Description
Can we have Triana between Bob Wallace Ave and Drake Ave (at the least) re-evaluated for minimum width requirements?
I drive a mid-size vehicle and I BARELY fit between the lane lines. Large vehicles such as school buses, dump trucks, garbage trucks, etc., commonly use this roadway and DO NOT fit in the lanes as marked. In reality, this road is too narrow for 4 traffic lanes and a turn lane. It's a very common occurrence that someone will be in the turn lane (not completely because they don't fit!) and at least one, possibly two cars will have to slam on their breaks or cut into the other travel lane to avoid hitting them.
My suggestion would be to either make this a two lane road with a bike lane on each side and a turn lane, or remove the turn lane, add a bike lane and widen the existing travel lanes. It should be possible to perform either adjustment described above without any direct impact upon traffic flow for this roadway.
I would argue that the lanes of this road is NOT the minimum width of 9 feet as described in the COH Engineering Standards document figure 5-1 (attached), and it causes undue hazard due to vehicles often not fitting within the designated lane markers.
Please consider this issue and re-evaluate the road purpose and markings to better the safety of this roadway.
Thank you for your time.
5 Comments
City of Huntsville (Verified Official)
Acknowledged Huntsville Engineering (Verified Official)
Thank you for contacting the City of Huntsville with your service request. Your inquiry regarding the widening of Triana we be evaluated, and we will respond as soon as possible.
Thank you,
Engineering
Closed Huntsville Traffic Engineering (Verified Official)
Thank you for contacting the City of Huntsville Traffic Engineering.
Triana from Drake to Bob Wallace was converted into a 5 lane section back on the 80's. The current lanes are at least 9ft wide. From a traffic standpoint, wider lanes would be better, however, the City carved out two-way left turn along this stretch to make it safer for vehicles turning into the side streets. While narrower than normal, they provide a refuge area for a vehicle to stop.
The section of roadway that does not have a left turn lane cause drivers stop to make a left turn ( north of Bob Wallace ) from the through lanes, which is not safe amd has a higher tendancy for rear end crashes. More importantly, converting this location to a three-lane section would mean that both signalized intersections at Triana & Drake / Triana Bob Wallace would need to be reconfigured to restrict only one lane from going through the intersection and to proposed 3 lane section. This would reduce capacity on this stretch of roadway and intersection.
Lastly, bike lanes in the section would not be contiguous to any other bike lanes in this area. TE would not recommend converting it into a 3 lane section or 3 lane section with bike lanes.
Josh (Registered User)
Josh (Registered User)