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;.` :' ' " draft a possible plan that would
<br /> 4i<< ' - .� '' ;`:%� F include all of the required safety
<br /> lip :z
<br /> . 0•14;k:. ., Y•,.:. a-; f. -''— measures, keep two-way traffic,
<br /> Y :4t ._ ? and reduce parking, Quinn says.
<br /> It is also serving as the de facto
<br /> +�, { , � Y r Y,4 _ mediator, "attempting to get every-
<br /> I I ,,,, one to the table" (meaning city•` i� `'' / - 4 ii' government, the railroad, Federal
<br /> • ; 4 f t rj.�., < , . I ,p,, Railroad Administration, mer-
<br /> L.
<br /> :."` • -', chants, and residents) to work out
<br /> di" = the best compromise.
<br /> "We believe that the more
<br /> Downtown La Grange, KY(pop. 5,680), is bisected by a commercial railroad. New federal input we have, the more creativity
<br /> whistle regulations require better separation of road and track if the downtown is to main kill lead to synergies and hopeful
<br /> tain its peace and quiet.
<br /> ly the best possible outcome,"
<br /> with up to 30 trains a day, Quinn Trade-offs may have Quinn says.
<br /> fears what that would do to the to be made A traffic analysis of the
<br /> downtown area is also being corn-
<br /> downtown ambience.
<br /> "We have parallel parking on missioned to inform the city's
<br /> To maintain the downtown's one side and angled parking on the decision-making. Quinn expects
<br /> "quiet zone"designation under the other side," Quinn says. "In order that up to half the parking on
<br /> new safety regulations, Quinn says to have two-way traffic continue Main Street's small retail section
<br /> that at least a dozen feet of space on Main Street, we may have to will have to be eliminated.
<br /> would need to be freed up on Main eliminate some parking. This will "We're going to have to make
<br /> Street,to allow installation of eight- obviously be a challenge to our some choices,"Quinn says. "If we
<br /> APinch-tall, concrete curbing separat- retail area." want two-way traffic on Main Street,
<br /> ing the road from the tracks, as well Crossroads-La Grange Main we'll need to eliminate some park-
<br /> as crossing gates. Street had a committee formed to ing.If we are satisfied with one-way
<br /> Email can help clear construction confusion =
<br /> In Houston, TX(pop. 2 million),the street-grade site that Davis's staff main -' •rovides sug-
<br /> MetroRail light-rail line was obviously a massive gested alternate rout-- ,vebsite is complement-
<br /> undertaking for the city, and caused inevitable disrup- ed by a weekly : •rming regular downtown
<br /> tions. Its construction lasted from April 2001 until last visitors of A eets will be closed.
<br /> December, and was concurrent with a streetscape. Y`- a constant feeding of information to the
<br /> project intended to accommodate changes in mass '
<br /> - ` .I public about construction downtown," Davis
<br /> transit, with new traffic lane designations and pedes- ays,and his experience shows that email can be a
<br /> trian signage. low-cost and effective means of educating the pub-
<br /> "Construction was extremely fast pa - '• lic about downtown road construction.
<br /> some would say there should have •-. . e con- The key to successfully communicating via
<br /> sideration for street-level busin - ays Tom email is distributing the notices through building
<br /> Davis, director of capital p -' :nd construction managers rather than trying to maintain a huge
<br /> for the Houston Dow • anagement District. distribution list in-house, Davis says. They can
<br /> Some restaurant •htclubs closed doors dur- then forward it to their tenants, to distribute to
<br /> ing construc - _ says. their employees.
<br /> Ho . -t least downtown employees and Contact Tom Davis, Houston Downtown Management
<br /> (. vi • •uld plan their trips to avoid construction District, (713)650-3022, tom@downtowndistrict.org,
<br /> ,s through www.downtownstreets.com, a web- www.downtowndistrict.org.
<br /> August 1, 2004 Downtown Idea Exchange • www.DowntownDevelopment.com 3
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