Greater Englewood N. A.

Feb. 21: Comments presented to the City Council Subcommittee

Feb 23, 2002

The below page and also maps were presented to the Council. A statement was voiced to the Subcommittee by Gena VP against the overpass at Beach and University Blvds.
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ALTERNATIVES TO AN OVERPASS AT UNIVERSITY AND BEACH BOULEVARDS

As Vice President of Greater Englewood Neighborhood Association, I thank you for the opportunity to open a discussion. The discussion is to address the merits of using the Hart Expressway to reduce the unnecessary amount of traffic flow on Beach Blvd. The Hart Expressway (Hart) is well below capacity during off peak hours.

There are four areas addressed below, all involving the Hart.

Provide access to the Emerson Expressway (Emerson) for traffic going and coming from the east. Presently, the only connection is for Emerson traffic going and coming from the west. This would require ramps and/or a fly-over, the most costly being westbound to Emerson. There is plenty of land at this location available for this use.

Examine the area where Spring Glen Road ends at Hart. At this location, provide an interchange. Also if the above interchange is built, examine the possibility of connecting Spring Glen Road with Atlantic Blvd. through existing roads. This change would be costly, although no more so than an overpass at Beach Blvd. and University Blvd.

The third improvement would require removing the partial cloverleaf at Hart and University Blvd. Construct a simple intersection using four ramps and signal lights to allow safe traffic movement. These ramps would hug the sides of the Hart and provide a compact intersection. Signal lights would allow safe right and left turns.

The last change is to construct a Ramp in the area of East Street. This Ramp would allow eastbound traffic to move from the Hart to Beach Blvd. Through a signal light controlled intersection, the traffic could then proceed to make a right or left turn onto Beach Blvd. The main purpose is to allow traffic to turn left, stay in the right lane for right turns onto Parental Home Road. Presently, Hart traffic is unable to make a right onto Parental Home Road in a safe manner. This change would also reduce the traffic burden on Foster to the east.

Possible problems to correct with the above changes:

An examination of the Art Museum Drive access to Hart needs to be made, also the needs and wants of the Bartram and Hogan Road communities. To allay the fears of Hogan Road Neighborhood Association, cross traffic off the Ramp to Beach Blvd. from Hart would not be allowed (that is to say, eastbound movements from the Hart via Ramp to Beach would only be allowed to make a right or left turn and not straight across to Hogan).

I thank the Council.