In order to improve safety and divert traffic for pedestrians and motorists, the University Street and Main Street intersection added on-street parking, sidewalk ramps, a raised crossroad and 30-second periods of traffic standstill for pedestrians to cross diagonally across the streets. The changes this spring also reduced lanes from five to three.
“I believe safety at the intersection needed to be addressed,” Renee Charles, university spokesperson and executive director of public relations, said. “There were several public forums and input sessions held during this process where people, not only from the university, spoke passionately about this issue.”
However, five months after the intersection was reopened, there are mixed reviews about the redesign and motorists said they especially remain frustrated.
According to The Scout’s online survey open to Bradley students, employees and community members, 64 percent of motorists are dissatisfied with the remodel.
“[The intersection] sucks if you’re in a car,” Max Rydell, sophomore management and administration major, said. “Everyone is compressed down into one lane, you can’t turn right on red, the walk cycle stops everyone—I have to drive all the way around campus [to avoid traffic].”
Traffic may also prevent the use of the new on-street parking. Only 33 percent of those surveyed have utilized the new parking spaces.
“The added parking spots are nice, but during heavy traffic, they’re nearly impossible to get out of,” alumna and community member Shawna Ford said.
Although the additional parking aimed to attract more customers for local businesses, car congestion may be causing problems.
“Traffic is constantly backed up to the interstate,” alumnus and community member Becky Petrany said. “It’s very hard to get to any of the businesses, so I no longer even try.”
According to One World owner Sam Eid, however, there has not been a change in customer turnout for his business after the remodel.
“Business-wise, I don’t think anybody here can complain,” he said. “I know some of the businesses around here and I don’t think it affects any of them.”
Eid said One World has received customer complaints about long waits at the lights, but he hopes people will adjust to the new intersection.
“It’s like the old saying ‘a watched pot never boils’— when you are sitting there at the light for 30 or 40 seconds, it seems like a longer time,” he said. “We are staying really positive about [the intersection]. It’s not as bad as everybody says.”
From a pedestrian’s perspective, 44 percent of those surveyed are satisfied with the intersection, and 30 percent remain neutral.
“[The redesign is] aesthetically pleasing,” Rydell said. “The B’s and the bricks that are near the corners look really nice. It is also nice to legally jaywalk.”
However, the new 30-second free walking period may be cause confusion among some walkers.
“The intersection is great for pedestrians, but many still don’t understand the diagonal crossing system,” Ford said.
According to Charles, the issue with the intersection is pedestrians and motorists need to know how to use it properly.
“That means as a pedestrian, waiting until the all-walk [phase] before crossing instead of trying to dodge across when you see a break in traffic and as a driver, not making illegal turns and following the signals,” she said.
Eid said the all-walk period may be at the root of the problem with the redesign.
“My solution was always that I think the only thing that slows down traffic is when you push that button for the pedestrians [to walk all ways],” Eid said. “If they returned the walk button to where it’s just normal, you cross one way or the other, it might appease some of the naysayers.”
Others, however, are in favor of the free walking period.
“As a driver it means there is a set time when everyone can walk so if I am making a legal right turn there shouldn’t be a pedestrian trying to cross and my path should be clear,” Charles said. “As a pedestrian, I know when I have the walk signal, there should be no vehicles making a right turn and I am free to move about.”
Although only 23 percent of those surveyed are satisfied with the overall changes brought to the intersection, Charles said she hopes people will adjust, and she believes it is a positive change for the area.
“The city continues to work on the timing of the lights in order to help the flow of traffic and monitor the area to determine if other work is needed,” she said.
