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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
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
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
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
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.