What Lake Street could be like

For some reason, transportation planners in the Twin Cities believe that you have to pave the world in order to move vehicles. The City of Chicago handles their transportation needs in a much saner way. The photos below illustrate how Chicago moves traffic volumes comparable to those that Lake Street currently handles (and comparable also to the volumes that are projected).

All the streets shown below carry one lane of traffic in each direction, and provide for full time on-street parking and bikelanes. Given the right-of-way existing on Lake Street, a street design which includes two travel lanes, one full-time left-hand turn lane, two bikelanes, permanent on-street parking, and widened sidewalks could be accomodated. Click here to download the Chicago street design standards (pdf, 1.2 Mb).

Lawrence Avenue at the Brown Line stop. Carries 31,800 vehicles per day.

Lincoln Avenue at Halstead. Carries 21,700 vehicles per day.

Diversey Avenue at Lincoln. Carries 24,200 vehicles per day.

Halstead Avenue at Armitage. Carries 18,800 vehicles per day.

The intersection of Halsted Avenue and Armitage in Chicago. Lined by four story buildings, Halstead carries 18,800 vehicles per day with only one lane of automobile traffic in each direction. It provides permanent on-street parking for businesses and residents, and accomodates 5 ft bikelanes on each side of the street. Sidewalks are 12 ft wide and include trees, decorative lighting, and bus stops.

Chicago again, showing new six-story construction next to a two lane road, with planted median, wide sidewalks, and permanent on-street parking.