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| Harry Shawback | 3/3/2009 2:05:22 PM |
| not sure exactly how the money funneling program works, but if you plan to do anything to Spenard, like what you did to Arctic, no thank you! it bottlenecks from Fireweed to Northern lights, espically if you are driving northbound, to turn on Northern Lights! just leave Spenard alone and use the monies to fix a section of road that really needs it! | |
| Maggie Kelly | 2/26/2009 8:30:16 PM |
| I have resided within two blocks of the Spenard and Fireweed intersection for the last nine years. It is my personal philosophy that one needs to support the businesses in their local area in order to maintain a healthy neighborhood. I walk or ride my bike frequently to access the businesses on Spenard Road. I do not support the current traffic planning for Spenard Road from Hillcrest to Benson. I support keeping the sidewalks in good repair, free of snow, and free of people approaching for handouts or being belligerent to keep pedestrians safe. I support ADA accessible curbs and sidewalks for accessibility to all. I support the most convenient access to businesses in order that they may have every chance to survive in the present poor economic times and beyond. I support traffic law enforcement in the area to teach high school students (and others) to drive safely, to remind drivers to give way to pedestrians, particularly when making a right turn on a red light. I support directing pedestrian traffic to the safer side of the street for safer crossing. I support the Hillcrest to Chester Creek project. I do not support a repeat of the road changes on Arctic Blvd. or recreating anything similar anywhere in Anchorage. I do not support single lanes of traffic in either direction of Spenard Road. I do not support on road parking on Spenard Road. I do not support a beautification project if it drives out business and leaves empty buildings as was done on Mountain View Drive. I enjoy my home in Spenard and would appreciate it if the City and the hired planners would keep the health of the local economy in mind as well as the safety of pedestrians. Since there are no longer empty or transient businesses in buildings along Spenard Rd, the walking is much safer due to the lack of inebriated and hostel people along the sidewalks demanding hand outs. The businesses are part of our safe neighborhood it would behoove the neighborhood to keep their best interests in the plan as well as the beauty. Thank you for the opportunity to comment. | |
| Jody Kuhns | 2/26/2009 4:00:34 PM |
| Making spenard road a 2 lane road will not onle be extremly dagerous to motorists but a fatal mistake for some. Look at what you have done to Arctic. It has become very dangerous since the change even more so than it was in the past especially in the winter months when the line lanes can not be seen. | |
| Patrick Dennis | 2/26/2009 11:17:46 AM |
| I've worked on spenard road for about 10 years and i can't understand why the municipality thinks the road is so dangerous. I never see vehicle accidents on spenard. I have also heard from people who work on Arctic road that their business almost tanked because of the construction a few years ago. I want urge the municipality to really look at this situation and actually listen to the business owners that work on spenard. It sounds to me like this is just another way to spend money and to make sure money keeps flowing in. The municipality needs to get their priorities straight. | |
| Tony Provost | 2/26/2009 11:02:02 AM |
| I do not live or work near Spenard. I travel on Spenard to engage in consumer pursuits, i.e: spend money. I used to travel Arctic for this activity until I decided that it was not a safe endeavor due to the reduced traffic lanes and redesigned turn lanes. If Spenard Road is to suffer the same fate, I will go elsewhere to purchase food and merchandise. | |
| Pat Edwards | 2/26/2009 10:59:55 AM |
| I also have been a resident of the city prior to statehood, growing up in Spenard. The businesses of this city (any city) are what make it thrive. I drive Arctic Boulevard daily, and I can tell you when it was shrunk down to two lanes, there was an immediate impact on the traffic flow, which, if you have driven Arctic before and after is painfully obvious. There are sidewalks on both sides (they were there before it was changed). There is no more foot traffic, but the automobile traffic is much more congested. One of the major obstacles in driving Arctic is that there are no bus pull offs. Traffic comes to a standstill whenever a bus stops. It is illegal to go around it on the left, so you wait for the bikes to get loaded on the front of the bus and so you miss the next traffic light because of it. And then the next, and so on. Many times I have seen traffic backed up from N. Lights to Fireweed which never was the case before. Arctic was changed in the name of safety, but I think that time will reveal that Arctic is no safer than it was before the millions were spent. Spenard has many more businesses than Arctic and one can imagine the impact on those businesses when that road is narrowed. This is foolishness! Now at a time when our economy is troubled, we are going to spend more millions which will negatively impact the ones that keep this city going. I sure wish you people would be a little more responsible with our tax money. Isn't this why the economy is in such a mess now! You should be ashamed of yourselves. | |
| Bill Richardson | 2/26/2009 10:31:36 AM |
| I am writing in opposition to the redesign of Spenard Road. Shortly after the Arctic remodel, I was driving westbound on Northern Lights at Arctic when I saw that traffic was backed up quite a ways east of Arctic in the left turn lane. I assumed that it was due to a wreck on Arctic south of Northern Lights, which is the only reason I've seen traffic back up like that at that spot in my previous 30 years of driving in Anchorage. As it turned out, the traffic jam was due to the fact that Arctic no longer accomodated two lanes southbound, so people were blocking the left turn only lane in an effort to get to the now ONLY through lane for southbound traffic. Before the Arctic remodel, there were two southbound lanes,and the left lane could also be used to turn onto Benson. The confusion and lack of available lanes caused the problem to overflow and back up east on Northern Lights. I shop at stores along Spenard, and I have to say that reducing the number of lanes available will negatively impact my desire to deal with the traffic to get to those stores. | |
| Bill Richardson | 2/26/2009 10:31:31 AM |
| I am writing in opposition to the redesign of Spenard Road. Shortly after the Arctic remodel, I was driving westbound on Northern Lights at Arctic when I saw that traffic was backed up quite a ways east of Arctic in the left turn lane. I assumed that it was due to a wreck on Arctic south of Northern Lights, which is the only reason I've seen traffic back up like that at that spot in my previous 30 years of driving in Anchorage. As it turned out, the traffic jam was due to the fact that Arctic no longer accomodated two lanes southbound, so people were blocking the left turn only lane in an effort to get to the now ONLY through lane for southbound traffic. Before the Arctic remodel, there were two southbound lanes,and the left lane could also be used to turn onto Benson. The confusion and lack of available lanes caused the problem to overflow and back up east on Northern Lights. I shop at stores along Spenard, and I have to say that reducing the number of lanes available will negatively impact my desire to deal with the traffic to get to those stores. | |
| Jim Meehan | 2/26/2009 10:31:29 AM |
| I have to admit, I don't understand why the city is pushing something the majority people in the area don't seem to want. The project is going to cost a lot of money and hurt local business. Local business generates tax income. At the very least wait for the election to get over and see if the new mayor wants to proceed. | |
| Don Dwiggins | 2/26/2009 10:24:22 AM |
| Ever since Arctic was "Fixed" I avoid it. Going north of 36th requires several cycles of the light to get across or even onto Benson. Spenard Road is now carrying some of that traffic. (Did I mention that businesses have failed on Arctic because of the fix?) Reducing Spenard to two lanes is ABSURD. I have spoken to this several times but comments are ignored. If you convert this road to two lanes, you will kill businesses and create MORE DANGEROUS traffic patterns. Single lanes will mean a steady flow of traffic with no breaks for left turns into it. Bus pullouts are not proposed so ALL traffic will stop while buses load or people will drive illegally to go around them. There are even portions of the project which will not have a turn lane meaning that every car will have to stop for left turning vehicles. 'Studies' and experts will never convince me that fewer lanes is better. COMMON SENSE tells you every thing you need to know about this! IS NO ONE LISTENING!!!!! | |
| baxter gamble | 2/26/2009 9:16:52 AM |
| Let's make sure that when Northstar Community Council spokesperson says that the executive committee thinks that the changes to Spenard Rd are a good idea, that is the opinion of 2 people. It is not the feelings of the the majority of the people in the area, walkers, bikers, drivers. Lets make sure that if we really need to rebuild Spenard Rd that we have adequate funds set aside to maintain the large sidewalks. No sense in a 4 lane sidewalk covered in snow and ice and a 2 lane road with not vehicle traffic and a bunch of empty buildings. If the business community fails, then so do jobs and that is money our city needs. Let's fix the intersections with accident problems, fix the potholes, clean the existing sidewalks of snow and ice, extra enforcement for traffic violators. Then let's see how Spenard works. No sense in spending money that we don't have. Having a business on Spenard Rd for over 20 years, I don't see the the access problems during the summer and unless the city can clean the snow and ice, it doesn't seem like we would be making much progress. "measure twice, cut once" | |
| Tom Bunger | 2/25/2009 11:24:31 PM |
| I am co-owner of a new business Spenard Road. We oppose the Spenard Road Project because it is unnecessary and it will hurt many small businesses - including ours. Our business just opened its doors a year ago. One of things that attracted us to Spenard is that the area is undergoing a revitalization. Much of this is due to local business investment. We have seen the area improve quite a bit in the past year and have heard many positive comments about how nice the area is becoming. PLEASE DON'T RUIN IT! Many of the businesses on Spenard rely on being visible and accessible. This project as proposed will put a wall in front of our building, remove parking in front of our building, and close the street for an indefinite amount of time (at a recent public meeting on this project, none of the project engineers could give us firm estimates of how long the construction would last, and when the area near our business would be impacted.) I'm sure the sidewalks, walls and landscaping will be beautiful. When it is finished, the pedestrians will have a great view of the empty, boarded-up buildings that were formerly occupied by small businesses. The current economic situation has caused many people to spend less money on shopping, eating out, and other non-essentials. Many stores and restaurants are already struggling to stay in business right now. This project will put some of us out of business. Despite the best efforts of city planners, engineers, and project managers, many customers will avoid the area during the construction process. In addition to the business impact, this project will definitely increase cut-through traffic on residential streets nearby (25th, 26th, 27th) during and after the project. These streets (mainly between Arctic and Spenard) are already a safety problem with people walking in the street and cars routinely exceeding the speed limit. We are disappointed that the planners of this project have not been very receptive to business owner concerns during this project. When we discussed this with some of the project team recently, many of them agreed with that this project would likely take a toll on many businesses, but the only suggestions they had for us were to spend more money on radio ads, print ads and flyers during construction to help customers find us. Spenard Road works just fine as it is. Please leave it alone. | |
| Maureen Johnson | 2/23/2009 1:50:11 PM |
| I am writing in favor of the Spenard Road Improvement project. I am the mother of 3 young children (living off Fireweed), and hope to someday be able to walk / ride bikes to local restaurants & businesses. I am also an Occupational Therapist working in Home Health Care, where I work with people to regain their independence & safety in their own environment. Sidewalks have to be ADA compliant; not everyone is able to drive. Living in the area of Fireweed and Spenard, I'm witness to people in the streets; walking with children, pushing strollers, attempting to use walkers and wheelchairs, because the city sidewalks are covered with snow and Ice - NOT ADA compliant. I am also witness to the hazards of the 4 lane roads with people stopping traffic when trying to turn left, and others switching lanes to unsafely pass those stopped or driving slower, as well as cars pulling / backing out of businesses all over the place - all very unpredictable & dangerous to not only bikers / walkers needing to share the road, but to drivers simply trying to safely drive to a local business. I believe the plan the city has for Spenard Road is well thought out; meeting ADA compliance with wide multi use sidewalks, safer and more efficient 3 lane road design, and predictable entrance/exits into businesses. They even added parking. What's not to like?!? This area is too close to schools (Romig, West, Holy Rosary, North Star & Steller) NOT to improve the road / walkway safety. Please do all you can to help pass this, and please keep Fireweed Lane in mind for the next road improvement project! | |
| Matt Johnson, North Star CC Chair | 2/23/2009 11:32:00 AM |
| The North Star Community Council has twice voted in favor of a resolution in support of the Spenard Road Reconstruction project. Our council members reviewed the plans in detail, and met with project planners. In January, our community council voted unanimously in favor of the Hillcrest Drive to Chester Creek portion of the project. In our February meeting, we voted unanimously for the entire plan. We believe this plan delivers much needed, and long overdue, public safety benefits to this old Anchorage neighborhood. This site design for the northern end of Spenard is similar to the design of the southern end of the road. Traffic statistics prove that the southern end of Spenard Road carries significantly higher traffic volume with significantly fewer accidents. This while allowing room for proper, code-compliant sidewalks and room for snow storage. Municipal traffic data shows similar statistical improvements in public safety on all other road reconstruction projects of comparable scope and design throughout Anchorage. Four-lane undivided roads are inherently unsafe and should be phased out of our community. Undivided four-lane roads create chaotic and unpredictable traffic patterns, while crowding out space that should be used for snow storage and proper sidewalks. Undivided four-lane roads are dangerous for motorists and pedestrians alike. Market forces are bringing change to our communities; we need to anticipate this change and act accordingly. My Dad told stories of growing up in Anchorage in the 40’s and 50’s. He and his buddies used to jump on their bikes and ride along a dirt trail to the nearby town of Spenard to go swimming in the lake. That dirt trail is now Spenard Road. Anchorage has changed a lot in a short period of time. It’s time to make an investment in the long-term future of this old Anchorage neighborhood. | |
| Mark Butler | 2/22/2009 11:17:24 AM |
| I am in favor of the site plan that you are reviewing. I live in a residential neighborhood on the northern end of the project area. I work and shop along this section of Spenard Road. Spenard Road is simply worn out. It needs complete rebuilding. It is a dangerous road for both pedestrians and drivers. It has narrow, four foot sidewalks with frequent curb cuts that slope to the street. Pedestrians are forced to walk immediately adjacent to speeding vehicles. There are no snow storage areas built into the design of the current road, so snow removed from the street lanes is immediately piled onto the narrow sidewalks. This compacted snow makes Spenard Road sidewalks simply unwalkable for days or weeks after snow storms. The project area (the north end of Spenard Road) is .51 miles long of four lane road with numerous driveways that allow dangerous “pull in, back out” parking. The southern section of Spenard Road has .67 miles of 2 lane road (with a center turn lane and 8’ - 10’ sidewalks on both sides) that was constructed in 1988. This southern section carries 36% more traffic (18,958 daily average traffic volume) than the project area does (13,860 daily average traffic volume). The north end has 52% more crashes. The Romig Hill portion of the project is in desperate need of a protected, separated bike trail that will keep school children and other pedestrians away from the cars that speed down the hill on the way north to downtown. This site plan includes both a well-designed pedestrian and bike trail down the hill and a pedestrian bridge that would be installed adjacent to the existing roadway bridge. The community councils in this area (North Star and Spenard) are both in favor of this site plan. They have worked tirelessly with local business owners to assist them in getting changes made to the project design that will reduce the impacts of the project on their businesses. Please approve this site plan. The resulting road will be safer for all those who work, live, shop, or own property along the road. Thank you. | |
| Matt Burkholder, SpenardCC Chair | 2/20/2009 4:42:04 PM |
| The membership of the Spenard Community Council is in favor of the safety improvements included in the site plan for this project. This project has been discussed at a number of meetings of the Council. As well, the executive board has voted in favor of the site plan as currently designed. The Spenard Road safety improvements have always been high on the Capital Improvements Request list that is created by the Spenard Community Council each year for inclusion in the Municipality of Anchorage capital requests list. This year, the Spenard Road Safety Improvements project is number three on the city-wide Municipality for Anchorage capital improvements wish list that was recently sent down to the Anchorage Caucus in Juneau. Our membership has voted continuously in favor of improvements to the safety of Spenard Road including the recent Spenard Community Council resolutions: 1. Safety improvements in the Spenard Road area “For the purpose of pedestrian safety and crime reduction, the Spenard Community Council resolves that it is in support of the addition of speed humps and the posting of 20 MPH speed limits on West 25th, West 26th and West 27th Avenues (between Arctic Boulevard and Spenard Road and between Minnesota Drive and Spenard Road.) The Spenard Community Council also resolves that a speed limit of 25 MPH be posted on Spenard Road between Hillcrest Drive and Benson Boulevard. The Spenard Community Council also asks the Municipality of Anchorage vigorously enforce the above speed limits on Spenard Road.” 2. Support of the proposed Spenard Road safety improvements between Hillcrest Drive and Chester Creek “The Spenard Community Council resolves that it supports the safety improvements that the Municipality of Anchorage is proposing for the stretch of Spenard Road between Hillcrest Drive north to Chester Creek. This separated and protected bike and pedestrian trail on the west side of the hill will be able to protect school children and others that walk up this hill every day. The Spenard Community Council resolves that it is in favor of the addition of a pedestrian and bicycle bridge over Chester Creek at the north end of this proposed project. This bridge would be placed to the west side of the busy road bridge that has only a narrow and crumbling sidewalk that places pedestrians dangerously near fast moving traffic. The Spenard Community Council asks the Municipality of Anchorage to immediately bid the construction of these projects in April 2009 if voters of Anchorage approve road bonds that include monies for these improvements on the April 2009 Municipal elections. Our hope is that these improvements would be constructed during the 2009 summer construction season.” As you can see, the membership of our council is looking for every way we can find to improve safety of drivers and pedestrians on the section of Spenard Road that is included in this site plan. We ask that you approve this site plan as currently designed. Matt Burkholder, Chair Spenard Community Council | |
| Bonnie Godfred | 1/27/2009 7:34:31 PM |
| I would like to suggest that the traffic department has created a very serious traffic hazard and are about to repeat themselves on Spenard Road. A left turn from either Benson or Northern Lights onto Arctic during busy hours, results in sitting at a standstill on a very busy street, waiting your turn to get into the new choked down Arctic while the other lanes travel at 40-50 MPH. After being rear ended during that situation, I now avoid Arctic Blvd. If this is done to Spenard (as is currently planned) more traffic will be pushed to "C" Street and to neighborhood streets, not the intended result I am sure. The city traffic department assures me that Arctic as redesigned can handle twice it's former traffic. I can't imagine where this kind of data comes from and wonder if our traffic engineers ever drive the roads they design, especially during busy hours. Can we please have a redesign of the current Spenard plans? I think adding trees, better cross walks and bike lanes is lovely but not at the expense of drivers and safety. In addition, driving home tonight on Fireweed, I encountered a biker in the street because it is clear and the sidewalk is full of ice and snow. Your redesign will not fix this problem, in fact it will aggrevate the problem as the recessed walkway will be even less likely to be cleared of snow. Bonnie Godfred | |
| Mr. Whitekeys | 1/19/2009 11:03:19 AM |
| You asked for comments, so I'll give you my 2 cents worth. The idea of 4 lanes going down to 3 lanes is questionable at best, but the one-way couplets of 36th and Spenard Road is, in my humble opinion,the dumbest thing I have ever heard of! Every day, as we approach the 5 pm rush hour, traffic is backed up on Minnesota from Spenard Road almost to Benson Blvd. At the same time of day, Westbound traffic on Spenard Road is backed up almost to 36th.It has been this way for 20 years. If the Spenard Road part of that traffic is routed into Minnesota via the 36th one-way couplet, it can only add to the lines that are backed up all the way to the City Diner.The 36th traffic won't even be able to merge into Minnesota because that street is already full at that point. This is an INSANE proposal. Traffic that is merely heading from PJs to Gwennies can't simply cross Minnesota, it has to merge into the already full Southbound Minnesota lanes at 36th. The idea is CRAZY. It's STUPID. And if this project is built as proposed, the guys who did it will be run out of town on a rail. The lane reduction will be only a mild disaster, but the one-way couplets will be the source of the biggest public outcry this town has ever scene. Think about roundabouts, photo-radar, and Arctic Boulevard COMBINED. And then Double it! This is just one guy's opinion, but I'm darn glad I'm not on YOUR end of the project. This is going to be comedy material for years to come. w keys Spenard | |
| Gwenn Jester-Haslett | 1/17/2009 2:27:19 PM |
| I lived in Spenard before there was a caribou -wards store there, when piggly wiggly was still a place to get milk and bread and produce. I now spend many of my working hours in the most highly impacted area of Spenard. Sidewalks that were continuous and consistently maintained (snow and ice, garbage and gravel removal) with some pullout areas for the bus would be a genuine and appreciated improvement for any of us that think walking is respectable. The consistent use of three lanes and oneway streets as a solution to all problems of traffic flow in our city is driving me nutz! Does anyone account for the fact that oneway streets add to the time spent driving, sometimes as much as 3 miles and sometimes as much as a block. Where is that ever factored in. Then one way street changes and actually braiding traffic , as is done on the fist sections of Arctic just south of Fireweed is ridiculously counter intuitive. (Use your turn indicator to indicate proceeding straight ahead?) The "Third lane" is, after all legally intended as an exit lane while Anchorage drivers seem to think it is an entrance lane. THat is how it became known as the "suicide lane". Foot or bike policing in Spenard and enforced traffic laws would go a long long way to making what is there now sustainable and workable. This plan for Spenard road is just another way to spend money and ignore the actual physical problem of a winter city. | |
| Matt Burkholder | 1/14/2009 5:08:40 AM |
| The Spenard Community Council Executive Board approves of the Landscape design plan submitted for review to the Council. The city has a way to go to finalize these plans and the Council hopes the City can resolve issues with local businesses and concerned citizens. Issues to be addressed: are parking, pedestrian, traffic calming on neighborhood streets, maintenance (Snow removal) and phasing of the project for minimum impact on local business. Spenard Community Council Matt Burkholder, Chair | |
| lamar cotten | 1/4/2009 7:50:59 PM |
| I am the co-owner of a commercial building located on Spenard Road. I oppose the proposed Spenard Road project. The city has not convinced many businesses that the project approach will result in a more business or residential friendly area. Please keep in mind that many Spenard Road businesses are not primary destination locations. Instead, they rely on easy access and close by parking. The placement of medians that will force longer delays to a destination and a lack of immediate parking will be counter productive to businesses and clientele. An extended projection construction period will result in high speed traffic in the adjacent residential areas. The population in these areas appears to include more children than in the past years. The high density residential developments have limited outdoor recreation and walking areas adjacent to the such secondary collector streets. Consequently, there is an increase chance in pedestrian related accidents. Lastly, a number of small businesses are financially margin with access and no delays. An extended construction period may result in some of the smaller and newer businesses having to close their doors. | |
| Janet Lutich | 12/29/2008 10:16:56 PM |
| I'm very disappointed that this site was down during the time line for comments Dec.26th deadline I believe that it shows a complete lack of respect and a don;t care attitude to the people who have to live and work in this area.I am one of these such people.If you're not willing to read our comments why did you advertise you were. Are you just going to do whatever you want and to hell with the people? You can't even come close to knowing how mad I am. | |
| Larry Brandt | 12/23/2008 2:29:45 PM |
| As a Manager of a business on Spenard Road I disappointed with the cities lack of thought for the community and business along Spenard Road. This project started as a safety project to make Spenard more pedestrian friendly when in fact the changes the city is proposing will make it unsafe for pedestrians, elderly and the disabled trying to visit businesses along Spenard. People will be forced to Parallel Park along Spenrad Road while opening their car doors into on coming traffic. Elderly and disabled will have to park and cross Spenard road to access business's that had parking in front before the city took it away. Mean while the city has made no commitment to keep the sidewalks any better maintained from snow than they currently are. By reducing Spenard to three lanes instead of four and forcing traffic into residential areas will not make our community safer it will in fact make it more dangerous. We all agree we want to see a safer Spenard Road so lets look at improving our road not destroying it. | |
| Jeff Hummel | 12/17/2008 2:01:31 PM |
| Over two thousand residents, employees and businesses signed a petition asking the city to reconsider narrowing Spenard Road! Two Thousand!!! Who is trying to push this project thru? I hope NOT the companies that stand to profit from design and construction. There are better ways to use our tax dollars. Jeff Hummel | |
| Betty Atkinson | 12/16/2008 1:25:18 PM |
| After veiwing the proposal to make Spenard Rd. a three lane road, I am not conviced that it will increase safey for the predestrian or for the moving traffic. However, I must leave that to the experts. My most compelling reason for objecting to this proposal is the objections that many of the small business owners have made. I have lived in Anchorage since 1954 and have appreciated the efforts of local mechants to maintain quality services all these many years. I must respect their opinions and request that the goverment do likewise. Thank you for the oportunity to express my opinions. Betty Atkinson | |
| bob Parsons | 12/15/2008 3:36:08 PM |
| I've lived in Anchorage all my life (since '53). I've used the roads as a commercial truck driver for 10 years with the Teamsters, and even did a stint at cab driving. Spenard Rd is one of those funky roads that just happens to work fine the way it is. I'm against spending ginormous amounts of dollars to "fix" something that works fine. I'm sure cosmetic improvements can be made without sacrificing the pocketbooks of Anchorage citizens and the businesses that line that famous road. | |
| Mike Boots | 12/13/2008 12:00:54 PM |
| The plan to remake Spenard Road as a three lane roadway is a complete disaster. It is billed as a safety project but will create far more dangerous situations than currently exist. I walk to and from work several times each week, Summer and Winter. I also walk from work throughout the North Spenard area, to the bank, post office and elsewhere. There are no areas that a person who is awake and not inebriated cannot traverse safely. The only current impediment to safe pedestrian traffic on Spenard Road is that the existing sidewalks are not plowed in Winter, forcing pedestrians into the roadway. When there are two lanes of traffic, cars can at least go around those pedestrians. With only one lane, someone is going to get hurt. At busy traffic times, particularly during West High lunch hour and right after school, there is already traffic backed up from Northern Lights Blvd. as far north as Bosco's and La Mex. With only one lane of traffic, and all the cars stopping whenever a People Mover does, the traffic will be backed up north of Fireweed or further. We already see this on Arctic Blvd., where traffic is often backed up all the way from Fireweed Lane to Northern Lights. What will happen on Spenard, is people will find alternative routes to and from where they are trying, often in a hurry, to get to. Shortcuts down neighborhood streets are common enough now. With the choking of Spenard Road, some of these streets will become major thruways, often at illegal speeds. Without bus pullouts, frustrated drivers will illegally use the center lane to pass stopped buses. This will put oncoming traffic as well as the buses and the passing car at risk. The People Mover people do not want bus pullouts because there is already so much traffic that once they pull off the road, they can't get back on. Other dangerous situations created by this plan include the specified on-street parking, which will have people exiting their cars directly into the lane of traffic next to them. The concerns of local businesses have been completely ignored throughout the planning process for this project. The arrogance of the Municipal road planners and their hired engineers is breathtaking. Business owners have been told that the effect of the project on their businesses is not relevant and that the engineers are not required to consider such effects. That would explain why the project includes medians and fencing that will make access to some businesses impossible. That explains why the project eliminates parking for many, including a large employer such as Sunrise Bakery, which likely will not survive this project. What will replace the jobs that will be lost when businesses up and down Spenard Road are gone? Who will pay the property taxes that used to be paid by those businesses? The planning of this project has been one of the most outrageous abuses of public process I have ever seen. Heads should be rolling over this one. Let's build some roads we can use in this town and leave the ones that are working alone. What an incredible waste of time and money! | |
| Tom Bichsel | 12/13/2008 11:42:01 AM |
| By narrowing the road, this plan will push traffic into neighborhoods. This is not a safety project. Many of these neighborhoods are low income high density housing. Many complexes do not have yards or sidewalks and children play in the streets. More traffic on these streets will be very dangerous. Taking eight feet from the existing roadway for sidewalks and meridians will in effect make Spenard a two lane road. There is too much traffic on the roadway for this. Again this will push traffic into the neighborhoods. | |
| Baxter Gamble | 12/12/2008 5:23:02 PM |
| Spenard Road does need work done to it. It needs to be safe, well lighted, clean and accessible to vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Spenard Rd is not a dangerous road, regardless of what the muni tries say. This project was started over 11 years ago and millions of dollars spent on surveying the road and the people. But yet after all that, nothing has been done to address the accident rate and make Spenard any safer. But enormous amount of time and money has been used to find out what type of trash can or bench or flowers or design stamped in the concretes medians would be liked by the community. The idea of an arch across the road was another muni idea. When concerned citizens suggested that attention be placed on addressing the areas that have accidents, it was met with negativism by the muni. When the muni was asked about making access by fuel trucks to gas stations very difficult the muni suggested that the 40,000 gallon gas delivery trucks make there way through the residential neighborhoods. When asked about buses stopping in the roadway to pick up and discharge passengers and all of the traffic that would then be stuck behind the bus. The muni responded by saying that drivers should pass the bus in the turning lane. The is a violation of the traffic laws and defies common sense. Several businesses have been targeted for reduction of parking spaces to widen the road and place large raised medians in the roadway. Some intersections are slated to be narrowed so much that delivery trucks can not negotiate turns. Oh yes that also means that fire trucks and emergency vehicles will have that same problem responding. Over 90% of the businesses, property owners, tenants and patrons oppose the proposed plan to change the road in the ways that the muni has proposed. We all need a safer roadway, but 8 foot sidewalks and 5 foot bike lanes just don't seem to make any sense. The only pedestrian accidents in this area are ones that are alcohol related. The muni has stated that there is no extra money to clean the roads or sidewalks of snow and ice. So big sidewalks and bike lanes are not the answer. The muni would be wise to lower the speed limit, provide additional traffic enforcement, concentrate resources on the areas that have higher numbers of accidents and determine the cause of the accidents. Seems like Arctic Blvd would be a lesson to the muni on how not to fix a roadway. A scalpel rather than a meat cleaver would be a much better tool for this project. | |
| Rene Haag | 12/12/2008 4:16:31 PM |
| There are reasons to like the Spenard Road plan and reasons to dislike the plan. The businesses in the area that are against Spenard Road reconstruction (which happens to be the great majority) are perhaps a bit misunderstood. We do not think of just our own livelihoods but also consider the impact on the city as a whole, our customer's safety and our employee's welfare. We are in favor of safe journey for everyone whether they walk, drive or bike to our shops. We are in favor of upgrades that will improve safety and that will assist in the beautification of the area. We do not agree that the city should jeapordize the revenue of Spenard businesses by turning 4 lanes into 2 lanes, thereby discouraging the "great majority" of our clientel from traveling down Spenard Road. We are partners in our community and believe in giving back. Some of us have been here since 1953 and some have taken the entrepreneurial risk to start something new in Spenard in the past couple of years. As I drive through Anchorage streets, I see so many neighborhoods where families walk to parks on 3', snow covered sidewalks yet, it is proposed to put 8' sidewalks on a business street where the great majority of people drive rather than walk. Spenard Road is lined with businesses. Spend the money on neighborhoods where people are needing wider sidewalks, purchase land for parks, create safer passage for school children. It's possible to make Spenard safer and a more pleasant environment without destroying small business. | |
| Lottie Michael | 12/10/2008 1:54:21 PM |
| I am opposed to the proposed changes to Spenard Road. Spenard Road is now serviced by sidewalks on both sides of the street, has four lanes of traffic, and allows for parking in front of the various businesses. A reduction from 4 lanes to 2 lanes plus a 'suicide' third lane for turning, and the elimination of parking in front of locally owned businesses does not support or encourage the private sector businesses that have chosen to locate in Spenard. Additionally, the 24 months of working in a construction zone which will certainly disrupt and in all likelihood distroy business, is not a prudent decision in the financial world we are now in. The property owners on Arctic Boulevard have not yet seen their businesses achieve the volumes they had prior to Arctic Boulevard's 'upgrades'. The majority of business and property owners that will most be affected by the proposed changes are NOT SUPPORTIVE OF THIS CHANGE. The number of traffic accidents is much lower on Spenard Road than on other equally traveled streets. | |
| Mark Musial | 12/8/2008 12:35:09 PM |
| RE Spenard Road Improvements I strongly support a pedestrian initiated light, skywalk, or other control at Spenard and Hillcrest. In addition, you should rework the traffic flow along Hillcrest due to congestion from traffic pouring into and out of West High in the mornings. The intersection is particularly bad in the morning, and is in need of reconstruction. I see students crossing every day and always am concerned somebody will get hurt. Traffic glare is terrible, and in addtion to large numbers of vechicles making a left turn onto Hillcrest to access West High, the intersection is clogged by others trying to turn towards downtown. Periodically, trucks from the bakery and city graders also cause traffic to bakcup because they are trying to go about their business at the beginning and end of the school day. These activities should be limited to more sensible hours. | |
| Mimi Beck | 12/5/2008 11:00:50 AM |
| I live near Spenard Road and frequently shop, walk, bike, and drive in the area. My children attended West High and I was very involved in West PTSA's efforts a few years ago to improve pedestrian safety around the school. I am really pleased to see the planned improvements for Spenard Road. I think the project will improve pedestrian safety, make the area more inviting, and add vitality to what should be a pedestrian-friendly zone. Many use public transit along Spenard, and the bus turnouts will be invaluable.The landscape planting can only improve what is now a drab and under-loved streetscape. The parking looks like it will be ample and more attractive than the current situation. The traffic flow has been well thought through, and I suspect the three lane design will be a success (as Arctic has been after people got used to it). Relignment of the Spenard/27th intersection will improve safety significantly, as the current turning situation is dangerously confusing. I will continue to shop at Blaines and other local businesses even if I can't turn left across traffic to do so (just like I have continued shopping at REI when their parking access changed last year.) The walkway on Romig Hill is particularly needed, as students walk to West and Romig along that (currently risky) route. (It will also help the many tourists who use the area on foot seeking REI from downtown lodgings; I have given many of them directions while walking my dog along Chester Creek.) Necking down the Spenard Hillcrest intersection is a safety improvement for pedestrians who must cross there; however, I believe more could be done at this location to improve safety. Pedestrians crossong Spenard and Hillcrest are especially vulnerable at West's start and end times when late or impatient drivers whiz through the intersection without an awareness of pedestrians trying to cross. A pedestrian intiated signal or one which only operated at certain hours would help at Hillcrest and Spenard, and I will hope to see one in the future. That aside, I am very supportive of this project for the many benefits it will provide to the greater Spenard area. Congratulations to the design team for tackling the many problems so effectively. | |
| George Donart | 12/4/2008 11:26:15 AM |
| We live near Spenard Rd. and often travel on foot to shop or dine in the Spenard/Fireweed - 36th commercial zone. I want to see a pedestrian friendly walkway from the Chester Cr. Trail to the shopping district both north of Northern Lights and south of Benson. People often walk in the roadway on this blind corner. There also needs to be a space for snow piling and to act as a safety barrier between the road and walkway. The other tough situation I see on Spenard is just north of N. Lights where people make left hand turns onto Spenard after leaving the Beartooth theater. This should NOT be blocked to left hand turns. Perhaps simply retiming / restricting the traffic lights at N. Lights and Fireweed. I think that most of what was done to Arctic Blvd. has improved traffic flow, especially the barrier between Benson and N. Lights, but due to the lighter commercial nature of this stretch of Spenard Rd., traffic barrier/dividers should be minimized. This was a very difficult webpage to find. There needs to be much better labeling on your Planning webpage. Something like: Submit comments on road projects here. Or, Spenard Rd. reconstruction project page, etc. | |