Haha, I don't think so...
-
Welcome to BradleyFans.com! Visitors are welcome, but we encourage you to sign up and register as a member. It's free and takes only a few seconds. Just click on the link to Register at the top right of the page, and follow instructions. If you have any problems or questions, click on the link at the bottom right of the page to Contact Us.
Peoria's rebuild of the intersection of Main & University
- Thread starter tornado
- Start date
Haha, I don't think so...
If anyone thinks the changes make the intersection more pedestrian friendly, I challenge you to park in Campustown and get to One World and/or Avantis. Not to mention the heavier foot-traffic intersection is the entrance to Campustown up the block between Bradley Ave. and Main St. to begin with.
You wait longer than you ever did before, drivers are confused by the intersection and making dumb decisions. It's confusing enough to the point that even the company with drawings (and I assume some logic and independent thought) painted lines in the wrong places! In the winter, do you think someone is going to stand there for 3-5 minutes waiting for the walk sign, or are they going to say screw it and play frogger, making it more dangerous for everyone?
The neighborhoods are getting much more traffic as people look for ways around the intersection, which is another thing the City was trying to avoid. They put up speedbumps, now people fly down the alleys.
When you come up the hill on MacArthur/University, there is NO sign that the right lane is going to suddently end when you pop over the top of that hill. Completely blind, and I've already seen 2 people slam on their brakes in the intersection to avoid hitting the metal reflectors they have up now.
The on-street parking is difficult because traffic is backed up to the point that you have to cut someone off or wait forever to get back into traffic.
Typical shortsightedness. Spend $100 to save $1. Fix 1 problem, create 15 more. It's just plain stupid. The idea on paper may be great (which it isn't), but seeing it in action is even further proof. Anyone that says the positives outweigh the negatives on this either haven't seen it or experienced it, are biased, or are the one of the contractors getting paid to re-do their work. The City can claim whatever the hell they want, but they can't hand me a bag of shit and claim it's rainbow sorbet.
I could have drafted a much better, functional plan myself in an eighth of the time at a hundredth of the cost. And before you blast me for saying that, go ahead and ask because I can lay out exactly what I would have done differently. The current end result is the fruit of a mish-mash of plans, that separately may have worked, but together create a giant cluster****.
Here is a very short list of what is improved:
The Main St. BU entrance is closed off to those heading west. People can't turn left from Main into the parking lot anymore. Bravo. This should have been done years ago and has absolutely nothing to do with the intersection (but it does allow for the half-mile long left turn lane line during rush hour. This forces people to the BU entrance near the bookstore, which could use a major facelift as it is now the new "storefront" of the Univeristy.
Cars don't have to sit in the left lane of traffic when making a left into Avantis off of Univeristy since the middle lane is available. But they still do.
You wait longer than you ever did before, drivers are confused by the intersection and making dumb decisions. It's confusing enough to the point that even the company with drawings (and I assume some logic and independent thought) painted lines in the wrong places! In the winter, do you think someone is going to stand there for 3-5 minutes waiting for the walk sign, or are they going to say screw it and play frogger, making it more dangerous for everyone?
The neighborhoods are getting much more traffic as people look for ways around the intersection, which is another thing the City was trying to avoid. They put up speedbumps, now people fly down the alleys.
When you come up the hill on MacArthur/University, there is NO sign that the right lane is going to suddently end when you pop over the top of that hill. Completely blind, and I've already seen 2 people slam on their brakes in the intersection to avoid hitting the metal reflectors they have up now.
The on-street parking is difficult because traffic is backed up to the point that you have to cut someone off or wait forever to get back into traffic.
Typical shortsightedness. Spend $100 to save $1. Fix 1 problem, create 15 more. It's just plain stupid. The idea on paper may be great (which it isn't), but seeing it in action is even further proof. Anyone that says the positives outweigh the negatives on this either haven't seen it or experienced it, are biased, or are the one of the contractors getting paid to re-do their work. The City can claim whatever the hell they want, but they can't hand me a bag of shit and claim it's rainbow sorbet.
I could have drafted a much better, functional plan myself in an eighth of the time at a hundredth of the cost. And before you blast me for saying that, go ahead and ask because I can lay out exactly what I would have done differently. The current end result is the fruit of a mish-mash of plans, that separately may have worked, but together create a giant cluster****.
Here is a very short list of what is improved:
The Main St. BU entrance is closed off to those heading west. People can't turn left from Main into the parking lot anymore. Bravo. This should have been done years ago and has absolutely nothing to do with the intersection (but it does allow for the half-mile long left turn lane line during rush hour. This forces people to the BU entrance near the bookstore, which could use a major facelift as it is now the new "storefront" of the Univeristy.
Cars don't have to sit in the left lane of traffic when making a left into Avantis off of Univeristy since the middle lane is available. But they still do.
sam hannam
Member
Has anybody heard how tonight's meeting went?
tornado
New member
it is still going but there are people TWEETING LIVE FROM THE MEETING - Sounds like it is getting a little contentious
https://twitter.com/VlahosNick
a couple comments...
"Traffic cutting through Uplands has been bigger problem since Main-Univ junction reopened"
"Turn restrictions, new signs, bike lanes, speed humps could be options to calm traffic"
sounds like all the re-engineering and re-do of the intersection has caused significant undesirable things
that apparently were NOT accounted for or have totally surprised those who did the rebuild...
https://twitter.com/VlahosNick
a couple comments...
"Traffic cutting through Uplands has been bigger problem since Main-Univ junction reopened"
"Turn restrictions, new signs, bike lanes, speed humps could be options to calm traffic"
sounds like all the re-engineering and re-do of the intersection has caused significant undesirable things
that apparently were NOT accounted for or have totally surprised those who did the rebuild...
tornado
New member
here's the newspaper coverage of the contentious meeting last night
http://www.pjstar.com/article/20140710/NEWS/140719859
obviously there are differing opinions, but I once lived in that area and do occasionally go there so I guess that entitles me to an opinion...
Read what Chuck Grayeb says -- LOL -- it is absolutely insane...
the problem they have created is because they have closed so many avenues, barricaded streets, added stop signs, placed speed bumps, eliminated lanes & narrowed the corridors, etc...
NOW - look what Grayeb offers as a solution to the problem...
"We can remediate the problem.."....more speed bumps, creating more obstacles, even creating cul-de-sacs!!!!
"Remediate"??? wow - Chuck is becoming a real politician --
Their intent was to "calm" the traffic and force people to find other ways to go...
and so they have accomplished precisely that and now EVERYONE - the drivers, the city people, AND the residents - DON'T LIKE IT!
nobody likes the outcome - but if we let the very same people decide the fix - we're probably going to have an even worse situation.
Can you imagine the mess they are going to have when people start turning down streets to bypass that hideous intersection then find themselves pinned in at the end of cul-de-sacs with a long line of other cars behind them similarly trying to avoid the mess they created.
http://www.pjstar.com/article/20140710/NEWS/140719859
obviously there are differing opinions, but I once lived in that area and do occasionally go there so I guess that entitles me to an opinion...
Read what Chuck Grayeb says -- LOL -- it is absolutely insane...
the problem they have created is because they have closed so many avenues, barricaded streets, added stop signs, placed speed bumps, eliminated lanes & narrowed the corridors, etc...
NOW - look what Grayeb offers as a solution to the problem...
"We can remediate the problem.."....more speed bumps, creating more obstacles, even creating cul-de-sacs!!!!
"Remediate"??? wow - Chuck is becoming a real politician --
Their intent was to "calm" the traffic and force people to find other ways to go...
and so they have accomplished precisely that and now EVERYONE - the drivers, the city people, AND the residents - DON'T LIKE IT!
nobody likes the outcome - but if we let the very same people decide the fix - we're probably going to have an even worse situation.
Can you imagine the mess they are going to have when people start turning down streets to bypass that hideous intersection then find themselves pinned in at the end of cul-de-sacs with a long line of other cars behind them similarly trying to avoid the mess they created.
bradleyfan124
Well-known member
Speed bump??????? on a major roadway!!!!!. That would be like putting a speed bump in I-74. Here is how they can fix it. Put it back to the way it was
Seriously, how stupid can people get?
You want to calm traffic on Main & University, so let's bottleneck traffic and force people to find alternate routes. Then, OH SHIT! People found alternate routes that we don't like. Let's block those and force them back to Main and University!! But wait Main and Univ. are bottlenecked... Use the alleys! Use the route with ongoing construction! Head 10-15 minutes out of your way and go around! Drive through the neighborhoods down the hill and around Columbia Terrace. Be sure to roll up those windows and lock those doors!
I could bash my head into a wall for 2 straight hours and come up with more logical ideas.
Here's my idea: THINK SHIT THROUGH BEFORE YOU SPEND SO MUCH MONEY ON SOMETHING YOU CAN'T EASILY PUT BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL CONDITION!
This whole thing was rushed, hodge-podged, and dumb.
You want to calm traffic on Main & University, so let's bottleneck traffic and force people to find alternate routes. Then, OH SHIT! People found alternate routes that we don't like. Let's block those and force them back to Main and University!! But wait Main and Univ. are bottlenecked... Use the alleys! Use the route with ongoing construction! Head 10-15 minutes out of your way and go around! Drive through the neighborhoods down the hill and around Columbia Terrace. Be sure to roll up those windows and lock those doors!
I could bash my head into a wall for 2 straight hours and come up with more logical ideas.
Here's my idea: THINK SHIT THROUGH BEFORE YOU SPEND SO MUCH MONEY ON SOMETHING YOU CAN'T EASILY PUT BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL CONDITION!
This whole thing was rushed, hodge-podged, and dumb.
tornado
New member
the single biggest problem - as they do seem to point out...
is people coming off I-74 and going toward campus...
as they go south on University, they hit the long line of traffic waiting to approach the Main St. intersection in question - perhaps even sitting through one or two cycles before they even get to Columbia Terrace.
so, out of frustration and perhaps even thinking they will try to help by taking an alternate way...
they take a ralph on Columbia Terr. and jog over a block or two then try to get to Main St. by heading down Elmwood or Institute...
(but of course someone like Grayeb ahs already da**ed well determined that they are not going to get away with this as now Columbia Terr. has a stop sign ever 50 feet!)
"The amount of cut-through traffic on Uplands streets appears severe at certain times of day.
Between 4 and 6 p.m. June 24, about 175 cars traversed Elmwood Avenue"
..and I would bet a number of cars even greater than that jogged over 2 or more blocks and went down Institute, Glenwood, Maplewood, & Parkside...
so we're talking one every 10-20 seconds using those narrow residential streets that often, because of parked cars, only one car at a time can maneuver slowly down.
well, these people would be far better just going down and turning right at the corner - they were never the problem - but they are caught up in the solution and now feel compelled to hurry down all those small side streets angering residents there.
is people coming off I-74 and going toward campus...
as they go south on University, they hit the long line of traffic waiting to approach the Main St. intersection in question - perhaps even sitting through one or two cycles before they even get to Columbia Terrace.
so, out of frustration and perhaps even thinking they will try to help by taking an alternate way...
they take a ralph on Columbia Terr. and jog over a block or two then try to get to Main St. by heading down Elmwood or Institute...
(but of course someone like Grayeb ahs already da**ed well determined that they are not going to get away with this as now Columbia Terr. has a stop sign ever 50 feet!)
"The amount of cut-through traffic on Uplands streets appears severe at certain times of day.
Between 4 and 6 p.m. June 24, about 175 cars traversed Elmwood Avenue"
..and I would bet a number of cars even greater than that jogged over 2 or more blocks and went down Institute, Glenwood, Maplewood, & Parkside...
so we're talking one every 10-20 seconds using those narrow residential streets that often, because of parked cars, only one car at a time can maneuver slowly down.
well, these people would be far better just going down and turning right at the corner - they were never the problem - but they are caught up in the solution and now feel compelled to hurry down all those small side streets angering residents there.
tornado
New member
Uplands residents still unhappy-
http://blogs.pjstar.com/mindingbiz/2014/08/12/uplands-in-uproar-calm-that-traffic/
http://blogs.pjstar.com/mindingbiz/2014/08/12/uplands-in-uproar-calm-that-traffic/
bradleyfan124
Well-known member
I have a novel idea. Why don't we put the roads back to the way they were before
AZ BU Fan
New member
Anyone want to bet Peoria and ILL DOT end up spending a couple million$ studying the current mess before they decide to put things back the way they were?
I think an elevated expressway south from the I-74 University off ramp through the University/Main interchange dumping off at University and James St. would be the best solution! :lol::lol::lol:
I think an elevated expressway south from the I-74 University off ramp through the University/Main interchange dumping off at University and James St. would be the best solution! :lol::lol::lol:
tornado
New member
http://www.pjstar.com/article/20140822/OPINION/140829676/10971/OPINION
another letter to the PJ Star - this time a West Peoria resident whose mother was in an ambulance that got stuck trying to get through the intersection
because the way it is designed affords no room for any cars waiting or backed up - to pull over or get out of the way.
I am still waiting for anyone to write a letter who favors the design -- and I hope we get some reports on how things go today
with a few thousand Bradley students expected to be arriving and moving in today - I sure am not going up to find out.
Here's another resident of the area that hates the re-design - Steve Tartar of the PJ Star
all the news outlets are putting out traffic advisories! - and to add the problems that already exist, they are CLOSING numerous other intersections!
"Many intersections will be closed starting at 7a.m. Saturday morning.
... intersections include Elmwood and Main street, St. James and University,
Duryea and Bradley, and Bradley and Institute...."
"There will also be no parking on Bradley Avenue from University to Glenwood through Saturday evening.
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com...end-traffic-advi/31229/Rh0XgzPjakSEVtr3L2YnNw
http://peoriapublicradio.org/post/traffic-changes-bradley-university-students-move
http://www.cinewsnow.com/news/local...ges-during-Bradley-move-in-day-271426631.html
Even the Bradley website is trying to get people to take alternate routes
another letter to the PJ Star - this time a West Peoria resident whose mother was in an ambulance that got stuck trying to get through the intersection
because the way it is designed affords no room for any cars waiting or backed up - to pull over or get out of the way.
I am still waiting for anyone to write a letter who favors the design -- and I hope we get some reports on how things go today
with a few thousand Bradley students expected to be arriving and moving in today - I sure am not going up to find out.
Here's another resident of the area that hates the re-design - Steve Tartar of the PJ Star
all the news outlets are putting out traffic advisories! - and to add the problems that already exist, they are CLOSING numerous other intersections!
"Many intersections will be closed starting at 7a.m. Saturday morning.
... intersections include Elmwood and Main street, St. James and University,
Duryea and Bradley, and Bradley and Institute...."
"There will also be no parking on Bradley Avenue from University to Glenwood through Saturday evening.
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com...end-traffic-advi/31229/Rh0XgzPjakSEVtr3L2YnNw
http://peoriapublicradio.org/post/traffic-changes-bradley-university-students-move
http://www.cinewsnow.com/news/local...ges-during-Bradley-move-in-day-271426631.html
Even the Bradley website is trying to get people to take alternate routes
tornado
New member
Now a PJ Star writer calls on the Bradley students to give up their cars to solve this problem...
Steve Tarter - you have be kidding - this is not a problem caused by Bradley students - it's a problem caused by guys like Chuck Grayeb, the airbrains in the Peoria city council, and the dumb city planners & design people who came up with this mess at Main & University....
And the people who don't recognize where the blame should go...
http://www.pjstar.com/article/20140823/BUSINESS/140829692
Steve Tarter - you have be kidding - this is not a problem caused by Bradley students - it's a problem caused by guys like Chuck Grayeb, the airbrains in the Peoria city council, and the dumb city planners & design people who came up with this mess at Main & University....
And the people who don't recognize where the blame should go...
http://www.pjstar.com/article/20140823/BUSINESS/140829692
AZ BU Fan
New member
Kickstarter Request To Solve Main/University Traffic Mess
Kickstarter Request To Solve Main/University Traffic Mess
Anyone interested in helping fund a start up company to help solve the mess at University & Main caused by those pesky students and their automobiles?
Part of my business plan would be employing lots of BU students part time!
If so, PM me for my bank account number to deposit funding!
If all goes well, will eventually mechanize!
Kickstarter Request To Solve Main/University Traffic Mess
Anyone interested in helping fund a start up company to help solve the mess at University & Main caused by those pesky students and their automobiles?
Part of my business plan would be employing lots of BU students part time!
If so, PM me for my bank account number to deposit funding!
If all goes well, will eventually mechanize!
understandingthetruth
New member
My solution to this mess. Incorporate who created this:
My solution to this mess. Incorporate who created this:
Who needs Traffic Cops, Signals, Stop Signs!
Have to believe Ethiopians are far better drivers than even in the US.
Any doubt most Americans would last three seconds in this crossroad?
Not one crash in this whole clip!
Meskel Square Intersection, Ethiopa
http://devour.com/video/meskel-square-intersection-/
My solution to this mess. Incorporate who created this:
Who needs Traffic Cops, Signals, Stop Signs!
Have to believe Ethiopians are far better drivers than even in the US.
Any doubt most Americans would last three seconds in this crossroad?
Not one crash in this whole clip!
Meskel Square Intersection, Ethiopa
http://devour.com/video/meskel-square-intersection-/
tornado
New member
the Bradley "move-in" involved probably an extra 1000-1200 cars over the day - and with 20-24,000 cars using the intersection daily, I guess the addition of an extra thousand or so spread over the day seemed to go well.
But I think a bigger problem will be seen when they hold a game at Ren-Col - then an extra 1000-2000 cars over just a short span before & after the game will really clog the traffic
But I think a bigger problem will be seen when they hold a game at Ren-Col - then an extra 1000-2000 cars over just a short span before & after the game will really clog the traffic