Cities rethinking one-way streets.

As gas prices rise and pedestrian/bicycle traffic rates increase, many cities, like the city of Danville Illinios and Eugene Oregon are reconsidering one-way traffic in their downtown areas. Slowing traffic and restoring two-way streets makes our urban centers safer, commercial store fronts more visible, and reduces traffic noise.

The city of Richmond Virginia breaks down the benefits of two-way streets vs. one-way steets on the Urban Richmond Blog as follows:

Reasons for converting to 2-way streets:


• Slower traffic speeds.
  
• Decrease “Vehicle Miles Traveled” by eliminating indirect routes (driving around the block to get to your destination).
  
• Increased access to businesses.
  
• Possibly: safer for pedestrians.

Reasons for maintaining 1-way streets:


• Conversion is very costly.
  
• 1-way streets allow for more cars, thereby decreasing congestion.
  
• Easier than 2-way streets to time stoplights (timed lights improve traffic flow and decrease idling (& therefore pollution)).
  
• Fewer turn prohibitions.
  
• More on-street parking.
  
• Possibly: safer for pedestrians.

One factor they leave out is bicycle safety. Turning left across two lanes of one-way traffic can prove deadly to cyclists. However, with a two-way street, bikes can maneuver into the vehicle lane to make turns, only having to cross one lane of oncomming raffic. This makes the maneuver easier for the cyclist while, simeultaniously making the bicycle more visible to vehicles.

I think this a key factor. Especially here in Eugene where bicycle traffic is very-much on the rise.

For more information:

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Many cities changing one-way streets back - USA Today
10th Avenue now goes both ways - Eugene Register Guard
Eugene looks for direction on wavering Willamette - Eugene Register Guard
One-Way vs. Two-Way Streets: Let the Debate Begin
- The Urban Richmond Blog
Bike vs. Vehicles: Collision of Cultures - Eugene Register Guard
Studies Refute DOT’s Claim That One-Way Avenues Are Safer - StreetsBlog.org

Building Codes Division take saction to support water conservation

Government agencies can be slow moving to support new technologies and trends in green design and building. Its great to know that the state of Oregon is on a faster-track than many as it joins a small group of states that are working toward allowing builders and homeowners to install wastewater conservation systems.

For more information, visit the BCD website at http://www.BCD.Oregon.gov or download their recent news release in .pdf format here.

...and Yay Oregon!

Good news for Downtown Eugene!

Some news is good news and this news is great news for Downtown Eugene. After years with little development along Eugene's boarded-up Broadway strip, a pair of developers are making plans to break ground in the immediate future.
Finally... progress!

For more information, visit the following:

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Downtown plans gain traction - The Register-Guard
Downtown Eugene Re-Development - KVAL CBS 13
Next up: City planners endorse proposal for student apartments - The Register-Guard
Developers vie for Eugene property - Daily Journal of Commerce
New Developments are Coming to Downtown - KEZI 9
BEAM Eugene - www.beam-eugene.com

Hole in the ground housing

Two months ago I was working on an Urban Park's Charrette with a group of University of Oreogn Landscape and Architecture students. The proposal was to replace the famous (infamous?) Downtown Eugene pit with a greenspace.

How things have changed.

My new employer, PIVOT Architecture, has teamed up with a local developer to put a six-story student apartment building on the site. Competing with a number of other groups, the PIVOT plan is in (a sort of) 2nd place running with WG and TBG Architects just down the street.

For more information visit the following:

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Council chooses developer - Register Guard
Sears Pit Proposals - Eugene Weekly
Filling the Sears Pit - Register Guard
Two proposals for site rise to top - Register Guard