Just spitballin' here: how about making this intersection a roundabout? Either with FPP at grade or below?
Unless you envision something I don't—with an at grade intersection, from sidewalk to sidewalk, FFP will become about 10 lanes wide, Grand is about 6 or 7. That's a huge concrete square. I was just in the sprawling suburbs of car-centric Phoenix and they have some amazingly, wide-open intersections. It would be like that, but maybe wider.Alex Ihnen wrote:What about an at-grade intersection is suburban? I think it's the opposite. Separated roadways and intersections are the definition of suburban development patterns.shadrach wrote:An at-grade intersection will make that area seem very bland and incredibly suburban.
If you reduce the number of the lanes on FPP, then the building setback will be greater, creating something akin suburban front lawns. If you add a park-like, tree-lined median in the middle, say 2-3 lanes wide, you still may have the janky 'cars stuck in the intersection' everyone's been complaining about. Whatever that resolution (striping/traffic-control signage,) it could also be the resolution for the current situation.
Again, if you have a vision I don't (I'm serious and not being snarky) please explain.
Personally, I like the bridge/depression from a visually standpoint. I've never walked around there like Chaifetz has. And yes, it is falling apart and a real bone-shaker to drive.
^ Certainly can understand the point with Grand a massive amount of pavement on this stretch and the intersection it will create. Nor can I claim to be a pedestrian user of Grand. I will claim my two successful St. Louis GO marathons running under Grand Ave bridge when I could run that distance once upon a time 
To me, the vision is a Grand Ave streetcar down the middle, at grade intersection with FPP and Great Streets initiative extended from Grand Center all the way to I-64. Metro's bigger buses will be a plus, the new Grand streetscape will be a plus. The next step is too expand upon it with a vision that brings back a sense of Grand not in terms of number of lanes but character in line with an ever growing educational, art and cultural presence of Grand Center.
To me, the vision is a Grand Ave streetcar down the middle, at grade intersection with FPP and Great Streets initiative extended from Grand Center all the way to I-64. Metro's bigger buses will be a plus, the new Grand streetscape will be a plus. The next step is too expand upon it with a vision that brings back a sense of Grand not in terms of number of lanes but character in line with an ever growing educational, art and cultural presence of Grand Center.
That would be a great! I would love to see a grand avenue street car line from the north grand water tower to carondelet park.dredger wrote:^ Certainly can understand the point with Grand a massive amount of pavement on this stretch and the intersection it will create. Nor can I claim to be a pedestrian user of Grand. I will claim my two successful St. Louis GO marathons running under Grand Ave bridge when I could run that distance once upon a time
To me, the vision is a Grand Ave streetcar down the middle, at grade intersection with FPP and Great Streets initiative extended from Grand Center all the way to I-64. Metro's bigger buses will be a plus, the new Grand streetscape will be a plus. The next step is too expand upon it with a vision that brings back a sense of Grand not in terms of number of lanes but character in line with an ever growing educational, art and cultural presence of Grand Center.
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Here's the template for that intersection:
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It shows five-six lanes depending on the street. That's the same or maybe a lane less than Lindell/Kingshighway. That intersection isn't the best, but it has a lot of pedestrian traffic and is vastly better for pedestrians than FP @ Grand. The city is quite conservative when changing city streets and they know there isn't enough traffic at FP/Grand to justify a grade-separated intersection (all in addition to the fact that the current configuration is dangerous and confusing).
It shows five-six lanes depending on the street. That's the same or maybe a lane less than Lindell/Kingshighway. That intersection isn't the best, but it has a lot of pedestrian traffic and is vastly better for pedestrians than FP @ Grand. The city is quite conservative when changing city streets and they know there isn't enough traffic at FP/Grand to justify a grade-separated intersection (all in addition to the fact that the current configuration is dangerous and confusing).
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I would hope they would do a big roundabout. If Europe can do it with more lanes than this, I think we could too... Maybe a nice art piece in the middle... Or more likely a random sculpture ...
How about a colorful abstract sculpture in the middle of a fountain surrounded by a fence with fleur-de-lis decoration?symphonyplayer wrote:I would hope they would do a big roundabout. If Europe can do it with more lanes than this, I think we could too... Maybe a nice art piece in the middle... Or more likely a random sculpture ...
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^^Could we make it a dog park and cap it with a green pyramid roof?
While we're joking about this, does anyone know if the "art" proliferating around SLU has been Biondi's personal choices? If so, with his departure what are the chances of getting some of it replaced with something of a higher caliber (or at least thinned out!)? Surely Grand Center, touting itself as an art destination, can't be too thrilled with the artistic merit of some of the sculptures gracing the area...
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I was just over there the other day walking from campus to Starbucks and it looked like they were widening the sidewalks on both sides where Grand goes over FPA. Does anybody know anything about this?
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I believe they sacrificed a traffic lane to widen the sidewalks and add a bike lane.
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Good, I'm glad it's what I thought it was. I'm surprised SLU allowed it to remain in its former dangerous condition as long as it did, especially with a dorm located on the south side of FPA. Now if they could just put a tunnel under Grand...
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Has Metro ever considered some sort of dedicated "last-mile" transit from the Metro Station to a destination. Or private enterprise for that matter. Would more people take Metro to the Fox if they knew there would be, say, all-weather rikshaw's or carts to take them that last mile up Grand Boulevard to the theater? How about this for a dedicated driverless solution someday.
http://youtu.be/rjUOs0XX9iQ
http://youtu.be/rjUOs0XX9iQ
Alex—thanks for sharing the schematic. It helps and the wider sidewalks in front of Jimmy Johns/Six Row will be a pedestrian relief And if anything is built where Raiffe Vending used to stand, like the long proposed hotel, it may makes the area come alive with pedestrian activity. Not sold completely just yet, but I see the definitely see the pros to the plan.
^ We need these type of murals all over the city. Obviously Grand Center should have a smattering of murals, but the city could really use some color. Philadelphia has a huge amount of murals and it really makes the city more aesthetically pleasing.
Note that the new mural is (or will be) interactive. Using your smartphone, you can access hidden layers. Or something like that.
http://www.grandcenter.org/news/grand-c ... nnounces-/
http://www.grandcenter.org/news/grand-c ... nnounces-/
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On the subject of Fr. Biondi's departure from SLU, St. Louis Magazine has published a well-written piece profiling the... shall we say... complex legacy of Biondi and his tenure at SLU. I recommend it.
http://www.stlmag.com/St-Louis-Magazine ... ce-Biondi/
http://www.stlmag.com/St-Louis-Magazine ... ce-Biondi/
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I see this weekend, Slu has more neon blue up. This time its on the underside of the light poles that line Lindell street east to Compton from Grand ... Anyone else see this? Pretty soon the whole area will just be covered in neon blue...
I noticed that as well. I think they should mix it up a bit with some other colors. They also changed the street lights to LEDs.symphonyplayer wrote:I see this weekend, Slu has more neon blue up. This time its on the underside of the light poles that line Lindell street east to Compton from Grand ... Anyone else see this? Pretty soon the whole area will just be covered in neon blue...
I rather like the blue neon. It definitely adds life to an area that otherwise doesn't have much population and kind of has a guilded age feel to it. I would like to see more if it downtown (maybe red for cardinals). And more banners and things on buildings in general. I kind of have a dream that every large bare wall in the city should have huge murals or a screen.
Does the City just let SLU do whatever they want, wherever and whenever?
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^ well, the alderman certainly does. btw, has the Pevely rubble been hauled away yet?
I'm sure SLU paid for those lights. If SLU is going to pay for new lights and wants to add some blue, I'm sure the Street Lighting department is all for it. No money taken out of their budget, and they get new lighting which they won't have to maintain for years. I think its kind of hard to complain when SLU is paying for something that is typically a city cost.Does the City just let SLU do whatever they want, wherever and whenever?