Arterial Project will cause changes

[Disgusted-Daily]

www.wktv.com/news/local/18700814.html

This is gonna be a costly project for the State and the tax payers. Faye St warehouse was on the chopping block years ago when they built the Arterial. Due to the cost to tear it down they decided to build around it. This building is all concrete with no weight bearing floors and is one of a kind.

That corner of the Arterial does need to be straighten out for many safety reasons. I can't wait to see this project happen.

I wonder if they will find the remains of Jimmy Hoffa in there?

[strikeslip]

This project will be the death of West Utica... and Utica is missing a golden opportunity for redevelopment by going for it as opposed to a Multi-Way Boulevard.

Multi-Way Boulevards are capable of moving massive amounts of traffic, are pedestrian and bicycle friendly, will maintain the integrity of the street grid, and will increase the value and desirability of adjoining property . . . For me, that is the key. The proposed project will move people through the corridor quicker, but will do nothing to encourage redevelopment.

[wilum47]

This project will be the death of West Utica...

Think I heard that same statement 40 years ago and look what we ended up with.

If the multi-way can be done where thru-traffic is not impeded in anyway I'll go with ya.

[nhcitizen18]

No proposed solution whether it be an elevated highway or a boulevard could be worse than the current ststus quo. This segment of roadway should have been an elevated limited access highway from day one of its creation, but from what I understand political nonsense kept that from happening.

This stretch of road is dangerous and a huge hinderance to travel from Utica to points in the north country. It needs to be fixed, and any solution will be an improvement. Personally I believe I agree with Wilum, a boulevard is fine so long as there are no traffic lights and the speed limit is 55. Barring that, make it into a true highway.

[strikeslip]

Here are a couple links that explain what was done in SF

www.uctc.net/access/28/Access%2028%20-%2002%20-%20Building%20a%20Boulevard.pdf
www.sfgov.org/site/octavia_blvd_index.asp?id=238

And a link to a position paper on proposals for Buffalo
www.banasclan.com/outerharbor/Route5_Expressway_vs_Boulevard.pdf

[strikeslip]

NHC 18 -- 40 MPH is fast enough within West Utica -- its only about a mile stretch affected. With a Boulevard, the delay, at most, would be about a minute. The payoff would be land in Utica being more amenable to redevelopment (where services are already in place), reducing the need for sprawl in NH (and the new taxes and fees needed to support it). Boulevard also would avoid delays in the East-West direction and increased E-W trip lengths that would result under the proposed plan. That's the problem with the proposed plan. It sacrifices East-West travel giving priority to North-South.

I remember when the current road was constructed about '63 -- we were hoping for an interstate connection to Binghamton. The Pastor at Holy Trinity correctly felt such a highway would would ruin the neighborhood. So a "compromise" resulted. But the result was neither interstate nor a boulevard because at the time few understood how to do a boulevard correctly.

Nowadays, intercity traffic is routed AROUND city centers on beltways (like i-95 in Washington DC which was originally proposed to slice through downtown. What remains of that plan is a spur that ends at a tunnel under the reflecting pool in front of the Capitol).

Around here what was originally planned about 1970 was for what is now 840 to go directly to the Thruway at Westmoreland -- I believe all limited access --- through what was then undeveloped land. That would have taken care of at least part of the intercity traffic. Why that was changed, I don't know, but the grade crossings in NH are bad, and the traffic on Stone Rd is a nightmare for those people.