Central and Green Bay may never be the same ...

Important changes are being planned for the intersection of Central St. and Green Bay Rd. 
 
Your input is essential to the final outcome of these plans which will affect traffic patterns and safety in the neighborhood. Residents are encouraged to offer comments, suggestions and preference under the Public Comment tab at:  

... no later than tomorrow  Friday, January 9, 2015.
 
The City of Evanston proposes two options changing the intersection of Central St., Broadway Ave. and Poplar Ave.

• Option 1:  Poplar Ave. turns east into Broadway Ave. north of Central St. This option is consistent with the 2008 Central Street Corridor Plan

• Option 2:  Poplar Ave. will end in a turn-around just north of Central St. Poplar Ave. and would only be accessible from Livingston St. on the north.  Commuters and residents who normally park along Poplar Ave. would have to travel north to go south, east or west.

 

The City of Evanston also proposes reducing the number of traffic lanes on Green Bay Rd. from five to three lanes from Central St. north to Isabella St. – one lane northbound, one lane southbound and left turn lanes in each direction. It will be similar to Green Bay Rd. north of Isabella St. in Wilmette. The Central St. intersection however would still be five lanes.
 
The city requests resident feedback on three options all incorporating the above design
 

• Option 1:  Add a six foot parkway and a seven foot parking area on the west side of Green Bay Rd.

• Option 2:  Add two eight foot north and south bike lanes on either side of Green Bay Rd. from Central St. to Isabella St. Reduce the car lanes by three feet.

• Option 3:  Add a four foot landscaped strip on the east side of Green Bay Rd. and adds seven feet of  parking and two feet of greenspace on west side of Green Bay Rd.

 
 
Also, the traffic lanes east and west bound on Central Street at Green Bay Rd. would be re-designated.  The left lane would be left- turn only and the right lane would be right-turn and straight only in each direction
 
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Concerns expressed so far include:
 

• Increased congestion east and west of Green Bay Rd. on Central St.
• Increased traffic on side streets
• Loss of south access to Poplar Ave.
• Lack of clear need for new isolated bike lanes on Central St.
• Congestion on Green Bay Rd.
• Safety of the redesigned intersections

 
 
Planning is taking place now with the intent of finalizing design in early 2015 in order to use federal funds to do the work in 2018. 
 
Your voices need to be heard now.  You can comment directly on-line on the centralgreenbay.com website comment form. There you can also download a form with project option details