MyWHaT

Previously posted: Dec. 11, 2009:

Should Traverse City rename Division St. to Water St.? Another street name?

If words and names matter, perhaps name changes of our least desirable streets are in order. Like Division St.

This basic idea could be discussed in the context of the current debates over Division St.

“The word Water has a positive energy about it,” said city resident Pat Ivory, the originator of the idea. “It’s both descriptive and beautiful, but it doesn’t over do it. Simple. Strong. Beautiful.”

Ivory has floated the idea that a redesign of one of Traverse City’s most divisive roads should include a name change.

Change the name, change the perception.

Newly elected City Commissioner Maryann Moore had a cautionary, but positive, response to the idea. And why not? If the city is to invest so much time and money into the bay front, why not name the main artery something that celebrates and calls attention to what supposedly is half-our pay (“Half your pay is a view of the bay” is the saying around here).

Simple. Relatively cheap. No risk.

Could a renaming of Division St. to Water St. (or some other name) change of perspective and help lead future design changes?

Are there other streets in need of renaming to reflect our aspirations?

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UPDATE: There was a discussion on my Facebook page that generated alternatives, like Bay BLVD. There were several foot-draggers claiming they and others would still go on calling it Division St., regardless. My neighbor summed up the real issue with the option: “”Slow down and Watch for Pedestrians and Cyclists Street“.

Everything we build–from our individual house to large cities–contains a ‘body language” that tells us about our beliefs, values, and mythologies. And because beliefs values, and mythologies also shape social relationships, the environments we create will reinforce these patterns for social relationships.

–David Engwicht, social innovator in Reclaiming Our Cities.

What social relationships do we value with our current infrastructure?

What about the next wave of redesigns and infill? What values will they represent?

Northern Michigan needs to ask serious questions about the intended and unintended uses for the coming infrastructure changes.

Mayor Chris Bzdok’s Plan for TC project currently lays out the process the city will be discussing at Monday nights study session Rescheduled for Tuesday night “for reclaiming Division St.“

Division St. is the most aptly named street in the city. It divides one side from another. It effectively isolates over 500 acres of parkland, the Grand Traverse Commons and Munson Hospital. The priority for the street is moving automobiles.

Mayor Bzdok’s latest post sums up the back-story well:

Last spring, thanks largely to the efforts of TART’s Bob Otwell and then-Mayor Michael Estes, MDOT agreed to put on hold an asphalt replacement project that would have locked in the status quo for 10 more years.  The goal is to do something better. The MDOT Director remains enthusiastic about the Grand Vision, and specifically about re-doing Division St in a way that will help our city instead of just imposing on it.  Based on that conversation, this Monday the city commission will review a proposed road map for fixing Division St.

Imagine a speed reduction on Division St. that increased traffic flow and improved the neighborhood feel and accessibility of non-motorized vehicles. Designs are out there that can achieve this, but it requires political will to understand and support that work. (photo/illustration: Gary L Howe)

This new road-map is what the city commission will be discussing at Monday night’s study session. The city aims to hire an experienced contractor in street calming engineering and design to develop an alternative option. This is a welcomed opportunity and the hope is that the outcome will be “state of the art.“

The process includes citizen involvement in working with the consultants for the re-design with an outcome to emerge by April.  All of the right priorities include, “slowing traffic; safe crossings at 14th, 11th, 7th, Front, and the Parkway; better access to the Commons and Munson; and safe non-motorized infrastructure up and down the length of the corridor.“

A further point for the city to consider is that taking the street down to three lanes and bike lanes might be a win-win for all. Done right, it can increase automobile flow, while at the same time expanding choices & safety for active modes of transportation. It would also improve conditions for adjacent neighborhoods.

New road designs have shown that a reduction of car speeds can create a more consistent, but slower flow through neighborhood corridors like Division St. by allowing more cars per mile to pass through. Think of it like marching 1st graders into lunch, life is better for everyone when there is a controlled line and not a free for all.

This option may also be accomplished without the city being asked to convert any parkland to roads.

Monday Tuesday night’s meeting will be a good barometer for how serious the city commissioners want to proceed in making Traverse City a model for complete street implementation.

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The City Commission meeting will be held at 7PM in the Commission Chambers on the 2nd Floor of the Governmental Center building, 400 Boardman Avenue, Traverse City.