West St. Catherine Neighborhood Association

I have been against this change from the beginning but my opinion was never really taken into consideration when this supposed ''great improvement'' was proposed. I have spoken to several from the office that did the traffic, the traffic study should the change to two-way traffic was a bad idea but it was done anyway by the higher ups. Has anyone from the neighboorhood seen these studies? I haven't been able to park my vehicle in front of my own home where I have lived for over 20 years for fear that it will be totaled, I must park in a dark lot behind my house where there are shady characters roaming at all hours. All concerns I have posed to my alderman have been ignored. I have had many near misses at the corner of 3rd & St Catherine, it is only a matter of time until someone gets badly hurt or killed. I recomend that the street be returned to one-way, the old way, the only resonable way. Thank you for letting me vent on this.

By Mary Jo

Re: 2-way traffic

Well, Mary Jo--I have a different view. When we moved into our house, in the 500 block, a year ago, we couldn't park in front of our house at all, for six hours a day. There was a serious accident at the corner of 6th and St. C., once a week, without fail.
St. Catherine was a one-way, three-lane thoroughfare, from Germantown to Eighth St., with timed lights, so that drivers didn't have to think about slowing down.
Long-time residents of the area told me that the ''weekly wreck'' was a tradition, of sorts, dating back generations.
Since the street has become two-way, not only can I park in front of my house all day, for the first time (nice for me, since I work at home), but there hasn't been a single wreck at the formerly deadly intersection.
Truck traffic has diminished, a bit, and people who used to view St. Catherine as a fast-lane west have changed their routes.
All of this has improved my quality of life, and, I believe, raised the value of my property. Sorry to disagree so totally, but that's my view...
Why don't you try parking in front of your house, for a change? You might find it much safer than you think.
--Jon

reply

The traffic is now not worse than befor but more dangerous. With the one lane in both directions of St Catherine some take it on thierselves to turn it into 2 lanes and try to race to get by you. I personally will admit to having several close calls and the latest one being just the other day. The front end of my car would have been ripped apart. Trucks going through the neighboorhood may have lowered but now they are coming both directions. Safer? I dont think so. There was just recently a terrible accident on 7th and St Catherine with a semi and he total a parked car. Imagine if there were people in that car. People still park on the wrong side of the road. I still want to pull in front of my own home but not with the way things are now. As for property value, this two way traffic has nothing to do with it. Stop and actually look at the people who are traveling our roads. I wouldnt buy a house in the neighborhood with what I have seen. We need to concentrate on the drug houses, the vagrants, and security of the area, that would improve your property value. Of course that is once again my opinion.

By Mary Jo

reply

Mary Jo, the totalled car you mentioned was my sister-in-law's, and ours was damaged in the accident. Nevertheless, I am 100% with Jon on this issue. Over the last several years the change to 2-way traffic has been discussed extensively at OLNC and WSCNA meetings; even an irregular attender of these meetings (like me) had plenty of opportunity to air my opinion. Even though we had the misfortune with the truck, it was bad driving, not two-way traffic, that caused the accident: I look at the neighborhood-wide consequences, and Jon is right about the way that one-way traffic encouraged speeding and running red lights--consequently, some really bad wrecks at your corner and ours. There may be some uneasy moments as people adjust to the new traffic pattern, but adjustment happens with all changes, even good ones, which this is. Now that it's a done deal, let's begin to work on some of the other problems you mention at the end of your last posting. I, for one, am 100% in your camp on those security issues.