Transportation, Infrastructure, and Traffic

[westsider28]

1 hour ago, hub-city said:

There is a new sign on Daniel Morgan down near the car dealerships saying "New Traffic Pattern Coming Soon".  Rumor is a road diet for that area.  it was discussed years ago, but I can't remember anything lately.  (but I'm old and can barely remember yesterday...)  Any details?

Not sure if it's this, but I found plans for a cycletrack on East DMA on the old City website before it was updated (it had an open file tree, which wasn't very secure).  Regardless of whether or not this is what's happening, I'll repeat my complaint that the City/County needs to be more transparent on all these projects.  We shouldn't have to rely on rumors and speculation; it should all be posted publicly on their website(s).

DMA-Beaumont cycletrack.pdf

[westsider28]

The City just posted on Facebook that "N Daniel Morgan Ave. (sic - actually East DMA) will see road improvements beginning next week that will immediately add on-street parking and a new pedestrian crossing, and will ultimately allow for more pedestrian & cycling space. Please be mindful as you travel the area during construction!"

Interesting that it sounds like the bike path will come later?  The plan I posted above is mostly just striping (with a few curbs).  I hope the crossing isn't the one from the plan, because it's a weird location that would make turning left onto Liberty Street difficult.

[westsider28]

P&C article on East DMA road diet.  It says the bike path (as part of the Hub City Hopper) will be done at the same time.  Work should be completed in two weeks.  Though it says "lane improvements closer to Church Street need approval from SCDOT."

Also, West Main redesign will be bid out in the spring. The work will begin once it is approved by SCDOT.

[westsider28]

On-street parking has been striped on East DMA between Dean Street and Liberty Street.  It's a bit odd how much of it is in front of the car dealers, but part of the reason they can't put any near the retail businesses is because of all the driveways/curb-cuts.  (btw, that's not a bike lane, but rather a buffer zone for door opening).

[roads-scholar]

1 hour ago, westsider28 said:

On-street parking has been striped on East DMA between Dean Street and Liberty Street.  It's a bit odd how much of it is in front of the car dealers, but part of the reason they can't put any near the retail businesses is because of all the driveways/curb-cuts.  (btw, that's not a bike lane, but rather a buffer zone for door opening).

Seems a little odd to have on-street parking at this location but I'm all in favor of a DMA road diet any way that can be accomplished.  FYI the dealerships need the extra parking.  

[JonMere]

3 minutes ago, roads-scholar said:

FYI the dealerships need the extra parking.  

Yes, we do! 

[roads-scholar]

Just now, JonMere said:

Yes, we do! 

And I'm sure Blue Moon Bodega needs the extra spaces as well.  

[Spartan]

Gotta say I'm disappointed with the bike lane on EDMA. Bike lanes next to on street parking are notoriously dangerous for cyclists, and with a 35mph speed limit you won't see many causal riders. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad they did it. Definitely a net positive and a step. in a positive direction.

Are they going to stripe on in the eastbound side?

[westsider28]

5 hours ago, Spartan said:

Gotta say I'm disappointed with the bike lane on EDMA. Bike lanes next to on street parking are notoriously dangerous for cyclists, and with a 35mph speed limit you won't see many causal riders. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad they did it. Definitely a net positive and a step. in a positive direction.

Are they going to stripe on in the eastbound side?

Perhaps you didn't notice that I mentioned in my original post, "(btw, that's not a bike lane, but rather a buffer zone for door opening)".

There will be a curb-protected 2-way bike path on the south side of the street.  It hasn't been started yet.

[westsider28]

The Spartanburg County Safety Action Plan has been updated with results from the public survey, which are predictably heavily car-oriented.  There's a map of where people feel unsafe, a map of the "high injury network" (8% of roads account for 47% of fatal / severe injury crashes), priority corridors, and safety strategies.  Those strategies are:

-Prioritize roadway maintenance (pavement quality and striping) along High Injury Network corridors.

-Create education campaigns to raise awareness on the danger of distracted and impaired driving.

-Implement projects that create options for people to walk, bicycle, drive, and use transit safely.

-Adopt policies that lead to increased safety along corridors with multiple driveways.

-Retrofit intersections known for fatal and serious crashes with elements to reduce approach and turning speeds.

-Install enhanced trail crossings at all roadways to increase safety and comfort of trail users.

-Create policies and programs to install traffic calming elements in residential areas.

-Emphasize slow speeds, safe crossings, and increased visibility on all roadways near schools.

-Develop standards and guidelines for reducing speeds on truck routes through residential and commercial areas.

-Prioritize filling sidewalk gaps and reducing crossing distances for pedestrians of all ages and abilities.

There's also a follow-up survey at the very bottom of the site.

[Spartan]

On 3/24/2024 at 10:23 PM, westsider28 said:

Perhaps you didn't notice that I mentioned in my original post, "(btw, that's not a bike lane, but rather a buffer zone for door opening)".

There will be a curb-protected 2-way bike path on the south side of the street.  It hasn't been started yet.

Ha, I did not notice that. Thanks for the clarification!

[westsider28]

In a special meeting today, County Council voted on an application for a Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Implementation Grant (part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law).

Spartanburg County grant submittal will be for $20M.  With a required 20% ($4M) local match, the total would be $24M.  These funds will be utilized for transportation related safety improvements along Asheville Hwy. between Hearon Circle and Hwy. 221 and N. Pine Street between Hwy. 221 and E. Main St.

Hopefully Asheville Hwy is a road diet that includes heavily upgraded bike/pedestrian facilities. Pine Street could use some sidewalk improvements (or additions) too.  And maybe extend the third northbound lane to Hwy 221 (rather than ending awkwardly at McCravy Drive).

[Spartanburg Guy]

3 hours ago, westsider28 said:

In a special meeting today, County Council voted on an application for a Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Implementation Grant (part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law).

Spartanburg County grant submittal will be for $20M.  With a required 20% ($4M) local match, the total would be $24M.  These funds will be utilized for transportation related safety improvements along Asheville Hwy. between Hearon Circle and Hwy. 221 and N. Pine Street between Hwy. 221 and E. Main St.

Hopefully Asheville Hwy is a road diet that includes heavily upgraded bike/pedestrian facilities. Pine Street could use some sidewalk improvements (or additions) too.  And maybe extend the third northbound lane to Hwy 221 (rather than ending awkwardly at McCravy Drive).

I don’t like road diets. I hate when I get behind a slowpoke going 20 in a 35 and I can’t pass!

[westsider28]

43 minutes ago, Spartanburg Guy said:

I don’t like road diets. I hate when I get behind a slowpoke going 20 in a 35 and I can’t pass!

Dude, I'm talking 7 lanes to 5 on Asheville Hwy, so you could still pass.  But also, slowing traffic is absolutely one of the (positive) reasons for road diets.  More often than your scenario is keeping people from doing 50 in a 35.  Not to mention the safety and mobility improvements for those NOT driving a car.

[mainonmain]

2 hours ago, Spartanburg Guy said:

I don’t like road diets. I hate when I get behind a slowpoke going 20 in a 35 and I can’t pass!

You worried it might take 6 minutes instead of 5 to get to Wade's?

[Spartanburg Guy]

20 hours ago, mainonmain said:

 

Edited April 25 by Spartanburg Guy

[Sparkleman]

Anybody got an idea when they are going to start paving some of the roads that we approved last November?

[westsider28]

1 hour ago, Sparkleman said:

Anybody got an idea when they are going to start paving some of the roads that we approved last November?

I mean, the tax literally just went into effect today.  But this WSPA story says they're essentially taking an "advance" to get started on DMA behind the courthouse and Hwy 290 in Duncan this summer.

The County has also done a good job adding more resources for the public online, particularly this Project Letting Schedule site.  Also the main "Penny 2" site with links the map of projects, etc.

[Sparkleman]

Thanks for sending those links as that's solid info.

It's kind of interesting that unless I am missing something almost none of the paving is taking place in any of the city neighborhoods.

[Historyguy]

 

On 5/2/2024 at 8:52 AM, Sparkleman said:

Thanks for sending those links as that's solid info.

It's kind of interesting that unless I am missing something almost none of the paving is taking place in any of the city neighborhoods.

I think it's correct that not a lot of city neighborhoods are getting resurfacing funding from the penny tax - though a lot of city arterials are state roads and quite a few of them will get re-surfaced.  I guess many of them were not in as bad of shape as some of the county neighborhoods.  

[Spartan]

I think you have to look at the big picture. With this resurfacing funding, plus the larger statewide maintenance effort, we should continue to see a lot of improvement in the roads across the county over the next 10 years, which should include a lot of streets within the city, too.

I'm not sure where city-maintained streets fit into that picture.

[westsider28]

I believe the Roads Tax has a pool of money for municipalities to use as they see fit.  There's a project category called "Municipal Paving Program" with $12,334,728.  Presumably that would follow the same paving prioritization criteria that the City of Spartanburg uses for their annual paving program, for instance.

[GreenvilleSucks]

Should have called the new baseball team the Spartanburg Potholes. 

[djh1963]

gman430

22 minutes ago, gman430 said:

Should have called the new baseball team the Spartanburg Potholes. 

gman if you do not like Spartanburg, WHY are you here? Yes, Spartanburg does have her problems but most of us here are positive about Spartanburg and her future.

 

[westsider28]

3 hours ago, gman430 said:

Should have called the new baseball team the Spartanburg Potholes. 

Ha, Greenville is in a much worse situation.  We voted to tax ourselves to fix our roads.  Let's see if Greenville is pragmatic enough to do the same.