a hypocrite concerning the sanctity of budgets and expenditures, his question here is timely, and you're reading it right: $250,000 to get this done. Might it have cost less had the work been incorporated with "get out the vote" paving, rather than resisted by functionaries who hadn't yet bothered to read Jeff Speck's book?

Only Deaf Gahan knows for sure. Here's a repeat of the most recent summary of the long march toward safety at Main and W. 1st.

---

November 8, 2016

ASK THE BORED: Red carpet pedestrian treatment for Hausfeldt Lane as the trucks roar past the corner of Main and W. 1st.

As a prelude to a discussion that occurred at last week's Bored Conclave, where the plume of white smoke indicates a pants leg on fire -- a meeting kept mercifully short so the political appointees could resume their partisan beak-wetting campaigns -- recall that NA Confidential has placed the topic of crosswalks and pedestrian safety on the front burner way for years.

Here is a sampling of links since 2014. Recently, we've placed the spotlight on the increasingly busy corner of Main and W. 1st, but there are multiple candidates for scrutiny throughout the city, most of them being ignored by the somnolent timer-servers in municipal government.

Must we wait for a traffic study to slow traffic and put crosswalks at the corner of Main and W. 1st?

Walkability might as well begin with the intersection of Main and West 1st, so can it begin now?

As Team Gahan snoozes, the intersection of West 1st and Main is an accident waiting to happen.

Two weekend posts about Team Gahan's arrogant auto-centrism.

Team Gahan's breathtaking passive/aggressive answer to the question of making a safe pedestrian crossing at Main and W. 1st.

ON THE AVENUES: Requiem for the bored.

There is no crosswalk at Main and W. 1st Streets, and yet there's one in the middle of the block by the hospital (2 of 2).

City engineer Larry Summers and INDOT explain why there is no crosswalk at Main and W. 1st Streets (1 of 2).

Dangerous intersections: Something for Greg Phipps to consider, though it's unlikely they will.

Back in June, thanks to the intervention of councilmen Barksdale and Knable (if memory serves), the art of the possible suddenly came to the attention of the snoring usual suspects.

A crosswalk at Main & W. 1st? One month ago it was utterly impossible, but now Redevelopment says anything's possible.

Taking all this into consideration, you'll understand why we're fascinated to learn of the following conversation at last week's Bored of Works gathering.

In short, on Hausfeldt Lane we'll sound alarms, construct non-standard guides and post a city employee to escort folks back and forth across a street made potentially dangerous by passing trucks, but at Main and W. 1st, with thriving businesses on all four corners, and the same dangerous trucks barreling back and forth, uncontrolled in terms of speed on a street too wide, the same argument will be deferred, and until recently ignored, by virtue of ineffectual gurgling sounds, at least until an elected official or two applies pressure and calls the city's perennial bluff.

Why is Team Gahan constantly contemptuous of pedestrians and cyclists?

Could it be, at least in part, that none of them know what it's like to walk?

ASK THE BORED: Red carpet pedestrian treatment for Hausfeldt Lane as the trucks roar past the corner of Main and W. 1st.

As a prelude to a discussion that occurred at last week's Bored Conclave, where the plume of white smoke indicates a pants leg on fire -- a meeting kept mercifully short so the political appointees could resume their partisan beak-wetting campaigns -- recall that NA Confidential has placed the topic of crosswalks and pedestrian safety on the front burner way for years.

Here is a sampling of links since 2014. Recently, we've placed the spotlight on the increasingly busy corner of Main and W. 1st, but there are multiple candidates for scrutiny throughout the city, most of them being ignored by the somnolent timer-servers in municipal government.

Must we wait for a traffic study to slow traffic and put crosswalks at the corner of Main and W. 1st?

Walkability might as well begin with the intersection of Main and West 1st, so can it begin now?

As Team Gahan snoozes, the intersection of West 1st and Main is an accident waiting to happen.

Two weekend posts about Team Gahan's arrogant auto-centrism.

Team Gahan's breathtaking passive/aggressive answer to the question of making a safe pedestrian crossing at Main and W. 1st.

ON THE AVENUES: Requiem for the bored.

There is no crosswalk at Main and W. 1st Streets, and yet there's one in the middle of the block by the hospital (2 of 2).

City engineer Larry Summers and INDOT explain why there is no crosswalk at Main and W. 1st Streets (1 of 2).

Dangerous intersections: Something for Greg Phipps to consider, though it's unlikely they will.

Back in June, thanks to the intervention of councilmen Barksdale and Knable (if memory serves), the art of the possible suddenly came to the attention of the snoring usual suspects.

A crosswalk at Main & W. 1st? One month ago it was utterly impossible, but now Redevelopment says anything's possible.

Taking all this into consideration, you'll understand why we're fascinated to learn of the following conversation at last week's Bored of Works gathering.

In short, on Hausfeldt Lane we'll sound alarms, construct non-standard guides and post a city employee to escort folks back and forth across a street made potentially dangerous by passing trucks, but at Main and W. 1st, with thriving businesses on all four corners, and the same dangerous trucks barreling back and forth, uncontrolled in terms of speed on a street too wide, the same argument will be deferred, and until recently ignored, by virtue of ineffectual gurgling sounds, at least until an elected official or two applies pressure and calls the city's perennial bluff.

Why is Team Gahan constantly contemptuous of pedestrians and cyclists?

Could it be, at least in part, that none of them know what it's like to walk?

Is it public art? Is it a street lamp stump? Has the street department even noticed?

Speaking of trip hazards in high-density pedestrian areas, it's been this way for a while, and appears to be the remains of a street lamp.

A crosswalk at Main & W. 1st? One month ago it was utterly impossible, but now Redevelopment says anything's possible.

Only a few weeks after imperiously dismissing the possibility of a crosswalk of any configuration at Main and W. 1st -- paraphrased: the traffic isn't slow enough and we won't slow the traffic -- the same cadre of city officials who regarded it as impossible now apparently have commenced a study to achieve it.

Before proceeding to the story, kindly note that NA Confidential placed this topic on the front burner way back in 2014. It's nice when folks catch up.

Must we wait for a traffic study to slow traffic and put crosswalks at the corner of Main and W. 1st?

Walkability might as well begin with the intersection of Main and West 1st, so can it begin now?

As Team Gahan snoozes, the intersection of West 1st and Main is an accident waiting to happen.

Two weekend posts about Team Gahan's arrogant auto-centrism.

Team Gahan's breathtaking passive/aggressive answer to the question of making a safe pedestrian crossing at Main and W. 1st.

ON THE AVENUES: Requiem for the bored.

There is no crosswalk at Main and W. 1st Streets, and yet there's one in the middle of the block by the hospital (2 of 2).

City engineer Larry Summers and INDOT explain why there is no crosswalk at Main and W. 1st Streets (1 of 2).

Dangerous intersections: Something for Greg Phipps to consider, though it's unlikely they will.

Illustrating yet again that the unelected Redevelopment Commission holds the real power in New Albany, the commission apparently decided at Tuesday's meeting that a crosswalk feasibility study is necessary, as farmed out to the usual suspects at Clark Dietz.

Does this firm have a non-compete clause?

My use of "apparently" owes to the fact that while this occurrence was printed in the Jeffersonville paper on Wednesday, and read to me over the phone by a friend, the paper deemed it sufficiently unimportant that it does not appear at the paper's web site, and therefore cannot be referenced here.

Redevelopment's feasibility study also has been corroborated by councilman David Barksdale and city engineer Larry Summers, who adds that whatever crosswalk proposal is made, it "still has to get INDOT approval."

This observation is revealing in itself, as such INDOT approval might have come prior to the crucial pre-election West Main Street paving project last year, when city officials already were aware of pedestrians having problems crossing Main at W. 1st.

Had the city sought INDOT approval in 2015, perhaps the problem already would be resolved. But as Rep. Ed Clere once piquantly observed, one first must ask in order to receive ... an answer.

Straight up: City Hall blew it in 2015, and now, for whatever reason, City Hall is trying to rally. If readers with connections to the Down Low Bunker will let us know who pushed this dramatic reversal of the previously impossible, I will publicly thank him or her, sans snark.

That's because a human-friendly intersection at Main and W. 1st is an imperative. It has been for a while. Better late than never, I suppose -- but can the momentum please be carried to other flash points, too?

Wait, I've got it: A non-binding city council resolution urging walkability in New Albany. 

There is no crosswalk at Main and W. 1st Streets, and yet there's one in the middle of the block by the hospital (2 of 2).

(1 of 2)

(2 of 2)

Traveling southbound on State Street. You see a yellow sign warning about the forthcoming crosswalk.

Then a flashing yellow light.

Finally, the crosswalk itself.

However, we've been told that nothing comparable can be done here ...

 ... presumably because the state still controls this stretch of road, and the city's hands are tied. But why are caution lights sufficient at one heavily-trafficked stretch, and not another?

At times like this, you find yourself thinking. Ignoring for a moment whether the city might have resolved to act aggressively in favor of safety for all users, and pushed the state harder prior to last year's "get it paved by election time" project on W. Main Street, it remains that we possess the ability to lobby INDOT for better terms.

His name is Ed Clere, and he's our state representative. He'd likely be able to help. He's done so before, as during the negotiations between state and city for the relinquishment of 111.

Consequently, here's my next question: Has anyone from City Hall bothered to ask Ed Clere for help?

I think the answer is painfully obvious.

City engineer Larry Summers and INDOT explain why there is no crosswalk at Main and W. 1st Streets (1 of 2).

(1 of 2)

(2 of 2)

On May 10, city engineer Larry Summers and I had a chat via Facebook messaging. Here it is, complete and unexpurgated. There'll be a second post with a follow-up question. Larry is to be thanked for answering the question; while we might suggest that all public officials should do so, we know it isn't always the case. Thank you, Larry.

---

Roger
I've been chatting with INDOT Seymour about the Main/W 1st non-pedestrian friendly area*. They say that the city's solution during last year's paving was to add bike lanes to and from nowhere, thus reducing lane width to 12 feet and instituting traffic calming at a spot where the sidewalks don't have pedestrian ramps pointing across Main. Now, I think this sounds like an opportunity ingloriously blown, BUT my reason for writing to you is to give you or someone else on the Team a chance to explain this in plain English for publication so that I can have both points of view. You tell me Gahan understands better than I realize. Okay. How was this one missed, and what's to be done about it? Thanks.

Larry
Roger, it was an engineering decision. The Mayor was not involved because I made the decision in the field. It is inadvisable to place a crosswalk at an uncontrolled intersection because it gives pedestrians a false sense of security. It is important to note that when a sidewalk extends to both sides of the street, a crosswalk is presumed whether marked or not. Therefore, a pedestrian should be able to cross with the same protections as a marked crosswalk in terms having the right of way to cross and vehicles should yield accordingly.

Roger
That does not inspire confidence, but thanks. And the bike lanes from and to nowhere? Do you think that lane narrowing means anything, or was that INDOT's delusion?

Larry
The lane narrowing was introduced to help control excessive speeds. The bike lanes will be incorporated with an overarching scheme, in the future. Parking was introduced in locations where none was previously which will hopefully boost economic development potential and the center turn lane helps accommodate turn movements on Main St and has improved the overall safety and functionality.

Roger
Try to understand. What you've just said has only to do with cars, not people. It makes sense for autos. There's nothing there for walkers; nothing there for businesses on those corners who see the benefit of walkability. You're saying that cars come first. Is that really what you want to say? There's nothing in this to indicate your previous words about Speck implementation are valid. Is it time to level with us yet?

Larry
People are the central focus of all my projects. Walkers, bikers, homeowners, business owners, car divers, and semi drivers. The primary concern I gave is safety. I don't want walkers to feel they are safer than they are at an intersection--if I do, I'm doing the walkers a disservice and have put them in harms way. I always strive for safety for all citizens ... I'm typing on my phone and near dangerous machinery. Please forgive typing errors.

Roger
No problem. Look, I like you. Wouldn't bother if I didn't, but that's political drone speak. Speck's not happening, is it?

Larry
That striping plan is effectively Speck. Compare.

Roger
I was prepared to concede that point, though the lanes are still far too wide. But what you're saying about the intersection of Main and W 1st is that because the city won't protect walkers, walkers can't be protected. It's a circular argument. What about the REST of the Speck plan on Elm, Spring, etc? Nothing incremental so far is encouraging. Can't make an omelette without breaking eggs, can you?

Larry
We are awaiting the costs and the costs won't be know until we know the railroad component and CSX has been less than easy to work with. It's never as easy as flipping the switch. Especially with federal money.

Roger
Thank you. Final question: If we are not Specked by toll time, what's Plan B -- and your vapid boss already conceded tolls would happen first.

Larry
We flipped the switch on the Silver and Spring project before the tolls. It's an important component that will improve safety along that dangerous corridor and limit the traffic volume that can cut through New Albany.

Roger
Okay, thanks. How much of this is on the record? People ask me. Team Gahan won't speak publicly for attribution, and I'd like to provide answers.

Larry
West Main is definitely on the record. We've done a news release on the Silver Spring project. Much of what I told you was in there. We need to attribute it to safety, which this project will greatly improve.

Roger
I'll try to be gentle. But can you answer my question about W 1st? Why not take measures to protect the walkers, rather than say they can't be protected? Does the state prevent you from being proactive?

Larry
MUTCD cautions against marked crosswalks at uncontrolled intersections. I am protecting the walkers by not letting them think they are safer than what they are. If I mark it, they could walk out thinking a driver will stop and an inattentive driver could kill a pedestrian there.

Roger
We're not communicating. Why can't the intersection be controlled? Why not a four way stop?

Larry
That is a state controlled intersection, for one. BOW cannot place controls on a state highway without the consent of the state. I was surprised they even let us guide them with striping.

Roger
So, hypothetically, if the state had included that block of Main in the relinquishment, you could have acted?

Larry
The request could have been brought before BOW. I don't know the hypothetical outcome, but the request could be made.

Roger
Though as with your field decision on the uncontrolled intersection, BOW likely would defer to your expertise?

Larry
In some cases they defer. In others, the board relies on their on decision. Ultimately, it is their decision to make.

Roger
Okay. Thanks. Appreciate it.

Larry
You're welcome. Trust me, I'm working my hardest to improve this City with each and every project I'm involved in.

Roger
I believe you. I don't believe your boss. So it goes.

---

* Here is the response to my inquiry from INDOT Seymour.

Dear Mr. Baylor,

"Thank you for contacting the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) with your inquiry. The Seymour District Communications Department has received your message concerning the intersection of Main and W 1st Street, New Albany.

"Your inquiry has been sent to the Traffic Investigation Department. They have investigated this location and reported back to me stating INDOT recently partnered with the City of New Albany and repainted this section of SR 111. When these markings were applied, the lanes were reduced to 12’ lanes with a bike lane and parking on both sides of the road. The reduction of lane width and the bike lanes were indeed traffic calming devices.

"There are currently no marked crosswalks at this location because the curb ramps run parallel to SR 111 and not perpendicular. We must mark crossings where curb ramps are present to allow pedestrians a safe refuge from the highway. They also give guidance to individuals in wheelchairs and since the curb ramps are facing incorrectly, we can’t mark it as a safe location to cross.

"There are marked crosswalks one block east at the signalized intersection of SR 111 and State St. This intersection has pedestrian push buttons which allow more time to cross SR 111 when activated. It is also the main entrance to the YMCA.

"Thank you, again, for your inquiry and the opportunity to assist you with this matter. If you have additional questions or require further assistance, please feel free to contact me from the information provided below."

How very topical: "For the Record, the Feds Don’t Require Streets to Speed Car Traffic."

Perhaps now City Hall will take the fight to INDOT ... wait ... guess not, seeing as the last time our stewards of speed-through had the chance to fight for the right of walkers to cross the street at Main and West 1st, we folded faster than you can say "nice fresh asphalt just before the election."

That's not breaking eggs. It's capitulation.

For the Record, the Feds Don’t Require Streets to Speed Car Traffic, by Angie Schmitt (Streetsblog)

When advocating for a street redesign that will take some space away from cars, it’s common to run up against this classic brush-off from your local transportation agency: The federal government won’t allow it.

Well, the Federal Highway Administration recently went on the record to shoot down that excuse. The FHWA doesn’t require states and local governments to speed cars through streets, even ones classified as part of the National Highway System. Stephen Lee Davis at Transportation for America published this excerpt of a memo from FHWA regarding Level of Service, or LOS, a measure of congestion:

…FHWA does not have regulations or policies that require specific minimum LOS values for projects on the NHS. [National Highway System] The recommended values in the Green Book are regarded by FHWA as guidance only. Traffic forecasts are just one factor to consider when planning and designing projects. Agencies should set expectations for operational performance based on existing and projected traffic conditions, current and proposed land use, context, and agency transportation planning goals, and should also take into account the input of a wide cross section of project stakeholders.

Davis explains why this matters:

This might seem like a minor clarification, but FHWA just gave the green light to localities that want to implement a complete streets approach. By making clear that there is zero federal requirement to use level of service (and that there never has been), FHWA is implying that transportation agencies should consider more than just traffic speeds when planning street projects.

Team Gahan's breathtaking passive/aggressive answer to the question of making a safe pedestrian crossing at Main and W. 1st.

You simply cannot make up these things.

The question about the hazardous situation for walkers at Main and W. 1st, where each corner now is occupied by multiple thriving businesses (as well as the YMCA), and parking is scattered on all sides of them, was asked at the last merchant meeting.

David Duggins replied somewhat honestly (for him), by saying the city had no plan at all to do anything to remedy safety at Main and W. 1st.

With even more time to think about it, Team Gahan now has issued an improved excuse for inaction.

Crosswalks on Main Street - At this time crosswalks at corner of Main and First would present a safety hazard as there is no light or stop sign to protect pedestrians and signal a safe crossing. Pedestrians would be invited to walk in an unprotected area.

Wait ... but who other than the city of New Albany possesses the ability to install design elements to protect pedestrians?

In other words, it's Team Gahan's stretch of road to do with as Oz pleases, but there'll be no fundamental safety improvements -- and because there can be no fundamental safety improvements, there'll be no fundamental safety improvements.

This may be the most idiotic example of circular logic that I've ever seen in New Albany, and that's saying a lot.

By refusing to take action, and by deploying its inaction as the reason for it doing nothing, City Hall actually commits an "action," if only in a destructive breach, because it detracts from the value of these businesses and perpetuates conditions that are plainly unsafe.

This is true just as surely as if Main were a one-way street, though because there are no design elements at this intersection to slow traffic, it might as well be a one-way street.

Someone's going to get hurt here, and when it happens, Jeff Gahan will have the blood on his hands. Period.

I've been asking this question for months, but I didn't ask it at the merchant meeting. Rather, it was asked by a businessman who literally has invested millions in downtown New Albany.

And this is the best answer that Gahan's minions can provide. Think about that.

How do these people sleep at night?

As Team Gahan snoozes, the intersection of West 1st and Main is an accident waiting to happen.

We've been asking this question for a while, and now that the Floyd County Brewing Company has opened for business, and the first tenant at New Albany Mercantile has been announced (Laurie Haag, owner of The Loft on Spring, will be leasing the entire second floor for wedding- and event-related shops), we'll ask it again.

Given that the intersection of West 1st and Main is becoming ever more heavily traveled by walkers, what is Team Gahan doing to make it safe for crossing, and walkable?

Remember the notion of walkability, Mayor Gahan? You briefly touted it once.

Can you afford to wait for yet another traffic study, when inaction in this  intersection quite likely is resulting in less walker safety in this area, as well as putting the lie to your claims of support for independent local business?

You'd do it for Kroger, wouldn't you?

Or is it only about nice shiny new sidewalks, and walkers can just go another block down to cross?

Oct 17, 2014: Must we wait for a traffic study to slow traffic and put crosswalks at the corner of Main and W. 1st?

June 17, 2015: Walkability might as well begin with the intersection of Main and West 1st, so can it begin now?

Walkability might as well begin with the intersection of Main and West 1st, so can it begin now?

At yesterday's downtown merchant meeting, a representative of the YMCA observed that it can be very difficult for cars coming from Y's side of West 1st Street to see eastbound oncoming traffic on Main, owing to cars parked in front of what will soon be the Floyd County Brewing Company.

She asked David Duggins, the city's economic development director. if something might be done about the parked cars.

Granted, it's a question for the Board of Public Works and Safety, but as we've seen, the board doesn't emerge from its Tuesday morning lair, and naturally it is fitting and proper for city official like Duggins to attend meetings like the merchant mixer.

Listening to this exchange, it immediately occurred to me that (a) the true danger lies with the speed of traffic and the concurrent absence of four-way stop at the intersection, and (b) it's an inexcusable state of affairs not only for drivers of cars, but more importantly, for people walking.

When FCBC opens, there will be heavily patronized businesses (and the non-profit YMCA) on all four corners. Already we've noted the dangers for people trying to cross these streets. In fact, it's been eight months since I pointed to this (see the links below). Pins drop, crickets chirp.

So, yesterday morning, taking all this into consideration, and understanding that my question is better directed to Warren Nash than David Duggins, I decided to ask it, anyway.

Given the hazards for walkers at this uncontrolled intersection, does the city have any plans to calm traffic and/or install crosswalks (and, as Ian Hall subsequently noted, improve lighting for nighttime walkers)?

Duggins' answer: Well, uh, no.

It's the perfect example of a city potentially using the infrastructure (streets and sidewalks) it already owns and manages to help local businesses without directly awarding them grants, abatements and other direct subsidies.

It's the perfect example of complete streets as economic development drivers AND quality of life enhancers for non-automotive users -- and the drivers of cars would benefit, too.

It's the perfect example of an opportunity to promote public safety.

But in order to succeed, City Hall has to get a grip, have a pulse, and grasp what walkability really means. Currently it does not, and with each passing day, the odds of a tragedy occurring get better, not worse. It is inexcusable.

Let's transform this intersection into a human-friendly, safe conduit for patrons of these businesses and the YMCA to pass back and forth between them without fearing for the lives.

My links from last October:

Must we wait for a traffic study to slow traffic and put crosswalks at the corner of Main and W. 1st?

Which downtown New Albany intersections are the very worst for walkers?

Must we wait for a traffic study to slow traffic and put crosswalks at the corner of Main and W. 1st?

Look at the asphalt. There's something missing, eh?

Looking clockwise ...

Yeah, it's that whole walkability thing ... so much easier to talk about than actually buy a damned can of paint -- or heaven forbid, erect four-way stop signs to slow the 18-wheelers.

On April 16th, I asked a question about this same vicinity.

New Albany's streets: Screwed by design. Why?

The YMCA is on the south side of Main Street, with parking on the building's west side. Feast BBQ and The Exchange (sorry, but the Hour/Tower/Shower of Power doesn't count) are on the north side of Main. Soon, across W. 1st Street on the north side of Main, there'll be the Seeds and Greens Natural Market and Deli, and of course the antique store already operates on the corner.

A half-block to the north are the municipal parking lots where the farmers market probably should be, if we were in the habit of thinking and acting in the interest of multiple usage.

The are multiple traffic lanes at W. 1st and Main in the approach to the stop light at State, and people crossing the street from the western parking areas more often than ever before. All that's missing is a crosswalk, as can be seen in the photo. I'd just bounded across after being cursed by a driver who'd be forced to wait an entire 10 seconds for my passage.

At Tuesday's Board of Public Works meeting, City Engineer Larry Summers and Street Commissioner Mickey Thompson (the latter also a board of works member) made interesting remarks in the context of the board's mirthful vote to lower the speed limit to 25 mph on the irreparably botched East Main Street Improvement, Deforestation and Semi Trailer Non-Diversion Project.

“Since we’re putting in crosswalks in more places, we’d like it to be a better place for pedestrians and a safer place overall,” Summers said.

“The city does have the authority to [change the speed limit] without a traffic study,” Thompson said.

Okay, let's see. The YMCA, The Exchange, an Antique Mall and now Seeds and Greens. Three street corners of activity, tailor-made for walking.

Now, if we don't need a traffic study to implement a half-ass, doomed-to-non-enforcement speed-limit solution to a $2 million project political fluffery boondoggle that contradicts every walkability tenet about to be handed to us by a rock star studier of traffic (Jeff Speck), then do we really need one to paint crosswalks where W. 1st meets Main?

Or are we just too "us" for that?