Gunbarrel Traffic
| |
The Final Adoption Draft of the Gunbarrel Community Center Plan addresses this issue
in the Transportation Network Plan section.
“Increased traffic congestion is a major concern for residents in the community
(Ed: an understatement!). A traffic study performed for the Gunbarrel Community
Center Plan shows that traffic congestion will worsen with growth under the current
land use zoning pattern. The changes proposed in this plan will result in similar
growth in overall traffic congestion but will show improvements during the peak hours
of the day (rush hour). The conversion of potential industrial uses to residential
uses as proposed in the plan will result in less congestion in the morning and
evening rush hours because residential and retail land uses are less intensive
during peak periods compared to office and industrial land uses. Adding more
housing close to a job center will result in fewer and shorter vehicle trips
occurring on roads during peak hours. In addition, improved street connections
and bicycle facilities as shown in the plan will also help to relieve some congestion
on Lookout Road and 63rd Street.”
The concept of converting industrial land in Gunbarrel to retail development is
something the Gunbarrel community must come to understand. The amount of future
development, in terms of square feet, is limited by FAR (floor area ratio, the ratio
between developed square feet and building lot square feet). In essence, a building
site will accept a given number of square feet of development that is limited by the
number of stories that can be built on it. Whether those square feet are residential,
commercial, or industrial does not change the FAR significantly. However, the number
of square feet required to support an employee on the job is far smaller than that
required to support that person in a residential environment.
For example, a typical office environment might have two employees in a 100 square
foot office. But, those two employees will each live in a residence of 1000 square
feet or more. So 1000 square feet of residence will generate two commuter trips a
day but 1000 square feet of employment will generate 40 commuter trips a day, 20 times
as many. So, we should be looking at more ways to convert current industrial zoned
land in Gunbarrel to residential use to mitigate traffic growth. That is what this
plan is saying.
However, having said that, it is disappointing to learn that the Gunbarrel Community
Center planners, knowing that traffic in Gunbarrel is bad already, have not taken
sufficient measures to accommodate its growth. The plan area encompasses 111 acres.
Some is already developed and will redevelop under this plan. The remainder is
undeveloped now and will be developed for the first time under this plan. There
is no better time than now to plan for the increased traffic. It will be too late
after then plan is adopted and development starts. We want more transportation
improvements to be mandated by this plan.
Click on the links below to see other relevant information.
Street and Transit Improvements
Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements
|
page updated 11/29/03
|
