Main Street ped-friendly streetscape construction blocks ped traffic
MainCor and the City have begun working on a new streetscape project to improve the appearance of Main Street through Midtown and make it safer and more inviting for pedestrians. At the moment they are installing red faux-brick crosswalks at several locations. Unfortunately, this construction is blocking access for the pedestrians it’s ultimately meant to serve.
The photo above as the intersection of Main Street and Linwood Boulevard. Construction is blocking both sides of the street, which leaves pedestrians with no alternative route and is something that is supposed to be against City policy. The situation is especially critical at Linwood and Main because there is MAX bus station right there, plus a big residential population and the Cristo Rey High School.
While there are the regular “Sidewalk Closed” signs, there are now signs directing pedestrians to an alternate route and no temporary walkways through the construction zone. Able-bodied people can probably navigate around the big holes in the ground and dodge traffic, but anyone who is blind or in a wheelchair is just plain screwed.
This is an especially ironic example of how too often pedestrian (and bicycle) access is forgotten during construction projects, even when the construction project is for pedestrian infrastructure.



Today brings great news from City Hall. The Public Works Department has decided to switch all traffic signals in the Downtown Loop to an automatic pedestrian phase. This means no more pushing a button to get a walk signal. It will take about three weeks for all signals to be fixed.
