Comments on: Rally for a Livable Houston Street

By: someguy

someguy — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 23:35:11 +0000

David,
NYCDOT generally doesn't consider pedestrian LOS except in very rare cases where DOT actually wants to make the case that existing sidewalks are too narrow. HCM (the Highway Capacity Manual that NYC follows for many engineering guidelines) does have a pedestrian LOS method. It would behoove activists like Trans Alt and NYCSRC to develop the capability to calculate sidewalk LOS themselves as evidence when they are advocating for sidewalk widenings. All you need are two pieces of data: effective width of sidewalk (which the HCM describes how to get) and the pedestrian volumes.

By: David

David — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 22:07:33 +0000

I've just started following this site and have to commend you guys -- the blog/video combination is really effective.

Broadening the subject a bit, can anybody tell me if DOT plans for sidewalk capacity? The problems at Houston Street are only compounded by the greatly increased number of pedestrians crossing on Broadway as a result of the retail expansion in Soho/Noho. Similar problems are happening at Union Square, where the sidewalks especially along 14th Street are incredibly congested. Does anybody measure Levels of Service on sidewalks the way that is done on streets? (Many of these places would surely be F's.) Do they even recognize the big increases in sidewalk demand, as opposed to travel demand from motorized vehicles?

Would appreciate any info.

By: A.S.

A.S. — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 20:31:26 +0000

I ABSOLUTELY must second the sentiments about 1st Avenue & Houston Street voiced in the above comment number 4.)...

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"yes! houston street is the worst! i live at first ave + houston and i cross it every day. you need every second of the light - if you arenâ€™t at the median by the time the light changes to a blinking hand, you wonâ€™t make it across. and i walk really fast too."
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Making matters even worse is a frighteningly uneven section of roadway in the very middle of the easternmost north/south crosswalk across Houston (as 1st Street becomes Allen Street).

Completely unvisible to the eye untill one is (almost invaribly) made to stumble by it, this 'concave' area followed by a 'convex' bump-all within perhaps two average pedestrian strides-has caused many a fall. God forbid when such a stumble and fall happens in conjunction with busy vehicle traffic...

I've always wondered if I was the only person aware of this aggravating particularity that seriously further complicates an already dangerous pedestrian throughfare?!?

By: ddartley

ddartley — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 17:52:27 +0000

We should all write to each of those participants (and Scott Stringer) and thank them for their participation, and ask them not to give up that fight!

(Might as well also CC your own Council Members and John Liu!)

Note: your link in the text to Alan Gerson's page actually goes to Deborah Glick's.

By: md

md — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 05:29:44 +0000

yes! houston street is the worst! i live at first ave + houston and i cross it every day. you need every second of the light - if you aren't at the median by the time the light changes to a blinking hand, you won't make it across. and i walk really fast too.

as for cycling, forget about it -- it feels like suicide.

the noise and air pollution is quite bad as well - our windows and sills get sooty black and i sleep with earplugs in. this neighborhood really isn't worth it.

By: Adam Piontek

Adam Piontek — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 19:16:29 +0000

I agree with Ben - it's really encouraging. If anything happens it will only be good.

And those videos are awesome - keep up the good work!

I have to say, however, it's really sad that everything in New York seems to always be reactionary in nature. Where are our proactive visionaries, planning for the future? Why do residents have to have a defensive rally against the operations of the DOT who should be working for them in the first place? The mind reels...

By: Ben

Ben — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 18:58:20 +0000

As awful as DOT's plans for Houston Street may be, it is really encouraging to see this kind of political support for pedestrian and bicycle improvements. Congrats to TA for getting this issue in the spotlight. Now if only someone with the actual power to make decision (Doctoroff, Bloomberg) would step in and do something...

By: Clarence

Clarence — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 16:19:09 +0000

Let me add that since the Houston/Broadway video was completed last year that after many months of trying to get access to the Houston Street plans, Transportation Alternatives was able to confirm that the medians would be shortened to only 4 feet, not 2 as Charle says in the video.

Yet, I think it is apparent that any amount of truncating is unacceptable. If you stand at the intersection on any rush hour or weekend shopping time, you'll see the medians should be enlarged, not cut back for faster car through put. Particularly since the people who get stranded out there tend to be seniors, disabled and parents with children.

I found it amazing standing out there and observing all of this. I felt that if anyone at DOT had done the same there is no way in good conscience they could cut back the medians for left turn bays.