Reducing 2 lanes of traffic down to 1 will not help
From the recent public presentation about the 7th St Corridor, it was stated that Horizon to Patterson & Teller Ave to Grand Ave are in consideration to go from 2 lanes down to 1 (in either direction).
I would like to ask that the City of GJ re-consider that lane reduction in these areas...
Horizon to Patterson:
I drive 7th St northbound through Patterson multiple times a week (during rush hour). When northbound traffic is stopped at a red light at Patterson, both northbound lanes on 7th St frequently get backed up to Wellington Ave. The left-lane traffic will continue north on 7th toward Paradise Hills, the right-lane traffic will turn right onto Horizon.
If you changed that stretch of 7th St to 1 lane each direction, then ALL that northbound traffic will have to funnel to 1 lane BEFORE the light at Patterson. The traffic backups will extend much further back than Wellington Ave, possibly back to Bookcliff Ave. 7th St (northbound) already funnels down to 1 lane after half the cars exit onto Horizon Dr. There is no benefit to funnel cars down to one lane in an area (south of Patterson) that is already very congested. This will create more traffic jams blocking other intersections, more congestion, and more stop-and-go which will increase the risk of rear-ending.
Teller Ave to Grand Ave:
I predict a similar problem on 7th Ave at Grand Ave if you reduced the 2 lanes to 1 lane just north of Grand Ave in the Historic District. Northbound traffic on 7th Ave will have to funnel to 1 lane BEFORE the light at Grand Ave. This will cause backups extending south past White Ave and possible back to Rood Ave.
The data may show acceptable traffic flow rates right now (with 2 lanes), but that data doesn't consider that traffic will have to FIRST funnel together BEFORE it reaches a part of the road that is narrowed from 2 lanes to 1.
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