Reply to More MOCO Upzoning - Starting in Silver Spring

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Great news! Thanks for letting me know.

The University Boulevard Corridor (UBC) Plan will build on previous initiatives, such as the Countywide Transit Corridors Functional Master Plan, Thrive Montgomery 2050, and Vision Zero. The UBC Plan focuses on a three-mile stretch of University Boulevard (MD 193), with the aim to understand community needs in relation to traffic safety, regional connectivity, environmental sustainability, and economic development. The plan explores opportunities for new development, bikeways, and bus rapid transit (BRT), as well as the creation of a complete street with wider sidewalks, comfortable public transportation stops, and safe access. Community involvement is key to the success of the process, and Montgomery Planning is offering virtual and in-person opportunities for feedback. The University Boulevard Corridor Plan is part of a larger vision for compact growth, supported by an excellent transit system and a safe, appealing network for walking, biking, and rolling.[/quote]

This seems like a boondoggle in the making. Why do so many planners insist on making a single road all things to all people? How do you make a 6+ lane through-road a complete street and a vision zero street at the same time? University is a mess currently because its trying to do too much at once.

[b]No one is going to want to walk/bike next to hundreds of cars going 35+. 
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How do you make a 6+ lane through-road into a complete street and vision zero street? Like this: https://highways.dot.gov/complete-streets

Plenty of people are currently, [u]right now[/u], walking/biking next to hundreds of cars going 35+ - with narrow sidewalks, uncomfortable public transportation stops, and dangerous crossings. As you say, University Boulevard is a through road. There aren't really any good alternatives. So that's why it needs to work for everybody.
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Complete Streets is actually a terrible concept. I've never seen a Complete Street of any real size that works. Its all soundbite and no substance.

Only two things work: 1. Separating unlike transportation modes as much as possible, and limiting their interactions. 2. Make everyone share the same space at the speed of the most vulnerable road user.

#1 is why things like the beltway work better than University, and why Metro Rail beats Metro Bus and why the North East Corridor trains actually work, but Amtrak is never on time elsewhere. Its also why people bike more on trails than on busy roads.

#2 is what you get in a woonerf or in some of those developments without sidewalks. Its also the logic behind "20 is plenty"

The problem with the University area is that it was built in a suburban "fish bone" design, which funnels almost all traffic onto University. You can't fix that design problem with the solutions presented. Either leave it alone, or do a bigger project to redesign the entire corridor.

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