Spokane7
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While going through the “new” Midtown for the first time, I was aghast at how dangerous the experience was. Traffic roaring past cars trying to park and/or sight see. Harrowing might be a better word. The difference between downtown Sherman and Fourth Street is obvious to me — namely signals. Traffic on Sherman travels at 25 MPH posted, but with all the signals, it’s closer to 7 MPH. Meanwhile, traffic on Fourth is unabated from Lakeside to Harrison. It simply is the express route out of town for folks heading north on the east side. The obvious solution to make Midtown more like bustling Sherman is to put crosswalks and stop signs at every street in midtown. Slow the traffic down and prosperity and safety will come/Richard LeFrancis, Coeur d’Alene Press letter to the editor. More here.
Question: Do you share the same concern as letter writer Richard LeFrancis re: the speed the vehicles travel through the reconstructed Midtown street area?
D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.
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Stickman on November 06 at 1:37 p.m.
I think the traffic and speed through the new part of 4th street is just fine. They have many crosswalks and a few little bumps thrown in to keep the speed down. I have traveled it quite a bit of late and though it can be tight in places, traffic seems to be moving at just the right pace. So, maybe Richard just caught an especially busy day and with everything new, maybe a few tight spots.
TerryHarris on November 06 at 1:39 p.m.
I wasn’t around during the design discussions, but, yeah, I’d say that Fourth Street is sending mixed messages now. Lots of traffic calming and pro-pedestrian features that should be really good for businesses and walkability. But it’s also still a one-way and no-traffic-lights expressway out of town. Seems to me that two way traffic might’ve been a better idea.
kamm on November 06 at 1:53 p.m.
I don’t have any problems with the new changes; I use that street a lot. People that try to park without signalling and the 5mph looky-loos have always been there. Adapt or take aniother route. I’m sure there are statistics that show the # of traffic incidents; just compare the before and after totals.
sibulsky on November 06 at 2:16 p.m.
checking in from Dallas, TX. The raised brick intersections will slow things a bit, and it does feel a little narrow…but I think I’ll get used to it.
Bent on November 06 at 4:36 p.m.
I drove it today and I agree with Sibulsky, the intersections slowed me and the rest of the traffic down, but what frustrated me was the traffic never sped back up north of Harrison. Inattentive drivers crawled at 20-25 mph All.The.Way. To. Appleway.
Walkabout on November 06 at 4:57 p.m.
Stop signs at every intersection are you kidding me? That wouldn’t slow down traffic that would eliminate it.
Also, who in the heck is sightseeing on 4th street in their car?
hmoffsuite on November 06 at 5:05 p.m.
>>Also, who in the heck is sightseeing on 4th street in their car?
Hopefully, customers looking for a store where they can stimulate the economy.