Here’s a humorous little nugget from the Journal Star Forum today:
New Urbanism making it tougher on Peoria drivers
The Journal Star has often touted Greater Peoria as a 15-minute city, where getting around town is so much easier than in Chicagoland. That claim has been eroded by selfishness and the New Urbanism nonsense.
Years ago, the Peoria Public Works Department was proud of the fact that Knoxville Avenue traffic lights were timed so motorists could go the speed limit and not hit a red light all the way to Downtown. Have you tried to drive Knoxville, from the northern city limits to Downtown, lately? See how many red lights you get to wait at.
North Prospect Road drivers are assaulted by speed humps. Prospect south of War Memorial Drive has driving lanes taken away. Do motorists enjoy following those slow drivers now that they cannot get around them?
May I also mention the closing of old Big Hollow Road to eliminate another route to Glen Hollow shopping? Are motorists appreciative of all of the traffic lights on Sterling? Peoria traffic is looking more like that of a Chicago suburb. Now the city of Peoria wants to take U.S. Highway 24 and narrow it.
New Urbanism is the latest fad that is being used as an excuse to make older parts of Peoria less driver-friendly, in spite of millions invested by IDOT to help motorists, not hinder them.
John Doering
Dunlap
Mr. Doering decries “selfishness,” yet goes on to contend that he personally (or, at best, automobile drivers in general) should never be inconvenienced. Stoplights, pedestrian safety, neighborhood quality of life — all should bow before this mighty Dunlap motorist who wishes to breeze into and out of Peoria without ever having to stop or slow down. Ah, the picture of selflessness and altruism, no?
By the way, IDOT’s mission is not, as Mr. Doering says, to “help motorists.” It is, “to provide safe, cost-effective transportation for Illinois in ways that enhance quality of life, promote economic prosperity, and demonstrate respect for our environment,” according to their website. In other words, it should benefit all people, not just automobile drivers. When planning transportation solutions, IDOT considers the needs and concerns of residents, homeowners, businesses, advocates, and other stakeholders — not just automobile drivers.
And why the New-Urbanism bashing? Of the annoyances he lists, only the proposed narrowing of Washington street was the direct result of New-Urbanist planning. Speed humps went in on Prospect because residents were sick and tired of motorists speeding through their neighborhood. Big Hollow was closed because the Union Pacific bridge was falling apart and needed to be removed. The traffic lights on Sterling and elsewhere certainly have nothing to do with New Urbanism. And while Washington may be narrowed, I-74 was just widened considerably so those (like Mr. Doering) who want to bypass Peoria at high speeds can do so more easily.
So, in the spirit of hospitality, all I have to say to Mr. Doering is, “would you like some cheese with your whine?”