In response to requests from several Commercial Street business owners, Emporia Main Street and city staff are beginning the process of looking into removing the traffic islands at the intersections of Fifth and Seventh Avenues.
The effort began with a business owner talking with Main Street Director Casey Woods about removing the islands as part of this summer’s water main project. Some business owners and citizens find the islands inconvenient, as they prevent left turns at those intersections and, in some cases, require people to drive an extra block to get to their destinations.
To read complete story see the print edition or the online print edition.
bobhornet (anonymous) says...
I remember when they installed these "islands" to improve traffic flow. It was a stupid idea then and it is now. Now we will spend big money to correct a failed experiment.
March 5, 2010 at 12:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
I'm with bobhornet. This is just one more way to waste money we don't have. There are far more important things that need attention, especially downtown.
And can we clean up the dirty streets soon?
Last autumn, on Commercial Street, they removed a bunch of asphalt along some parts of the street. What did they do with it? They pitched it to the curb. IT'S STILL THERE!!! It's there waiting to break an ankle of people who step off the curb to get to their car. Some of it is in a handicapped parking space.
Since last autumn !!!
March 5, 2010 at 12:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
admireed (anonymous) says...
Those islands were put in at the urging of some Commercial Street retailers to force traffic onto Commercial and past their stores
Edward McKernan
March 5, 2010 at 1:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
The islands are costing us nothing just sitting there and all. Let's not spend money we don't have removing them. We should just name them, one can be Kenny and the other can be Dolly.
March 5, 2010 at 1:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blulitespecial (anonymous) says...
There was also a lot of snow blocking the handicapped spots,I'm going to look for the asphalt pile shortly.
I agree-it's too much money to pull these out right now.
When they think about doing it,consider pedestrian safety and traffic flow first.I can go around the block.I do it all the time.What I won't put up with is someone trying turn left through bumper to bumper traffic downtown,all the while trying to dodge pedestrians.These will have to be traffic light controlled intersections.
I bet it took years to put them in,it'll take years to redesign and approve changes.
March 5, 2010 at 1:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
madpoet (anonymous) says...
If they're tearing the road up anyway, they may as well yank those dumb things out too. It never fails that there's no parking on one side of the street, you go down two blocks to turn around and come back then the other side is full but the side you wanted orginally has openings. I've given up and gone elsewhere at times. If they keep the pedestrian light up, I don't see how it would be a problem. You have to watch now that people stop for the light, no different if they're going straight or turning right vs. turning left. I think it would improve shopping downtown if you could just circle the block to park on the other side. Plus in the winter they're a real traffic hazard.
March 5, 2010 at 1:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
But, those islands were part of the beautification, as were the jutting peninsulas at the intersections and were supposed to be progressive vision. And I agree why waste money to waste money, to waste even more money to correct someones beautiful progressive vision of Emporia .
I suggest the next time the City wants to take on a vision of beautification or to spend money on failed and not very well thought out plans, they include the public in the beginning planning stages and get some much needed input from the people who will eventually be paying for such projects.
Maybe if they consult the people at the beginning, instead of the end, after all has been decided and agreed upon by a few, who are thinking only of what will benefit just them, things may just work out a little better and maybe a little cheaper for everyone. And if this is done, just maybe everyone will be in agreement before the project is started or finished and everyone in Emporia is $1 or $2 million more in debt and taxes are raised, because a few thought it was a good idea .
March 5, 2010 at 2:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
it's to bad that Commercial street is a state highway.
If it wasn't we could close it off to all traffic and have a nice grassy mall area from 4th avenue to the college;-)
March 5, 2010 at 2:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Haven't got my paper yet, were there figures of costs? I can't see too much extra cost if any , as they are tearing up the streets anyway for the water main project. Moving the light poles can't cost that much. Maybe some main street members could help with the heavy lifting?
March 5, 2010 at 2:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
madpoet (anonymous) says...
I like the grassy mall idea, Steve. Too funny! And I just hate those stupid brick penisulas too. With them and the islands it's impossible to make a turn down 5th and stay in the right lane. And to turn right onto 12th from Commercial is a bear too. I have to wonder if the people who design these things have a clue? When they redid the on ramps for I-35 from highway 50 they made them backwards. They point away from the direction of the majority of traffic using them. What the heck?! You can tell I'm not an engineer. :)
March 5, 2010 at 3:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mythoughts (anonymous) says...
I like the islands - they tend to calm traffic on Commercial. And there are many intersections downtown where a "left turn lane" would come in handy, especially at 6th and Merchant. If the lead car there wants to go left, they have to wait for the entire line of oncoming traffic to clear, which is usually the length of the green light.
Worse still is when two left-turners face off and are afraid to execute the turn. It's gridlock, and then someone will try to go around them just as they finally get the nerve to move - a very stressful intersection. If you get a southbound vehicle trying to go to Bank of America at 5:00, and a northbound vehicle trying to access CoreFirst, you can freeze all movement for three blocks in no time.
The islands are the least of our worries.
March 5, 2010 at 3:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gold66801 (anonymous) says...
What in the hell is anybody doing downtown anyway. There is nothing to shop for. u can go to topeka or kc and buy everthing u need for much less. i vote to close downtown
March 5, 2010 at 4:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
railroadhorn (anonymous) says...
I agree that there are more important issues than taking out these islands in the near future. Use that $100K to help businesses in other ways like with handicapped entrances as was mentioned recently on these blogs. Or with marketing help. I know the funds for transportation can't be used for other things, though. I wish more businesses would speak up about what they need right now. I just saw an ad in the Gazette tonight announcing that CD Tradepost is moving to Industrial Road and is having a sale. I'm sure they're looking for more traffic to stop by the store. Another loss for central Emporia.
March 5, 2010 at 5:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Pinkpintopony (anonymous) says...
I agree with mythoughts. I don't see the problem. Although I will say, that if the islands were put in for beautification purposes...the idea is lost when some ( not all) of the downtown merchants make little or no effort to keep the sidewalks in front of their businesses clean. I love the way the Granada Chocolate Cafe has a little chalkboard sign on the sidewalk welcoming shoppers and the sidewalk is always nice and clean. More of the businesses need to make this effort. Downtown needs to be a place where you want to park and walk around, popping in and out of the shops that do have things to offer. Not so nice when you are trying to step over trash, cigarettes, gum, bird poop, etc.
March 5, 2010 at 6:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sunshine (anonymous) says...
I agree with mythoughts too. I kind of like the islands, they never bothered me at all. In fact, it kind of makes walking across that intersection a little nicer. They were there long before I moved here I guess and I just thought they were something a little unique to the town. As far as having to drive a block or two farther or having to go around the block...this isn't the big city. It really isn't that big of deal, if I want to go somewhere bad enough I will circle the block a few times. I do it a lot when I am looking for a parking spot by Graves or the post office. What's the big deal? So you have to be a little inconvenienced. Seems to me that some people just need to have something to gripe about.
March 5, 2010 at 7:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
Has anyone asked Kenny and Dolly what they think? I can't believe some people are so willing to just get rid of them. Very cold blooded if you ask me and I know you did.
March 5, 2010 at 8:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blulitespecial (anonymous) says...
I'd like to keep the islands! Name them Kenny,Dolly,Pancho,and Lefty!
March 6, 2010 at 3:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Only the government could take a relatively easy and cheap project that could be done with a couple of good ole boys with a tractor and some electrical tape and turn it into;
Permission from highway dept.
Engineering planning and reports
Traffic surveys
A cost of 100 k.
I was for doing this until I read the print version of the Gazette and saw a estimated cost on it.
100 K?
NOPE!
NO WAY!
March 6, 2010 at 8:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
Yep, if anybody can find a way to do something more inefficiently and for way more money than it should take to do, it is our government(at all levels). We should never question them though. Especially not now.
March 6, 2010 at 8:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
koalemos (anonymous) says...
The government doesn't do anything without extensive planning.
http://www.theonion.com/content/video...
March 6, 2010 at 8:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
custom (anonymous) says...
Whatever it takes to put money in Challander's pocket.
March 6, 2010 at 3:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Come on, are you people intentionally trying to get these posts pulled like the other 1 about burgling a liquor store? Please observe the forum rules.
March 6, 2010 at 3:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bloomsbury (SC DIXON) says...
The islands are a joke...people from out of town here for sporting events, whatever, just shake their heads in wonder that something so obviously obsolete is still part of our cityscape. It just screams "60's Modern..."
We also need a traffic light at either 9th and Merchant or 10th and Merchant (or perhaps a light at 10th and then put the lights taken out at 8th and Merchant back...) It is a mess several times a day.
But the "islands," well that's just plain dumb...the only thing dumber is to keep them.
March 6, 2010 at 5:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
I am afraid there is no way that removing the islands can be done without the consent of the State highway department, as Commercial Street is also State Highway 99, which fall under the joint jurisdiction of the State and the City .
March 6, 2010 at 5:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
A roundabout that circles the 4 blocks that are at the Commercial and 6th intersection is a good idea. I don't know why, it just is.
March 6, 2010 at 5:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
barefootin (anonymous) says...
While they are at it maybe they can take out the one at 12 th and commercial.
March 6, 2010 at 6:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hottopics (anonymous) says...
Maybe we should call Holmes on Homes, he can come in and fix it right. And it won't cost a dime. I think that everyone in the community should give back and do something for free or close to free. Not necessarily this, but other projects that need help in funding. JMO
March 6, 2010 at 6:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
koalemos (anonymous) says...
Did anyone else notice that monkey island is no longer an island?
March 6, 2010 at 10:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
snow (anonymous) says...
If the islands are removed it is likely that a significant number of parking spaces will be lost to provide adequate line of site. In some spots, to get space for left turn lanes may mean going to parallel parking. There can be little doubt that the islands give greater pedestrian safety. If the area becomes less safe, customers may further avoid downtown.
March 6, 2010 at 10:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
Yea....and it no longer has any monkeys either....What up with that? So maybe they should change the name from Monkey Island to Old Falling Down Building That Serves No Purpose....or something like that.
March 7, 2010 at 3:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scrutinizer (anonymous) says...
Somehow I am just certain that the same people in this discussion that are calling for the removal of these "dumb" islands (that Ed McKernan tells us were the idea of downtown merchants), are the exact same people that bitch about the government spending tax money foolishly. The government, apparently in your eyes, is damned if they do and damned if they don't.
If you have such great ideas, that can solve the problems of infrastructure decay and inability to keep pace with the needs of a growing populace, while SIMULTANEOUSLY lowering our taxes, why don't you show us what kind of Houdini you are and run for public office? Or are you just too busy slamming others in the blogs to get off your butt and do that? Armchair warriors often fail.
March 7, 2010 at 11:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
scrutinizer
It's a whole lot easier to point out other people's failings for them, than to provide answers of your own. Hence a whole lot more people bitch about what is wrong with government than actually try to fix it.
March 7, 2010 at 12:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MisterO (anonymous) says...
Hey, I've got it!
Let's tear them out and put in some more roundabouts. Yah! Let's put one in at every other intersection!
They're safer than a 4-way stop sign and there' s no WAY teen-age drivers will try to drive around them really fast!
Oh...and include a toll to help generate revenue for more beautification projects downtown.
March 7, 2010 at 1:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
Well MisterO, I'm going on 70-years-old and I have no trouble negotiating either of the two roundabouts in Emporia. I much prefer them to 4-way stop signs.
If this old man can adapt to new things, I wonder why it is so hard for others?
March 7, 2010 at 5:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
Pfft........... Europe.
March 7, 2010 at 8:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sunshine (anonymous) says...
Hmmm...not that my opinion matters but I hate roundabouts. At least the one going out of town, the one by the high school isn't so bad. I get confused on the one going out of town, maybe I'm just dumb, but I just hate it. Give me a four way stop, I can handle that.
March 7, 2010 at 8:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
HenryVIII (anonymous) says...
Mainstreet always has something to complain about...
'enry
March 7, 2010 at 11:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
knute (anonymous) says...
I don't like or dislike the right turn islands, they're just something to deal with. For this much money, though, I believe it's ridiculous to remove them.
The City claims it has no funds and the State says it may even have to delay tax refunds because of a shortage of funds but there's money for this?
Just when I believe the government cannot come up with anything crazier, it never fails to do so.
March 8, 2010 at 12:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Well, I am not crazy about " The West End Round a bout " either, but will have to deal with it. What I truly do not like are the " four way stop intersections " ! The reason I do not like the 4 way stop signed intersections is the fact that only about 2% of the driving public actually observe the fact that a red octagonal sign emblazened with the word " STOP " actually means, come to a full STOP, look carefully and then proceed when safe to do so. I think that, with the mentality and seemingly hurried pace of drivers today, all " STOP " signs should be removed and signs with S-T-G ( slow then go ) be put up. Because 98% of todays drivers do not fully stop, but just slow then go at all presently in place " STOP SIGNS " .
And speed limit signs or rules, just seem to be total joke to a number of drivers.
March 8, 2010 at 8:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Nobody (anonymous) says...
ELEPHANT: A mouse built to government specifications.
March 8, 2010 at 10:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
les_herschler (anonymous) says...
I like round-abouts. They keep traffic flowing with a minimal amount of headache, if you pay attention to what you are doing. However, if you can't navigate a round-about, perhaps you shouldn't be driving.
As for the islands....leave them. Why waste the money to tear them out? The smart businessowner will figure out a way to attract customers with or without the lslands.
March 8, 2010 at 12:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
poolguy (anonymous) says...
Heres a thought...
The state shouldnt be too big of a hassle. College students are always looking for money, so, have the city loan a couple of college kids a jackhammer and a trailer, pay em $10 an hour, and watch it get done much quicker. The resurfacing crews can just blacktop it with the rest of the street. Should cost way less than 100k.
As for the state needing more money, maybe they should start whittling down that delinquent tax list...
March 8, 2010 at 1:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
Throw in the ugly clock tower at 12th and Merchant and you got a deal.
March 8, 2010 at 4:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
We need a roundabout by our clock tower.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAgX6q...
March 9, 2010 at 9:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
susieq (anonymous) says...
Steve Corbin --- why does everything have to start at 4th avenue... There are business south of 4th avenue that could use your grassy mall -- all the way to south avenue or at the very least the railroad tracks....
I agree with you all about the expense of putting those islands **** in and deciding to take them out -- that's a waste of taxpayer dollars... Maybe the city should take the expense out of whoever made the decision to put them in.
March 11, 2010 at 2:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
susieq,
The grassy mall idea was my weak attempt at humour. Note the smiley face.
If the economy keeps going like it is , in 100 years Commercial st. will be a dusty cow path.
March 12, 2010 at 5:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
barefootin (anonymous) says...
Wow! theres the best idea so far, a roundabout circling the clock tower so those who are entranced by it can circle it all day long while admiring its splendor. Myself, I would still drive past it and keep on going.
March 12, 2010 at 8:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )