samagon 3406 Posted July 29, 2020 Share Posted July 29, 2020 I haven't seen this anywhere, but it is asking for input, both in the form of pins on a map, and survey for ways to reduce deaths on the streets of Houston. https://www.houstontx.gov/visionzero/index.html 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HouTXRanger 300 Posted Wednesday at 12:04 AM Share Posted Wednesday at 12:04 AM (edited) Just saw this today: That terrible intersection at Bagby/Elgin/Westheimer is finally getting some work done, looks like Bagby is losing that crappy turn lane AND a travel lane! Really awesome small scale stuff. Hope we get to see more soon! https://mailchi.mp/houstontx/montrose-midtown-initiative Edited Wednesday at 12:04 AM by HouTXRanger 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Triton 12021 Posted Wednesday at 05:51 AM Share Posted Wednesday at 05:51 AM Maybe I don't understand the final design here but why such a sharp right turn now? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wilcal 1958 Posted Wednesday at 11:12 AM Share Posted Wednesday at 11:12 AM 5 hours ago, Triton said: Maybe I don't understand the final design here but why such a sharp right turn now? It is right where Elgin transitions to Westheimer and the curb will align with that transition. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
trymahjong 614 Posted Wednesday at 11:36 AM Share Posted Wednesday at 11:36 AM There is also discussion on this intersection in the Montrose section Under thread “ M “ monument. District C has monies to pay for cut removal and barricades to close down right hand turn lane going south on Bagby towards Westheimer Quote Link to post Share on other sites
samagon 3406 Posted Wednesday at 01:53 PM Author Share Posted Wednesday at 01:53 PM shall there no longer be the ability to turn right onto Westheimer from Bagby? while this might be great news for the walkability of that intersection, it seems it's bad news for Avondale and Helena, as that's how people are going to end up turning right. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Texasota 3143 Posted Wednesday at 02:12 PM Share Posted Wednesday at 02:12 PM Why would this eliminate turning right? It just turns it into a normal 3 way intersection. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
samagon 3406 Posted Wednesday at 03:07 PM Author Share Posted Wednesday at 03:07 PM perhaps I am reading HouTXranger's post wrong? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Texasota 3143 Posted Wednesday at 03:36 PM Share Posted Wednesday at 03:36 PM They're removing the little slip lane that currently serves as the means by which you turn right onto Westheimer. That *could* mean they are also eliminating right turn lanes completely, but they definitely don't have to. I'm also not sure why they would. All we've seen is this rough illustration, so we don't actually know what the final configuration will look like. But eliminating right turns would be a choice they would make that is not required by eliminating the little chunk of lane they're talking about. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HouTXRanger 300 Posted Wednesday at 06:18 PM Share Posted Wednesday at 06:18 PM I don't see why they would eliminate the ability to make right turns. It is still a major street and all. The biggest thing is eliminating the slip lane and shortening the number of lanes people have to cross. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Texasota 3143 Posted Wednesday at 07:43 PM Share Posted Wednesday at 07:43 PM Also, for what it's worth, the planned Lower Westheimer rebuild (http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/transportation/CMP/LowerWestheimer/docs_pdfs/intersections.pdf), which includes this project, has Bagby as 2 southbound lanes and a dedicated turn lane. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wilcal 1958 Posted Wednesday at 08:38 PM Share Posted Wednesday at 08:38 PM 55 minutes ago, Texasota said: Also, for what it's worth, the planned Lower Westheimer rebuild (http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/transportation/CMP/LowerWestheimer/docs_pdfs/intersections.pdf), which includes this project, has Bagby as 2 southbound lanes and a dedicated turn lane. That is honestly the way it should be. There is a 0% chance that right turns will be eliminated. It is just the slip lane that is being removed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
samagon 3406 Posted Wednesday at 08:43 PM Author Share Posted Wednesday at 08:43 PM 5 hours ago, Texasota said: They're removing the little slip lane that currently serves as the means by which you turn right onto Westheimer. That *could* mean they are also eliminating right turn lanes completely, but they definitely don't have to. I'm also not sure why they would. All we've seen is this rough illustration, so we don't actually know what the final configuration will look like. But eliminating right turns would be a choice they would make that is not required by eliminating the little chunk of lane they're talking about. that's exactly how I read it, which means a right turn will be a very acute angle (a cute angel?). which is why I theorize that people will choose Avondale and Helena as the 'easier' right turn. 1 hour ago, Texasota said: Also, for what it's worth, the planned Lower Westheimer rebuild (http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/transportation/CMP/LowerWestheimer/docs_pdfs/intersections.pdf), which includes this project, has Bagby as 2 southbound lanes and a dedicated turn lane. this actually shows a much easier turn than the other picture depicts. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Texasota 3143 Posted Wednesday at 09:13 PM Share Posted Wednesday at 09:13 PM Again, the other picture is meant to be broadly representative of what's planned. It's not necessarily showing the exact angles of the final project or anything. But even if it were, do you really think that people would avoid it because its a somewhat tighter right turn than normal? Just to have to then jog right back to Westheimer on Helena? I find that hard to believe. But then it doesn't look like a particularly difficult turn to me. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Triton 12021 Posted Wednesday at 10:05 PM Share Posted Wednesday at 10:05 PM 49 minutes ago, Texasota said: Again, the other picture is meant to be broadly representative of what's planned. It's not necessarily showing the exact angles of the final project or anything. But even if it were, do you really think that people would avoid it because its a somewhat tighter right turn than normal? Just to have to then jog right back to Westheimer on Helena? I find that hard to believe. But then it doesn't look like a particularly difficult turn to me. This sort of right turn would be just fine: This right turn, on the other hand, would absolutely pose an issue for trucks bringing in supplies to businesses down Westheimer: That's way too sharp a right turn and you would undoubtedly see that curb taking heavy damage with people constantly running over it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hindesky 50507 Posted Wednesday at 10:56 PM Share Posted Wednesday at 10:56 PM (edited) I use the far right lane all the time to get into my neighborhood in my car and bicycle, I really like it and now I'm going to have to fight everyone else to be able to get to the Hawthorne lane. Losing that angled lane to get on Westheimer is really going to gum up the intersection. Like Triton said trucks are going to take up all the lanes to get on Westheimer by swinging really wide. They need to add a timed light like on the protected lanes on Austin, Lamar and Gray St. for bicycles. Edited Thursday at 01:19 PM by hindesky Edit: Missing word. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Texasota 3143 Posted Thursday at 12:00 AM Share Posted Thursday at 12:00 AM I doubt they're planning this, but they could do a low curb that trucks could drive over that cars would still need to go around. It would be interesting to find out how many trucks actually make this turn though. I genuinely have no idea, but planning for truck routing is one of those less sexy things that never gets enough attention. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wilcal 1958 Posted Thursday at 12:26 AM Share Posted Thursday at 12:26 AM 1 hour ago, hindesky said: I use the far right lane all the time to into my neighborhood in my car and bicycle, I really like it and now I'm going to have to fight everyone else to be able to get to the Hawthorne lane. Losing that angled lane to get on Westheimer is really going to gum up the intersection. Like Triton said trucks are going to take up all the lanes to get on Westheimer by swinging really wide. They need to add a timed light like on the protected lanes on Austin, Lamar and Gray St. for bicycles. I lived in Westmoreland for years, and I agree with what you are saying, BUT I think that there are a good number of people that don't know that the lane ends and it causes a safety hazard. Seems like the pedestrian signal at the forced turn gets knocked down every few months. I have never in years can ever remember a time where I have had to wait on the light for more than 1 cycle. Basically, minor inconvenience for Westhmoreland residents < safety concerns. Those cycle crossing lights are basically as valuable as gold for some reason. The ones that they needed to complete Gray were delayed almost a year. I think the city is going to put in a two-way bikeway on Brazos (I know, less than desirable) and are working on ways to connect it to the neighborhood bikeway that goes down Hawthorne and into Midtown at the Spur. 20 minutes ago, Texasota said: I doubt they're planning this, but they could do a low curb that trucks could drive over that cars would still need to go around. It would be interesting to find out how many trucks actually make this turn though. I genuinely have no idea, but planning for truck routing is one of those less sexy things that never gets enough attention. That seems like a design fail to me. Honestly, I'm worried enough as it is and wish that they would include bollards to protect pedestrians no matter how "loose" the angle is. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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