Restriping On 29Th City Proposing Middle Turn Lane, Ban On Street Parking For Arterial’S Section West Of Grand Blvd.

Two neighborhood councils on the South Side are working with the city on changes in the way traffic flows on 29th Avenue west of Grand Boulevard.

“Safety is a big concern of ours,” said David Godlewski, of the Manito/Cannon Hill Neighborhood Council.

For the past several months, the two neighborhoods that straddle the western end of 29th Avenue have been looking at traffic safety improvements.

Currently, the plan calls for creating a middle turn lane and a single through lane in each direction.

That would eliminate the two eastbound lanes between Bernard and Grand Boulevard. Currently, westbound traffic west of Grand flows in a single lane.

Also, two 5-foot bike lanes would be added next to the curb, and street parking would be prohibited.

The talks began after city traffic officials suggested installing concrete barriers and left turn pockets at the intersection of 29th and Lincoln.

Many residents who live near 29th and Lincoln were against a concrete barrier because it would have prevented motorists from crossing 29th Avenue at Lincoln. The barriers would have limited traffic movements at the intersection to left and right turns.

The plan to change the lane configuration by adding a middle lane resulted from negotiations, Godlewski said.

“This is what evolved,” he said.

Last month, members of the Manito Neighborhood Council voted 12-8 in favor of the restriping plan, he said.

About a half-dozen residents living along the north side of 29th Avenue showed up at the meeting.

They have a big stake in what happens because the current plan would eliminate all parking along the stretch of 29th west of Grand.

Several adjacent residents said they are afraid to park their vehicles on 29th Avenue because they could be hit by another vehicle, Godlewski reported.

He also said too many motorists drive through the Comstock Park area as if it were a four-lane street even though it has stripes for only two lanes.

That is a dangerous situation that would be eliminated by the current plan, he added.

Members of the Comstock Neighborhood Council will consider the proposal during a meeting Wednesday at Sacajawea Middle School at 7 p.m.

Margaret Watson, chair of the traffic committee of the council, said her group is contacting residents along 29th Avenue by going door to door and asking them to attend the meeting.

In addition to the new lane configuration, Watson said neighborhood groups are asking for additional safety measures. They include a 20 mph speed limit at Comstock Park, a possible yellow caution light and better identification of crosswalks.

“I think the city is looking at doing more of these projects,” Watson said.