10-15-2018, 07:44 PM
(10-15-2018, 06:45 PM)Drake Wrote:(10-15-2018, 06:35 PM)Spokes Wrote: I've got to say, I couldn't disagree with you more. There are so many issues with doing what you're saying, none more than the fact that you're saying to pedestrians, you don't matter, you're second class citizens, you have to go out of the way because cars are more important than you.
I don't know if I read it that way. If we are willing to commit the (significant) funding to such an endeavor; it could be said pedestrian safety is a priority.
The intent could go either way, I think many people do believe that grade separation is a good solution--and in some cases it is.
But it is definitely the case that grade separation is an expensive last resort, when everything else has failed. It often leads to large oppressive structures that impede pedestrians, or even more expensive oppressive structures that raise or lower cars out of the way, that while they impede pedestrians less, still breaks up the landscape.
It does work better in some places, but while University/King is a big intersection, it has limited setbacks on two sides, and is relatively urban compared with places where grade separation is more feasible (think Homer-Watson/Ottawa, which, sadly, is a ship that has already sailed).
Moreover, fixing King/University and leaving the other nearby intersections problematic doesn't help the greater problem.
I believe there are better solutions, and rethinking the entire University Ave corridor, to make it a more pedestrian friendly throughout the entire corridor, recognizing that the road serves more purposes than moving cars would be the right approach.