Three months ago, GObike Buffalo used grant money to transform the intersection of Parkside and Linden avenues in North Buffalo into a reimagined passage, after years of safety complaints from residents and data revealed heightened danger for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.
Traffic lanes narrowed, curbs widened, crosswalks were clarified and a bike lane was introduced to make the intersection accessible and safe for all.
Traffic slowed – some might say too much.
GObike’s temporary pilot has concluded, with teardown slated for early this week. The City of Buffalo Department of Public Works, Parks and Streets has begun to remove pavement and street markings ahead of introducing its interim design that will be in place for 18 to 24 months.
Meanwhile, a process toward determining a permanent design begins early next year, with $3 million secured through federal, state and local funding. The goal is for a permanent intersection design to be in place in 2025.
“Our consultant will be looking at the GObike data and the interim data together,” Nolan R. Skipper, Department of Public Works deputy commissioner of engineering, said Thursday, one day after presenting information to a throng of community members at Parkside Lutheran Church. He said the pilot accumulated valuable data, including vehicle speeds and volumes at the intersection.
The city’s interim layout will be an adjustment for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists, but Skipper said the “fully controlled” intersection promotes safe passage for pedestrians and drivers. The vast majority of GObike’s bollards…
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