Published Saturday, July 25, 2009 12:08 AM
Northgate look may shift
By CASSIE SMITH
cassie.smith@theeagle.com
Pedestrians cross at the intersection of University Drive and College Main Street.
An artist's rendering depict plans for a Northgate face-lift that calls for College Main Street to be closed to vehicle traffic from University Drive to Church Avenue. Bicycle lanes would remain.
An artist's rendering depict plans for a Northgate face-lift that calls for expanding the sidewalk along Northgate directly across the street from Texas A&M University.
College Station's Northgate entertainment district could get a $2 million face-lift that includes a pedestrian plaza and a street cafe.
The proposal would close two blocks of College Main Street to vehicle traffic and remove 11 parking spaces from University Drive, but officials who are designing the project say the changes are necessary to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety at the popular nightspot.
The plan being developed by the Texas Department of Transportation, the city of College Station and Texas A&M University is in the early stages, and no decisions have been finalized. Input from residents and business owners will be sought before final plans are presented for City Council approval, officials said.
"We still have a lot of hurdles to cross," said Maury Jacob, TxDOT's Bryan district landscape architect and pedestrian coordinator. "The problem is here and now, and it's only going to get worse. While we can look to the future for long-term solutions, we also need to deal with some of the problems we have now."
Initial plans call for College Main Street to be closed to vehicle traffic from University Drive to Church Avenue, creating a pedestrian plaza. Bicycle lanes would remain.
Vehicle traffic is already restricted in the area three nights a week to ensure the safety of pedestrians walking to and from the bars, Jacob said. Making the closure permanent would better serve the area, he said.
The project also proposes replacing the turn lane on University Drive with a nine-foot-wide raised grass median that would let pedestrians cross six lanes of traffic instead of seven. If pedestrians got caught in the middle of the busy street, they would be able to safely wait for the next light instead of trying to dodge traffic, Jacob said.
"Existing crosswalks are a brisk walk for the young and healthy. With no median refuges and inadequate queuing space at the landings, disabled pedestrians find street crossings challenging, even at off-peak periods," Jacob said.
The project could also remove 11 parking spaces along University Drive at Northgate to make room for a street cafe with tables and umbrellas.
Jacob said that the project's designers recognized the importance of parking to area businesses but that a street cafe could draw more customers to stores.
The cafe would be enclosed by a wall to help prevent students from jaywalking.
The intersection of University Drive and College Main Street is among the city's most dangerous for pedestrians and bicyclists, said Bob Appleton, TxDOT's Bryan district director of transportation planning and development. It's also the intersection with the highest concentration of pedestrians and bicyclists, he said.
Jacob said planners were still working on how delivery trucks would unload along University Drive with a wall around the cafe area. Appleton said the current system of trucks blocking a lane of traffic to unload was dangerous.
Appleton said increasing safety was the primary goal of the project.
"The emphasis is on walking up to the business and providing for a pedestrian-friendly environment at some of these locations. Traffic efficiency may have to take a second tier," he said.
The project as planned would also enhance the Wellborn Road ramp, remove some driveways on University Drive and create a four-way intersection at Boyett Street.
TxDOT is working with Texas A&M in an effort to connect the pedestrian plaza with Houston Street across University Drive. That would tie Northgate to the university's Military Walk, a pedestrian greenway that links Sbisa Dining Hall to the Memorial Student Center complex. The university already has plans to renovate Military Walk.
Texas A&M Vice President for Facilities Chuck Sippial said the Northgate project should be able to mesh with the university's effort to realign campus streets and redevelop the area dormitories.
"We certainly are trying to do everything we can to lessen that safety hazard that currently exists," Sippial said.
College Station Mayor Ben White said council members had approved the concept for the project, which would be funded with state money, but want to make sure residents have a chance to voice their opinions before a final plan is crafted.
White said he'd like to see pedestrian safety improved but didn't want Northgate to lose its appeal.
"I think it has its own little ambiance and flavor," White said.
College Station Economic Development Director David Gwin said that city officials were aware that the plan would draw some critics and that the community's input would be considered.
"I think TxDOT and the university both are sensitive to the fact that we have other users out there that could be potentially impacted, and we want to make sure we're doing the right thing as we move this forward," Gwin said.
"Everything we do in Northgate is very complex, and it has a number of related issues, and while there are a number of negatives that are detractors, there are also a bunch of benefits," Gwin said.
Loupot's Bookstore General Manager Shri Parchure said daytime pedestrian traffic had declined to almost nothing compared to what it was 30 years ago.
He called the proposal to remove parking and create a plaza a "horrible" idea that would make it more difficult for people to get to the businesses.
If people don't have a place to park, stores will close and there will be no reason for pedestrians to use the plaza, he said.
"Why come to Northgate if no businesses are left?" Parchure said.
Comments
[comment]
16 comment(s) found!
Posted by:
doug On:
Monday, July 27, 2009 11:47 PM
Comment Title: porto-public..
great, give the hobos yet another reason to loiter around northgate. as if drunken sorrority chicks weren't enough, now they have a place to do their pullin'. on the upside, though, maybe that dude that dresses like a general and pulls the luggage cart around will establish a command post there and lead a vagrant army into city hall and take this pot hole of a town over.. snoogs.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, July 27, 2009 9:52 AM
Comment Title:
Just a thought to making the pedestrian walk way on College Main, how do employees park behind PotBelly or Starbucks, since that is a one way leading away from University and the road is closed at the end forcing drivers to turn left to come out at College Main, where the new walkway will be. Explanation: we lose parking behind those businesses, lose parking on the road in between Methodist Church and Starbucks, lose parking in front of Northgate bars, force all customers and employees to park in the now more expensive parking garage. Please if you live in the area behind Northgate, walk to Northgate if you are going to go out. Walk and do not give anymore money to the meters or parking garage. Allow you friends to park at your house and walk, this is one way to show the city that we are no longer paying for their wants, we are going to have it our way. Or take cabs. First the roads will be safer after nights of drinking which is great, but the icing on the cake, no more paying the city for anything. And Public restrooms in the metered parking lot...really? If you are a customer at an establishment on Northgate, why would you need a public restroom in a parking lot, that is the biggest waste of money I have seen in a long time.
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Posted by:
Bill On:
Monday, July 27, 2009 8:45 AM
Comment Title: Love the plaza idea.
Love the plaza idea. The parking is useless unless you are on a motorcycle or a sub compact car. It will dress up the area. All of the delivery trucks stopping in a lane during lunch-time-rush-hour traffic are creating a mess on the roadway. Figure out how stage deliveries in the back of the building.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, July 27, 2009 8:27 AM
Comment Title:
Yes, you're right "Stop Spending." The person calling College Main and University the "worst traffic-managed intersection on planet Earth" is obviously a city councilman. And I am Sarah Palin.
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Posted by:
On:
Sunday, July 26, 2009 10:05 PM
Comment Title: Comment Title: Post Intelligently, Sure... Me Again
I am not a council member. I do get weary of reading comments that are inane. I am not happy with all things our city does. I try to argue intelligently. Excuse me for thinking. I am sorry you find it offensive.
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Posted by:
pedestrian overpasses On:
Sunday, July 26, 2009 8:00 PM
Comment Title:
Excellent idea. Might be too forward thinking though.
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Posted by:
On:
Sunday, July 26, 2009 7:59 PM
Comment Title: Respect the voters, STOP SPENDING
The previous comments obviously from 2 CS Council members explain in great detail what the voters are unhappy with, You 2 have no concept of what it is like to constantly have to scrounge to pay property taxes or rent. Get Real. You were elected because the voters thought you would exercise spending control. You are a disgrace.
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Posted by:
CA. STYLE GOV. On:
Sunday, July 26, 2009 7:44 PM
Comment Title:
Stop wasting Money CS-Gov. Save some money.
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Posted by:
On:
Sunday, July 26, 2009 11:37 AM
Comment Title:
I think this is a great idea and I've wondered why the city didn't do this for some time. They already block off this area on weekend nights without traffic problems and the Methodist Church has pushed a total restructuring of the roads adjacent to them without causing traffic problems. The best thing that may come out of it is the slim possibility that the redlight at College Main and University would be altered enough that it loses its title as the worst traffic-managed intersection on planet Earth. Even so, there are still going to be pedestrian problems crossing University until College Station and A&M get together and build at least one (and preferably two) pedestrian overpasses.
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Posted by:
On:
Sunday, July 26, 2009 9:06 AM
Comment Title: Post Intelligently, Sure...
To those whining about money being spent, please read the article. "College Station Mayor Ben White said council members had approved the concept for the project, which would be funded with state money, but want to make sure residents have a chance to voice their opinions before a final plan is crafted." This does not sound like dollars coming from College Station residents through any local tax base other than gas taxes or sales taxes that have been funneled elsewhere and that the council is trying to recover for local use. Quit whining about recalls and asking for someone else to organize them. If you are that unhappy, do it yourself. Try to find a good and real reason for you call to action by others instead of manufacturing incorrect reasons because you are too lazy to read this article or too illiterate to understand it. It is fine to disagree with people and government leaders. It is foolish to paint them a certain way while proving yourself incapable of understanding basic concepts presented in a simple news article.
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Posted by:
On:
Saturday, July 25, 2009 1:54 PM
Comment Title:
Why can't CS just leave business/folks alone and quit indiscriminately spending our money. We have got to get these busy bodies off the city council. Will someone please organize a recall of at least Maloney, Massey and Lord Crompton?
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Posted by:
Cant wait tell the next election. On:
Saturday, July 25, 2009 1:15 PM
Comment Title: Spend More Money
I don't seem to under stand. The City of CS CRIES WE ARE BROKE WEARE BROKE. They tell there empolyees that there is no cost of living or any raises pirod in the future budget because they are loosing money due to the econmy, but yet they keep finding stuff to spend money on. Come on what they goning to do raise taxes by .05 to cover every thing. I thought if you keep raising taxes you would run citizens off to Bryan where we can afford to live or maybe Caldwell. I guess when this starts happening they will wake up, MAYBE
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Posted by:
On:
Saturday, July 25, 2009 11:49 AM
Comment Title:
Progressive College Station takes the lead again.
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Posted by:
On:
Saturday, July 25, 2009 9:28 AM
Comment Title: "shift the look"
Hope they don't "shift" it TOO much, otherwise it won't be Northgate anymore
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Posted by:
On:
Saturday, July 25, 2009 7:52 AM
Comment Title:
Headline suggestion: Less Parking, More Puking.
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Posted by:
"Why come to Northgate if no businesses are left?" Parchure said. On:
Saturday, July 25, 2009 6:21 AM
Comment Title:
To get knee knocking knocked down drunk. This guy is absolutely clueless.
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