McDowell Rd near 7th Ave.

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This is an idea that was under discussion a few years ago but was not pursued. It is not mine but I'm aware of some of the conceptual thinking and it deserves to be here as a placeholder. I can find additional detail or I expect others will be able to chip in.

In a nutshell, McDowell Rd, from at least 15th Ave to Central, is a main thoroughfare with 5 traffic lanes that bisects 4 historic districts. There is a mix of commercial, now new retail (at 7th Ave) and residential in that corridor. Traffic is heavy and cars travel at high speeds for a surface street. The sidewalks are right next to the outer lane of traffic in both directions.

Case in point: I live in FQ Story near 11th Ave, south of McDowell. When we walk to the businesses on 7th Ave, we must decide to use McDowell or 7th Ave. Either is dangerous, especially with our young son. That should not be.

We need to promote pedestrianism in these neighborhoods by managing the traffic and buffering the sidewalks from the street surface. At this time, there are 2 way center turn lanes but they are paint only and offer little safety for cars making turns into the neighborhoods.

There was a preliminary plan to address the McDowell corridor from the Fairgrounds (19th Ave) to the 51 which included more historic districts and neighborhoods. The idea was promote better and safer pedestrian activity in each of these districts and to support the businesses that front McDowell Rd via traffic calming and other enhancements.

Details to follow with proper credit to those that spent so much time on this previously.