Evanston launches shared street pilot program
Under plan, bicyclists, pedestrians, vehicles will all have access to Greenleaf Street
Evanston has launched a pilot project designed to allow bicyclists, pedestrians and motorists to all share Greenleaf Street over a monthlong period.
If the pilot is deemed successful, the city may expand the program to additional areas next summer, said Jessica Hyink, transportation and mobility coordinator with the city.
“It’s really a low intervention to try to create awareness and to eliminate the cut-through traffic,” said Hyink.
Signage and barriers were placed along a 1.8-mile residential stretch of Greenleaf Street from McDaniel Avenue to Lake Shore Boulevard on the lakefront beginning July 19 and ending Aug. 16, Hyink said. The shared streets pilot project was developed to discourage cut-through traffic on Greenleaf Street, while providing opportunities for people walking, biking and driving to share access to and from commercial, residential and recreational centers.
During the pilot program, “Local Access Only” signs
are being placed at major intersections, and other signs reading “Slow down, share the road” will be erected at minor intersections, Hyink said. It is hoped the signs will partially limit and slow down traffic entering Greenleaf Street at various intersections.
In addition, eight-foot tall barriers are being placed at the beginning and end of parking lanes along the street.
“It’s a visual direction to people using the street to slow down and to think what’s happening around them,” said Hyink.
The city does not yet have any plans to issues ticket to drivers as part of the pilot program.
“This is on the honor system, essentially,” Hyink said. “Right now, it’s more about testing to see if there are changes in cut-through traffic and also getting feedback from people who walk, bike and drive in the area … if they have perceptions that traffic patterns change as a result.”
Major street construction along a section of Main Street to the south has caused increased traffic on Greenleaf Street but the pilot project was not implemented to address that.
“This is something that has been in discussion very separately of any of that work that’s happening,” Hyink said. “Making sure there are safe places for people who are vulnerable walking or biking … that it’s that much more critical we do this project right now so they can get places safely.”
Access to businesses, driveways, alleys and on and off street parking along Greenleaf Street is being maintained during the pilot project, and emergency and delivery vehicles and large commercial trucks can access Greenleaf Street throughout the length of the pilot.
At the end of the pilot project, the city will remove all signs and restore the street to full use for vehicle traffic at major and minor intersections, Hyink said. The city is also planning to survey pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists as part of the project to gauge its effectiveness.
“If the pilot is received positively then next summer the city will consider expanding the program for the entire summer and expanding locations where it is implemented,” Hyink said. “If there is demand warranted we would consider a treatment like a bike boulevard to further improve long term bike and pedestrian safety.”