<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0ydvq4_0pymHvms00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0ydvq4_0pymHvms00" width="1900" height="1069" >VANCOUVER, Wash. — In 2017, the city of Vancouver adopted what it calls the "Complete Streets" policy.What that means is when a street comes up for scheduled repaving, it gets a little more attention than that."It essentially guides us to try and make our street system work for everyone regardless of what mode of travel you use. And also, regardless of what your abilities are in using that mode of travel," said Transportation Manager Ryan Lopossa. "Let's make better bike facilities, let's make better pedestrian facilities, let's make our streets work better for those that use transit."Lopossa says the system has worked well for other streets in the city, such as McArthur Boulevard.Now it's time to see if it works on two of Vancouver's busiest east-west thoroughfares, Southeast 34th Street and Southeast McGillivray Boulevard, both due to be repaved.The city is looking at the possibility of changing the roads from four lanes of vehicle traffic to two lanes, and opening up another lane for bikes, scooters, pedestrians, wheelchairs -- any other ways people get around."The streets work really well for cars and vehicles. But not so well for those other modes. When we know we’re going to be repaving corridors like this, we will pause and do some work and figure out how we can make that newly paved road work better for all these different modes" said Lopossa.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4fvWAA_0pymHvms00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4fvWAA_0pymHvms00" width="648" height="365" ><figcaption>The city of Vancouver is looking to reduce the lanes on these two roads to add more modes of transportation, like for bikes and pedestrians. (KATU Graphic)</figcaption></figure>Both Southeast 34th and McGillivray have a reputation for reckless, speeding drivers.Lopossa says studies show taking away a lane of vehicle traffic will actually slow down traffic, making it safer for everyone on the road."When we slow a corridor down, when we make it less attractive for speeding, a lot of those people who use those routes as shortcuts or detours, will just stop using it because it’s no longer convenient," he said.KATU interviewed Paul and Kathy Houge years ago when they became volunteers to watch for and track speeders in front of their home on McGillivray and even got neighbors involved in a rally on the sidewalk, holding signs reminding drivers to go slower."We’ve lived here 46 years, and this is the worst it’s been. Totally the worst. Oh, it’s terrible. I think they just think it’s a racetrack out here," said Kathy Houge.She and her husband aren't sure if the potential changes will change anything."I just can’t think that they would be beneficial. I’ve watched the people speeding on the road, and not really being careful. I think if they put it down to one lane on each side, they’re going to make a lane out of the parking lane themselves to drive on. That’s my fear," said Houge.The lanes will have buffers between them to help separate the traffic flow.There's no definite plan in place yet for any changes but will likely happen in the next two to three years.Some area residents feel like the city hasn't been as open and transparent as they would like it to be about the programs.Lopossa doesn't agree with that."We’ve done open houses, on both of these projects. We’ve gone to neighborhood meetings. We’ve done small group conversations. There has been a lot of conversation that has occurred with the community," said Lopossa.And there will be more research done, and then engineers will work on a design and construction plan, then the repaving and transformation can begin.Some other suggestions from residents include more stop signs, traffic circles, and increased police patrols.The plan now includes Southeast 34th Street from 164th Avenue to 192nd Avenue, and McGillivray Boulevard from Chakalov/112th to Southeast 164th Avenue.</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

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Vancouver looks to reduce lanes on busy roads to add more modes for travel

VANCOUVER, Wash. — In 2017, the city of Vancouver adopted what it calls the \"Complete Streets\" policy. What that means is when a street comes up for scheduled repaving, it gets a little more attention than that. \"It essentially guides us to try and make our street system work...

VANCOUVER, Wash. — In 2017, the city of Vancouver adopted what it calls the "Complete Streets" policy. What that means is when a street comes up for scheduled repaving, it gets a little more attention than that. "It essentially guides us to try and make our street system work...