This is an attempt by residents who live along first avenue to reclaim it from it's long term use as a "freeway" through the city to downtown. While it's busy, convenient and a nice alternative to the freeway, the people living along here have been plagued by frequent traffic accidents and speeding cars. It would be different if people traveling along 1st Av. actually drove the speed limit but very few people do.
The experiment to drive traffic onto Nicollet at 29th really began in an effort to revitalize Nicollet and bring more traffic to the avenue in the original Whittier NRP Plan. I think the neighborhood has more than succeeded in bringing Nicollet back to life. We all know the barricades were awful both in looks and in success. People ignored the barricades or they were diverted all the way over to 5th av. in order to get back to where they wanted to go in the first place. Being diverted to Nicollet has only made a congested traffic situation worse.
The residents met during the past year and endorsed the idea of turning 1st Av. into a two-way at least through Whittier. While it may not be convenient for those only traveling through the neighborhood, it's a better situation for those who live there.
Try Park and Portland. These too are residential streets but the residents are set-back a little further than they are on 1st Av. so it doesn't seem so intrusive.
Barb Lickness
Whittier
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed,
it's the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software
