I have two major suggestions involving the area around the French Quarter, an area of public disgrace where people from all over the country see how run down the city is. Is that the goal? I hope not. What we need is a green arrow at the intersections where pedestrians and vehicular traffic get separate dedicated signals and crossing times. Plus we need to make sure all the lights-specifically the pedestrian signals working. **I’ve added another improvement in the body text as well.
New Orleans is an interesting town. Its a blast from the past. We have a ton of pedestrian traffic, and a good amount of car traffic, people jay-walk, cars don’t stop for pedestrians, pedestrians don’t make way for cars, and you almost have to put up with one if you put up with the other.
You see, here, you must be both aggressive and uber cautious. Uber-Cautious because people are aggressive, don’t signal, and in general don’t respect the other (cars>people & people>cars).
Two major instances where being aggressive is a must for cars.
First Bourbon Street, if you are going to make it across Bourbon Street, you must move forward a foot when you get enough room to move forward. If you don’t, you will never make it across as there is constant foot traffic all across the street, and its never regulated.
Second, at lights along Canal St and Decatur. The pedestrians have a dedicated light to go on, but often when they see the green light for cars, they ignore the RED light for pedestrians. If more than one or two of the ten plus cars at a light are going to make it through the light, the cars must push there way through the pedestrian traffic or some will end up waiting through 5 cycles of the light.
I do have a suggestion. Bourbon St. has no solution other than closing the Quarter to automotive traffic. However, at the lights we can improve the situation. We could add a strobe to the light when the traffic light is green and the pedestrian light is RED, or a cheaper, less distracting, and over all better move is to add a green arrow so the pedestrians know that the turning cars have the right away. They should be less likely to go if they see a green arrow vs. a green light.
Finally, these lights never work right, so how can you expect the pedestrians to follow the working lights let alone the broken ones. I’ve called 311 numerous times. When I say they don’t work right, some are burned out, but quite a few have both the walk and don’t walk lights on at the same time all the time. For some reason, they fix the auto lights quicker than the pedestrian lights.
In conclusion, we need a green arrow at the intersections where pedestrians and vehicular traffic get separate dedicated signals and crossing times. Plus, we need to make sure all the lights-specifically the pedestrian signals working. Finally a closure of the quarter to vehicular traffic.
NOTE: I mention a possible closure of the quarter to vehicular traffic. This issue has been discussed many times, and thus I am not pushing it. It would be feasible as people entering the quarter would need to be making a delivery–during certain hours; going to an off street parking spot–with monthly pass, residential permit, or hotel reservation. Several things that make this possible would be pedi-cabs and/or the rail line down Royal &/or Charters from canal to ??? (This rail is a mini-rail like the one in city park, but for adults. Both of which has been discussed and plans presented to the City Council), and finally no street parking. —- None of these I really like as I frequent the quarter, and generally park on the street. —- This may be a burden on residents and visitors to the quarter and well as neighboring neighborhoods where cars may end up parking. —- The plus for this is that the majority of the people in the area staying in hotels, and not driving.