KASIA NIKIEL

JULIANNE CRAWFORD

REDESIGNING MAIN STREET

MAIN ST.Main Street @

University Boulevard to Main Street @

Cambridge Street intersections

0.4 mile stretch with medical center

buildings on the south side and Rice

University on the north

3 lanes of traffic in each direction with multiple pedestrian crossings and a high density of bus routes and stops

Cambridge St.

University

Blvd.

Cambridge Street Intersection MH Medical Plaza Intersection

John Freeman Intersection University Boulevard Intersection

PROBLEM: WHAT ISN’T WORKING HERE

❖ Traffic backed into intersections

❖ Crossing guards stationed in intersections

❖ Frequent exits from parking garages

❖ Un-synced traffic lights and unnecessary lights

GOAL: WHAT ARE WE HOPING TO DO ABOUT IT?

❖ Smooth flow of traffic using only traffic signals

❖ Minimum delay for cars, pedestrians, and buses

❖ Mindful of space constraints and peak time stresses

AGENDA

INTERSECTIONS

PARKING EXITS

OTHER FACTORS

STANDARDS

OUR SOLUTION

AGENDA

INTERSECTIONS

OTHER FACTORS

OUR SOLUTION

STANDARDS

PARKING EXITS

AGENDA

INTERSECTIONS

OTHER FACTORS

OUR SOLUTION

STANDARDS

PARKING EXITS

AGENDA

INTERSECTIONS

OTHER FACTORS

STANDARDS

OUR SOLUTION

PARKING EXITS

AGENDA

INTERSECTIONS

OTHER FACTORS

OUR SOLUTION

STANDARDS

PARKING EXITS

PARKING EXITS

INTERSECTIONS

OTHER FACTORS

STANDARDS

Cambridge Street Intersection MH Medical Plaza Intersection

University Boulevard IntersectionJohn Freeman Intersection

MAIN STREET @ CAMBRIDGE

4:03 p.m. (Not including cars turning

right onto Cambridge)

Southbound - 29 carsNorthbound - 50 cars

4:05 p.m. (including cars turning right onto Cambridge)

Southbound - 32 carsNorthbound - 50 cars

MAIN STREET @ MH MEDICAL PLAZA

4:29 p.m.

Southbound - 35 carsNorthbound - 37 cars*

*There would have been more if there wasn’t a

backup into the intersection due to a red light at Main

Street @ Cambridge Street.

MAIN STREET @ JOHN FREEMAN

This intersection acts as a through street into Main.

Internal parking garage exit but doesn’t act as a major

blockage to traffic.

5:20 p.m.

Southbound - 38 carsNorthbound - 31 cars

MAIN STREET @ UNIVERSITY

5:16 p.m.

Southbound - 51 carsNorthbound - 14 cars*

*Cars were stopped by traffic guard directing traffic to

prevent backing up intersection

PARKING EXITS

INTERSECTIONS

OTHER FACTORS

STANDARDS

MAIN ST.Main Street @

University Boulevard to Main Street @

Cambridge Street intersections

0.4 mile stretch with medical center

buildings on the south side and Rice

University on the north

3 lanes of traffic in each direction with multiple pedestrian crossings and a high density of bus routes and stops

Cambridge St.

University

Blvd.

6400 FANNIN PARKING EXIT

Northern Exit4:07 - 4:17 p.m.

15 cars

Southern Exit4:19 - 4:29 p.m.

51 cars

❖ Light allowing left turns out of garage backs up traffic

❖ Cars can use exit on opposite side of garage to turn onto Fannin going southbound

6400 FANNIN PARKING EXIT

Northern Exit4:07 - 4:17 p.m.

15 cars

Southern Exit4:19 - 4:29 p.m.

51 cars

❖ Light allowing left turns out of garage backs up traffic

❖ Cars can use exit on opposite side of garage to turn onto Fannin going southbound

MAIN ST.Main Street @

University Boulevard to Main Street @

Cambridge Street intersections

0.4 mile stretch with medical center

buildings on the south side and Rice

University on the north

3 lanes of traffic in each direction with multiple pedestrian crossings and a high density of bus routes and stops

Cambridge St.

University

Blvd.

UT PROFESSIONAL BUILDING

❖ Construction means far left exit will see more outflow.❖ Unclear which building the blue exit belongs to…❖ Two lanes of traffic are permitted to turn out of the blue

exit at the same time.

Orange Exit4:36 - 4:46 p.m.

4 cars

Blue (And A&M) 4:36 - 4:46 p.m.

23 cars

MAIN ST.Main Street @

University Boulevard to Main Street @

Cambridge Street intersections

0.4 mile stretch with medical center

buildings on the south side and Rice

University on the north

3 lanes of traffic in each direction with multiple pedestrian crossings and a high density of bus routes and stops

Cambridge St.

University

Blvd.

SMITH TOWER PARKING EXIT

❖ Cars can exit from this corner of the parking garage onto both Main Street and University Boulevard.

Smith Exit5:06 - 5:16 p.m.

20 cars

PARKING EXITS

INTERSECTIONS

OTHER FACTORS

STANDARDS

BUS ROUTES ALONG MAIN STREET

BUS ROUTES ALONG MAIN STREET

ALL DAY

AFTERNOON RUSH HOUR

MORNING RUSH HOUR

CROSSING GUARDS

PARKING EXITS

INTERSECTIONS

OTHER FACTORS

STANDARDS

ROAD LANES

“AASHTO highlights benefits of narrower (10 to 11 feet) travel lanes on lower-speed urban streets, including a

reduction in pedestrian crossing distance, ability to provide more lanes in constrained rights of way and

lower construction cost. The recommended travel lane widths in this report are also consistent with design

guidelines in AASHTO’s Guide for Development of Bicycle Facilities (1999) and the recommendations in A Guide for

Achieving Flexibility in Highway Design (2004b).”

- Page 138, Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares: A Context Sensitive Approach from the Institute of Transportation Engineers

BUS LANES

“Vehicles such as transit buses or large tractor-trailers require wider lanes, particularly in

combination with higher design speeds if they frequently use the thoroughfare. Modern buses can be 10.5 feet wide from mirror to mirror and

require a minimum 11-foot wide lane on roadways with 30 to 35 mph target speeds.”

- Page 137, Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares: A Context Sensitive Approach from the Institute of Transportation Engineers

THE SOLUTION

OPTION 1: REMOVE THE LIGHT

CURRENT SITUATION

OPTION 1: REMOVE LIGHT

OPTION 2: CREATE FAR RIGHT BUS LANE

CURRENT SITUATION

OPTION 2: BUS LANES

PROPOSED SOLUTION

Use a combination of the two options:

❖ Prevents car pile up in intersections by eliminating choke points.

❖ Eliminates the need for traffic guards by freeing up traffic flow.

❖ Allows people to exit the parking garage more quickly by giving them a free lane.

❖ Allows buses to move more quickly by clearing up their travel path.