General Jeff on November 23, 2009, at 11:14AM – #1

WOW! I'm excited and I look forward to seeing this Master Plan in person.

David Kennedy on November 23, 2009, at 12:16PM – #2

What is the plan for all the southbound traffic? Broadway has a lot of bus traffic. Hill and/or Spring Street?

tornadoes28 on November 23, 2009, at 02:29PM – #4

Spruced up street with all the ugly, cheap music stores and wedding shops blaring their wacko music. It's like trying to put a pig in a pretty dress. It's still a pig.

Lawrence on November 23, 2009, at 02:51PM – #5

The idea here is that many of the existing stores will either clean up their facades to keep up with the improved streetscape or leave. Many are already leaving the area opening up space for other retailers to come in. Some of those that are remaining are improving the look of their stores with a cleaned up look and improved signage (think Fallas Paredes). This is obviously the first step toward remaking of Broadway.

D on November 23, 2009, at 02:54PM – #6

Re: Tornado, its the first step. Obviously these changes are being made to promote better usage of the street and to attract higher end retailers. I think its fantastic and look forward to all the positives a revitalized broadway will have on Downtown LA.

Juanito on November 23, 2009, at 07:06PM – #7

This is more like it, Melendrez Associates: a neutral background, subservient to that singular path of civic memory, all of it's delirious architecture.

Stephen Brandt on November 23, 2009, at 07:46PM – #8

I hope that unlike the shortsighted cities of Pasadena, etc, that they remove the "cobra" streetlights all together, rather than leaving them in, doing an every other deal with the vintage replicas.

Matt on November 23, 2009, at 11:34PM – #10

A bike lane would be great, as there are no established north-south bike routes through downtown. Would fit the theme of slowing down automobile traffic and making the social space more democratically distributed.

Russell Brown on November 24, 2009, at 08:50AM – #11

In regards to the bike line, that was also part of the proposals that we studied for Broadway. In order to have loading and unloading, streetcar and bus platforms, through traffic for cars and wider sidewalks for both sides of the street, it was not possible to also add a dedicated bike lane. Trade offs were needed and we felt the traffic calming effects of wider sidewalks and landscaping were more appropriate to change the character of the street. This will allow outdoor dining and create more a parkway boulevard effect.

All of these parts along with significant street-scape enhancements and updated buildings and facades should significantly improve the pedestrian/ streetcar environment. That will make bike riding much safer even without a dedicated lane.

A better solution for bikes would be dedicated couplet on Main & Spring. On those streets there would not be the intensive cross over of so many traffic elements.

ubrayj02 on November 24, 2009, at 01:13PM – #12

So sad - no room for a protected bike lane? :( This would be an awesome place to draw tourists and locals on two wheels to shop and hang out - with a street car and a protected bike lane!

I guess if traffic is going slow enough (under 20mph) and there is a green stripe in the road, that would be a good compromise.

Any chance of a green ribbon?

henry on November 24, 2009, at 02:34PM – #13

The toned down look is quite nice compared the earlier designs. Granite would be great, and I hope the concrete is finished somehow on top. The protrusion for the streetcars is nice, but to duplicate that for the bus lane is a bit too much. Broadway already has very wide sidewalks as they are.

I do agree with the above posters that the lack of a dedicated bike lane is a wasted opportunity. I think to trade the bus platorms for a bike lane would have been a wiser choice. Any bicyclist know that buses already dominate the streets and the right of way.

peenee on November 24, 2009, at 05:37PM – #14

eric,

maybe you can do a little investagation on the after opening day ridership # for the new gold line extension? i was at union last saturday and it was mostly empty and no lines what so ever (the opening sunday had a 1.5 wait).

thanks, peenee

Tim on November 24, 2009, at 06:21PM – #15

Since the streetcar will head south along the west side of Broadway, I assume it will head north along the east side of Hill. I am wondering what kind of street/sidewalk enhancements (if any) are planned for Hill. At some point, Angel's Flight will reopen and that will be a popular stop on the Hill Street side.

Also, I read at the "Bringing Back Broadway" web page that the project area is from 2nd to Olympic. Though the streetcar might initially run from 2nd to Olympic, I hope the street redo extends another block in each direction. It would be a mistake to have the streetscape dramatically change right as the streetcar turns.

Bettie on November 28, 2009, at 12:34PM – #16

Has the idea of changing the crosswalk situation come up in these plans? If ALL traffic stopped, allowing pedestrians to cross at the same time, in all directions including diagionally, it would not only be a lot safer for pedestrians, but it would also reduce the traffic jams for drivers making turns (and those waiting behind them). This works so well in other parts of the country and the world. Why is L.A. so far behind the curve?

Russell Brrown on November 29, 2009, at 04:53PM – #18

Scramble crosswalks were brought up at the "City departments" presentation meeting before the public Tuesday evening presentation.

Kent Smith from Fashion District stated that the ones there are turning out to be a big problem and may be removed.

I have seen them in Beverly Hills and Old Town Pasadena. Anyone have experiences with these where they work? Where they do not work? What makes the difference? Not sure if using foreign countries as a good example really makes for an automatic go here. Although downtown does feel pretty international in many neighborhoods.

Just go to Hollywood & Highland and see the pedestrian crossings and how traffic comes to a standstill. However, it is possible with streetcars and buses to remotely control the traffic signals and pedestrian crosswalk signals so that turn only, no pedestrian crossings could be used to free up traffic as the streetcar approaches or is ready to leave.