A good series of “Michigan lefts” (eliminating left turns at major intersections by turning right and then making u-turns) would solve some of this problem. However, the real solution, to me, would be to utilize the bridge that’s already there by building service/access roads that would let traffic from both Kelly and Green Level enter and exit 64 from access ramps on both sides of the bridge, and cross 64 ONLY via the bridge, eliminating both dangerous intersections and two stoplights.

The stupidity of the NCDOT never ceases to amaze me.

I thought the meeting last night was quite informative, but did leave a number of open questions that still need to be resolved. One of mine was about showing numbers that would show the impact of the super street design in terms of the time it would take to get through the intersection. I did more looking at DOT’s web site, and others (Google is a wonderful thing), and found part of the information that I was looking for. Take a look:

http://www.ncdot.org/projects/Superstreet/propalts.html

The only thing that’s missing is an analysis of the time it would take to cross 15/501 from either Erwin or Europa. To me the analysis is focused on throughput on the main roadway, in our case 64, but not on the access streets (Laura Duncan, Lake Pine, etc).

I’ll push to get those kinds of stats from David Wasserman and others since to me and I think the rest of the folks here at Save64.org, this is what we are interested in more so than the throughput on 64 itself.

“Superstreet and signalized six-lane widening provide moderate capacity, but do
not provide adequate bicycle/pedestrian mobility ” (http://www.townofmountpleasant.com/downloads/STC121205.pdf)

“Staff’s outstanding concerns with the superstreet alternative involve bicycle and pedestrian access and the educational aspect of modified driver patterns and access.” (http://www.townofcary.org/agenda/councilmin09/cm052809.htm)

In part, this policy states:

“The North Carolina Department of Transportation, in its role as stewards over the transportation infrastructure, is committed to:providing an efficient multi-modal transportation network in North Carolina such that the access, mobility, and safety needs of motorists, transit users, bicyclists, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities are safely accommodated; caring for the built and natural environments by promoting sustainable development practices that minimize impacts on natural resources, historic, businesses, residents, scenic and other community values, while also recognizing that transportation improvements have significant potential to contribute to local, regional, and statewide quality of life and economic development objectives; working in partnership with local government agencies, interest groups, and the public to plan, fund, design, construct, and manage complete street networks that sustain mobility while accommodating walking, biking, and transit opportunities safely.”(https://apps.dot.state.nc.us/pio/releases/details.aspx?r=2777)

The short term plan seems run counter to the goal of meeting safety needs of motorists, transit users, bicyclists, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities are safely accommodated. Asking cyclists to cross several lanes of traffic to make a left turn to cross several lanes of traffic to make a right turn does not seem safe. Adding this SuperStreet does not seem like it would promote sustainably development so much as it would spur further growth. Area residents have expressed that this would negatively affect their quality of life.