54equalsunity

The privilege and lack of vision in this thread is incredible. There is so much harm to be done by "modernizing" 131. There isn't room for more lanes. There are still houses right next to the freeway in some places, and it's extremely obvious that 131 was not meant to fit as a "modern" freeway from 196 to 28th St by the lack of shoulders and tight on/off ramps. Not that it would do any good, anyway. Anyone who's been paying attention in the last 70 years is familiar with induced demand. Add more noise and air pollution to the mix and all we're doing is continuing the failure of a pattern that we've been stuck in since the 1950s. If any of you think electric cars are going to save us then I have a bridge to sell you. The only way forward is to shift the majority of investment into non-car transportation. Apparently none of you have been outside of America, because if you had you would realize that car-based infrastructure is only one piece of a much larger puzzle, and if we can't solve that without littering our downtown with parking garages then we should all just give up and go home. Calling this take political is like calling the "debate" about taking the COVID-19 vaccine political. It's not. It's pure common sense. If you want "political," how about we give up on 131 and drive a freeway through some white people's homes on the western edge of the metro to give the trucks a thru route? This state has done a great job of that with black folks, even if GR hasn't. And with the attitude of MDOT, one of the most egregious transportation (i.e., cars and trucks) departments in the country, it's definitely still possible today. If I get banned for this then whatever. It's worth it to not hear this crap.

This is awesome! Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

While we're at it we should just tear down 131 and figure something else out. It's burying heads in sand to say that rebuilding the highway for auto traffic is a smart move. That nasty, decrepit highway has already hurt tens of thousands through pollution of all kinds. I guess that's what an expanding metro needs, and poor people be damned. Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

Pedestrian malls have worked in more places than NYC. This article, published a few days ago, showcases some surviving (even thriving) examples of pedestrian malls. It also makes a fantastic point: context matters. IMO , the one lane of traffic on Monroe Center is terrible in the sense that I could taste the vehicle exhaust as I ate outside on a beautiful day at Brick and Porter. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-09-09/why-america-fell-out-of-love-with-the-pedestrian-mall?utm_content=citylab&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=socialflow-organic Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

There are no streets that would be worse off than they are already with the current standard of unrestricted vehicle access. The Open Streets program in NYC has been very successful. At the very least that section of Bridge should be closed to vehicle traffic on Fridays and Saturdays. There are more than enough people walking through there to occupy the space and make it feel alive. Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

I believe it is sign work, because MDOT doesn't waste enough money. It's slated to last through mid-September.

Traffic is a gas, not a liquid. Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

Yep, just repairs at Central Station. Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

I really hope you heard wrong. No way is a third lane going to significantly improve travel times for at most 3 hours a day. That's the last thing we need, anyway. I do agree with your perception of EB. I don't know that I've ever been in a backup on that side, at any time of day. Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

With this plus the Sligh development we will be gaining more than 1100 downtown-adjacent units of housing. That's incredible. Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

I can see the resemblance, but the GVSU building looks like an extremely cheap knock off of that beautiful stone. Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

Wasn't there a plan at some point to construct some kind of zig zagging path across the hill, or am I just dreaming? Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

So we're getting one modestly-sized office building and two GIANT garages that are going to be occupied 8-10 hours a day? I think Monroe North is on the losing end of this deal, but that's the way the money cookie crumbles.

Yesterday from Gillett Bridge. It probably looks even better in today's sunshine! Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

Hopefully this results in more tickets being issued. Parking enforcement is so hit or miss in this city. This is especially a problem in the winter. Our street constantly had cars parked on the wrong side, making it difficult for the plows. Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk