The Transportation Committee has been working on ways to reduce
the severity and impact of traffic on Christian St. The task has
been complicated because the street has, over time, become a
thoroughfare and any change will affect not only those living on
Christian St., but those on neighboring streets as well as those who
use the street. The challenge was to find ways to improve Christian
that were acceptable to the QV community and our neighbors. And, our
charge was to do this with community review and input.
We feel we are well on the way to developing several approaches
that can significantly improve conditions. But, rather than tell you
what we think, we first want to know what you think given all the
ideas that have been generated. As you will see, it will take you
some time to do this. But, we hope you will take that important time
to help steer our work.
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GOALS AND IDEAS TO REDUCE TRAFFIC PROBLEMS ON CHRISTIAN
STREET |
COMMUNITY BENEFITS (1-5) |
COMMUNITY OBJECTIONS (1-5) |
COMMENTS / QUESTIONS |
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I |
REDUCE TRAFFIC VOLUME ON CHRISTIAN ST. |
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Traffic volume on Christian St.
- vehicles per hour traveling passing Wawa.
West
East
Peak Weekday AM 337 316
Peak Weekday PM 341 218
Peak Saturday 375 292
(Orth-Rogers data November 2005) |
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A |
Divert Columbus Blvd Traffic to Washington Ave |
-Reduce traffic on Christian and (some) right turns onto
Front or left turns onto 2nd or Moyamensing. |
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1 |
Make Washington Ave easier to travel |
-Some vehicles will divert to Wash Ave |
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-Any way to estimate shift?
-Traffic voume on Washington Ave.
- Vehicles per hour traveling passing under I95
West
East
Peak Weekday AM 823 689
Peak Weekday PM 1 076 786
Peak Saturday 771 947
(Orth-Rogers data November 2005) |
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a. Synchronize lights to move traffic west faster |
-Reduce delays; increase volume |
3 |
-Probably make eastbound slower. |
1 |
-Time of day? Lights green simultaneously? Weekends? |
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b. Eliminate bottleneck at Ninth St. |
Same as above |
4 |
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1 |
-Italian market owners may fight |
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c. Eliminate double-parked delivery trucks |
-Maintain lanes; reduce delays |
3 |
-Enforcement probably difficult |
1 |
-How bad is problem? |
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d. Add protected left turn to signal sequence |
-Easier turns >> more use of Wash Ave |
1 |
-Reduces thru traffic volume |
3 |
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2 |
Make Christian St. slower to travel
(See section II, below) |
-Some vehicles will divert to Washington Ave |
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-For evaluation, see Section II, below. |
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3 |
Make Christian St. "One-way going east" |
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a. From Swanson St. to Columbus Blvd. |
-All Columbus Blvd vehicles to
Washington Ave
-Smoother traffic flow on Columbus Blvd
-Improve corner safety at Old Swedes Ct |
5 |
-Limit QV resident access to Wash Av
-Increase Dela Ave traffic to Wash Av
-Increase traffic on Front St and possibly 3rd and 5th Sts.
-Impede access to Old Swedes Ch. |
5 |
-Needs careful review
of outcomes and secondary benefits.
-Southbound "No Right Turn"( IB5) is similar. |
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b. From Second St. to Columbus Blvd. |
-Similar to above
- Provide lane for Wawa truck unloading
-Add parking for one-way blocks |
5 |
-Similar to above, but more impact on access.
-Increased speed?
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5 |
Above |
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c. From Sixth St. to Columbus Blvd. |
-Similar to above |
5 |
-Similar to above but more impact on access. |
5 |
Above |
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4 |
Add pedestrian signal actuation for crossing Columbus Blvd
at Washington St. |
-Shorter left-turn phase to Columbus Blvd. results in longer
north-south signal phase. |
2 |
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1 |
Review this logic; can't have pedestrian crossing left turn
traffic. Is there any pedestrian actuation now? |
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B |
Divert Southbound Columbus Blvd. traffic to Washington Ave. |
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1 |
Improve signage to draw drivers to Washington Ave |
-Draw some vehicles will to Wash Ave |
2 |
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1 |
Right lane marked "Broad Street" "Italian Market" |
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2 |
"Right Turn Only" at Washington in west (right) lane |
- Eliminate backup in right lane from Wash Ave.
-Draw some vehicles to Wash Ave |
3 |
-More difficult pedestrian crossing to island?
-Reduce thru capacity of two lanes? |
1 |
-Need lane usage signs before Christian St.: 2 lanes "Thru"
; right lane: "Washington Ave./Broad St./ Italian Market" |
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3 |
Flow-through right turn to dedicated lane at Washington to
keep traffic moving. |
-Protect the right turn form
opposing traffic during left-turn light phase.
-Benefit is 2 if B2 is effected, 1 if not. |
2 |
-Possible complications for left-turn traffic.
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1 |
-Need lane marking and prohibition.
-Must allow tractor trailers to turn left.
-Washington is wide enough for 3 lanes to Front St.; make
right lane "Right Turn Only" at Front. |
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4 |
Coordinate and/or actuate southbound signals at Christian
and Washington to avoid back-up from Washington |
-Reduce frustration at Christian to encourage doing turn at
Washington Ave |
2 |
-Northbound traffic could be impeded by signal change. |
1 |
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5 |
"No Right Turn" at Christian |
-All southbound vehicles will divert to Washington Ave |
4 |
-Limit QV resident access
-Increase Washington Ave traffic
-Increase traffic on Front St |
4 |
Requires enforcement. |
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C |
Divert Northbound Columbus Blvd. Traffic to Washington Ave. |
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1 |
Improve left turn onto Washington Ave |
-Some vehicles will shunt to Wash Ave |
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a. Add second turning lane |
-Twice as many cars can turn per phase.
-Second lane a longer dedicated queue.
-Reduced interference for thru traffic. |
3 |
-Longer pedestrian crossing (time)
-Must maintain lanes to avoid southbound right turning
traffic |
1 |
-Pedestrian actuation will greatly reduce impact of long
pedestrian phase.
-Move thru lanes towards East.
-Remove bike lanes on Columbus Blvd. |
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b. Lengthen turning queue |
-Perhaps 50% more turning per cycle
-Reduced interference with thru traffic |
2 |
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1 |
-Queue now limits turning capacity.
-Requires moving railroad tracks. |
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c. Lengthen turning time |
-More cars can turn if queue is also lengthened. |
1 |
-Reduce either or both Washington Ave left or Columbus Blvd
southbound.
-Requires longer queue. |
3 |
-Requires longer queue to achieve. |
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d. Add "permitted" turning for left turn |
-Allows left turn during gaps in southbound traffic |
1 |
-Increase chance of turning accident. |
4 |
-No help during peak hours because there will be no gaps. |
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e. Extend left turn phase overlap. |
-More cars can turn
-Reduce the left turn queue blocking thru |
2 |
-Reduce southbound phase time and/or require actuation of
south bound left. |
1 |
-Prefer to actuate south bound left to avoid reducing south
bound thru phase. |
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2 |
No Left Turn to Christian St |
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a. Without Washington Ave left turn improvement |
-All vehicles will divert to Wash Ave |
3 |
-Limit QV resident access
-Overload left turn at Washington Ave
-Miss Washington Ave >> Society Hill
-Increase Washington Ave traffic
-Increase traffic on Front St |
5 |
-Must upgrade left turn to Washington Ave for this to be viable.
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b. With Washington Ave left turn improvement |
-All vehicles will divert to Wash Ave. |
3 |
-Above objections |
3 |
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D |
Divert Eastbound Christian Traffic To Washington |
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1 |
Make Christian St. "One-way going west" |
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a. From Columbus Blvd. to 6th St. |
-Eliminate eastbound traffic on Christian
-Makes left turns (south) safer (esp. 2nd and Moyamensing)
-Improve pedestrian safety (one direction and one lane)
-No left from 2nd to Christian
-Add one lane of parking (north side)
-Eliminate Wawa truck bottleneck
-Eliminate eastbound left into Wawa (dangerous back-up)
-Reduced car/tree damage at 2nd
-Regain "neighborhood street" sense
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5 |
-Increased speed?
-More traffic on other eastbound streets (Queen, Wash Ave)
-More traffic on southbound streets (10th, 8th, esp. 6th)
-Nebinger School is on 6th St.
-Congestion at Passyunk intersection could be severe
-Reduced egress from Bella Vista
-Reduced egress from Queen Village
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5 |
-Single direction increases speed; one lane/ parked cars both sides decreases
speed: Net effect?
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b. From Front St. to 6th St. |
