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Hemphill/Lamar/Taylor Connector project ?


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#201 Austin55

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Posted 14 April 2020 - 07:13 PM

Don't forget most of the municipal funding for the tunnel came from the 2004 bond. Another bond is likely upcoming in 2022. Never too early to start petitioning for transportation initiatives. The 2018 bond was over a quarter million in mobility infrastructure.

#202 Dylan

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Posted 14 April 2020 - 07:38 PM

This connector basically extends Hemphill Street north into downtown. It eliminates two turns to get from Hemphill Street to Lancaster Avenue (or vise-versa).


-Dylan


#203 renamerusk

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Posted 14 April 2020 - 07:46 PM

Don't forget most of the municipal funding for the tunnel came from the 2004 bond. Another bond is likely upcoming in 2022. Never too early to start petitioning for transportation initiatives. The 2018 bond was over a quarter million in mobility infrastructure.

You might be missing the point.  The source of the funding is really not at issue.  Most all bond election usually go under the radar and sail to approval. 

 

Now that we have it, the issue seems to be who championed it and why?

 

Often each district will wants something included for itself in the bond package even if it is It may not be fully justifiable. Sometimes its a "quid pro quo".  I am saying and find that others are saying too is that there should be better stewardship of bond packages or at the minimum, a very clear detailing of the essential need for things.



#204 renamerusk

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Posted 14 April 2020 - 07:50 PM

This connector basically extends Hemphill Street north into downtown. It eliminates two turns to get from Hemphill Street to Lancaster Avenue (or vise-versa).

 

And the elimination of two turns is important because of what? 

 

I actually love the way Downtown jumps into focus exiting Jennings Tunnel and never found the turn/bend onerous even though it has a bit of mystery entering either way.

 

I do find $53M exorbitant.



#205 johnfwd

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Posted 15 April 2020 - 06:23 AM

Referring to the pedestrian walks in the tunnels other than the Hemphill/Lamar/Taylor connector...back in the 1950s they were probably delightful, safe, and healthy to traverse.  Last time I walked through the Jennings Avenue tunnel was to go to a Beto rally at the Receiving Station in summer 2018.  Found it dirty in the interior and with a distinct odor of you know what.  Nothing against vagrants but my fear was to encounter one in the dark interior.  I hope the pedestrian walkway in the Hemphill/Lamar/Taylor connector is kept clean and safe after the passage of time.



#206 Doohickie

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Posted 15 April 2020 - 06:45 AM

I always walked through the T&P station if I wanted to walk between DTFW and the Southside.


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#207 Jeriat

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Posted 15 April 2020 - 10:07 AM

I always walked through the T&P station if I wanted to walk between DTFW and the Southside.

 

Same.

I just don't trust walking through under those overpasses... even if they are well lit and brand new.


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#208 Doohickie

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Posted 25 April 2020 - 05:36 PM

I actually encountered my first pedestrians going under the new underpass on this afternoon's bicycle ride.


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#209 rriojas71

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Posted 27 April 2020 - 04:00 PM

Now that they have made Taylor Street 2-way all the way to 3rd this makes the connection seem a bit more functional now.  It was really cool driving north on Hemphill and continuing north on Taylor past the eastern edge of Burnett Park.  This was the first time I have seen the park driving from this direction.  It also felt like it will be a good way to activate Burnett Park now making it less cumbersome getting to.

 

Driving south to get out of downtown and into the NSS using Taylor to Hemphill is where I felt like this underpass will have it's greatest impact.  It really opens up the corner of Hemphill and Vickery and makes that area much more accessible to potential new development.

 

I still feel like it was over done but it is definitely a plus now in my opinion.



#210 renamerusk

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Posted 27 April 2020 - 05:16 PM

.....

The change was driven by police freaking out about needing to rapidly bring in emergency vehicles between midnight and 2:30 AM three nights per week (Thurs, Fri, Sat nights).  That's it....

 

It was designed to move cars quickly through a neighborhood where we should want cars to move SLOWLY.   Further, if i owned a business on one of those one-way streets, I'd be furious since it makes 1) businesses less visible 2) harder to reach b/c have to go around blocks, and 3) less comfortable for pedestrians. 

 

......changing to two-way streets Downtown, because DFWI and Downtown property and business owners have realized that two-way streets make street level retail more successful and a better pedestrian environment.  It boggles the mind that we allowed this to happen in the West 7th Core area. 

 

 

Now that they have made Taylor Street 2-way all the way to 3rd this makes the connection seem a bit more functional now.  It was really cool driving north on Hemphill and continuing north on Taylor part the easter edge of Burnett Park. ....

 

It really opens up the corner of Hemphill and Vickery and makes that area much more accessible to potential new development.

 

I still feel like it was over done but it is definitely a plus now in my opinion.

 

 Did you mean Lamar Street instead of Taylor Street? I don't see how Taylor makes the ingress/egress at the  Connector more accessible or accessible to Burnett Park.

 

Clearly, this project is for potential development; and one could no doubt make a convincing argument if that is a your primary argument. 

 

I was wondering if two way streets are safer and more efficient in moving traffic: 1 way tops 2 way if you are concerned about traffic flow; but if businesses are complaining that they are being hurt, then by all means, let them have their way.  Having to navigate crossing a two way street is less safe than crossing a one way street, just my own experience.  Safe and efficient? Sure nuff, there is a study

-http://www.debunking...eWayStreets.htm



#211 rriojas71

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Posted 28 April 2020 - 09:34 AM

 

.....

The change was driven by police freaking out about needing to rapidly bring in emergency vehicles between midnight and 2:30 AM three nights per week (Thurs, Fri, Sat nights).  That's it....

 

It was designed to move cars quickly through a neighborhood where we should want cars to move SLOWLY.   Further, if i owned a business on one of those one-way streets, I'd be furious since it makes 1) businesses less visible 2) harder to reach b/c have to go around blocks, and 3) less comfortable for pedestrians. 

 

......changing to two-way streets Downtown, because DFWI and Downtown property and business owners have realized that two-way streets make street level retail more successful and a better pedestrian environment.  It boggles the mind that we allowed this to happen in the West 7th Core area. 

 

 

Now that they have made Taylor Street 2-way all the way to 3rd this makes the connection seem a bit more functional now.  It was really cool driving north on Hemphill and continuing north on Taylor part the easter edge of Burnett Park. ....

 

It really opens up the corner of Hemphill and Vickery and makes that area much more accessible to potential new development.

 

I still feel like it was over done but it is definitely a plus now in my opinion.

 

 Did you mean Lamar Street instead of Taylor Street? I don't see how Taylor makes the ingress/egress at the  Connector more accessible or accessible to Burnett Park.

 

Clearly, this project is for potential development; and one could no doubt make a convincing argument if that is a your primary argument. 

 

I was wondering if two way streets are safer and more efficient in moving traffic: 1 way tops 2 way if you are concerned about traffic flow; but if businesses are complaining that they are being hurt, then by all means, let them have their way.  Having to navigate crossing a two way street is less safe than crossing a one way street, just my own experience.  Safe and efficient? Sure nuff, there is a study

-http://www.debunking...eWayStreets.htm

 

Yes my mistake.  I did mean Lamar.



#212 Austin55

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Posted 29 June 2020 - 01:12 PM

If riding a bike, I think the Jennings or Main tunnels are still preferable.  I'm not a big fan of leaving the traffic lane to enter a sidepath, then having to merge with the traffic lane again at the other end.  Also, when riding on the sidepath, the bend to the right creates a visual obstruction.  Overall, I'm not a fan. 

 

I really don't understand having two vehicle lanes in each direction when there's only one lane each way on both the Hemphill and Lamar ends of the tunnel. I agree with Doohickie that the sidepath is not very safe for bikes to due the narrowness of the lanes and obscured sight lines. I've learned to take the lane when cycling through, though that has the same issue if there's a speeding car making it's way around the bend you might not be seen. 

Having two lanes for cars is also annoying as when you are driving and emerge onto the Hemphill end the only place to merge is the middle of the intersection, which has created a few uncomfortable situations where I've watched people try and change at the last minute. Jennings also does this.

 

A few cans of paint would really help things out.



#213 Dylan

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Posted 30 June 2020 - 04:21 PM

It's dumb that the SB right lane ends with no warning. It ought to be a right-turn only lane. But, it's not the only instance in Fort Worth where a traffic lane runs out with little to no warning.

 

EB on Rosedale approaching Evans, the right lane suddenly ends with a sidewalk bulb-out before the intersection.

 

If you turn SB onto Evans, the right lane suddenly ends with no warning into a bicycle and parking lane.

 

If you go north on 35W, then take the Western Center exit and go east, the left lane (of three) suddenly ends with only one warning sign.

 

If you take the Basswood exit and go east, the left lane (of three) suddenly ends with NO warning.

 

The prior two cases also used to be the case if you took the Heritage Trace exit and went east, but the city recently fixed it. The left lane (of three) used to end just past the Riverside intersection, but now the left lane (of three) is one of two left turn only lanes at the Riverside intersection (along with the original left turn lane).


-Dylan


#214 renamerusk

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Posted 30 June 2020 - 04:44 PM

Really I have come to the conclusion that the engineers in the Fort Worth TxDot Division do not play out some of their lane schemes.  A really tricky lane game which has always given me fits is the "I-30/I-35/Rosedale Lane Confluence".  Its a scary mix of slowing down, speeding up, blending in and existing all within 3-5 seconds at a high rate of speed.



#215 Dylan

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Posted 30 June 2020 - 05:54 PM

If you think that's fun, it's even more fun if you start from the SB express lane.

 

When the SB express lane becomes the left lane of 35W SB, you have to get over three lanes to take the exit... but 30 merges in before the exit, so you have to get over two more times to take the exit. Then, you have to get over two more times if you want to turn right.

 

Basically, in order to get from the SB express lane to EB Rosedale, you have to merge into your right lane seven times in the span of a mile.


-Dylan


#216 renamerusk

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Posted 30 June 2020 - 06:27 PM

At least its somewhat comforting to know that I'm not the only one to find this 3/10 miles harrowing. :eek:



#217 bclaridge

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Posted 30 June 2020 - 09:50 PM

Try entering southbound I-820 from Meadowbrook.  You have to move over two lanes to the left very quickly in order to stay on southbound 820.

That is a much older freeway, however, so I guess that location has a little bit more of an excuse to stay in that condition.  I used to work in that area several years ago, and found the distance between the Meadowbrook on-ramp and the Craig Street off-ramp to be very short.  Hopefully this part of 820 gets its (much overdue) reconstruction soon.

As with respect to I-35W southbound between the I-30 onramp and the Rosedale offramp, there is not much time to move over for that exit if you are traveling southbound on 35W.  For something that is much more recent (a result of the late-1990s and early-2000s Mixmaster reconstruction), the lack of space to move over is much more unfortunate in an era that had higher standards for freeways.  The remainder of the I-35W South Freeway corridor (north of I-20) has pretty high standards, safe enough to have a 70 MPH speed limit these days, and that was a late-1980s project.


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#218 Doohickie

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Posted 30 June 2020 - 10:24 PM

Try entering southbound I-820 from Meadowbrook.  You have to move over two lanes to the left very quickly in order to stay on southbound 820.

 

  1. My wife did that for almost 10 years while teaching at Eastern Hills HS.  You have to be aware that you need to do it but it's not that bad.
  2. If you can't make the second lane change, just stay put.  You have to go through a light at Lancaster, but then you can get on after that.
  3. They're expanding the freeway right now; I expect they'll take care of that.

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#219 bclaridge

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Posted 01 July 2020 - 01:25 AM

 

Try entering southbound I-820 from Meadowbrook.  You have to move over two lanes to the left very quickly in order to stay on southbound 820.

 

  1. My wife did that for almost 10 years while teaching at Eastern Hills HS.  You have to be aware that you need to do it but it's not that bad.
  2. If you can't make the second lane change, just stay put.  You have to go through a light at Lancaster, but then you can get on after that.
  3. They're expanding the freeway right now; I expect they'll take care of that.

 

Traffic does not seem that bad on that portion of I-820, at least when I used to work in that area.  The expansion is part of the Southeast Connector project, and the offramps to Craig Street will be removed, but so will the pedestrian bridge just north of there.  The new Craig Street bridge will cross both the freeway and frontage roads, so it should provide better pedestrian access than the old pedestrian-only bridge (which involved crossing the frontage roads with no striped crosswalks).

Back to Hemphill, my only complaint involves the recent restriping and the abrupt end of the right lane going southbound at Vickery.  I don't think that having the right lane become right-turn only is appropriate, since that section of Vickery ends just a few blocks to the west.


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#220 panthercity

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Posted 01 July 2020 - 09:58 AM

They also missed south bound Hemphill at Magnolia.

#221 Doohickie

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Posted 03 July 2020 - 09:30 AM

I don't think that having the right lane become right-turn only is appropriate, since that section of Vickery ends just a few blocks to the west.


I do. It would keep two lanes of traffic on one side of the intersection from trying to merge to one as it crosses the intersection.


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#222 JBB

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Posted 27 March 2021 - 07:44 AM

I noticed while driving down 30 this morning that the art work part of the tunnel has been installed.  Or at least today is the first time I've noticed it.  It could have happened months ago.



#223 txbornviking

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Posted 29 March 2021 - 07:24 AM

I noticed while driving down 30 this morning that the art work part of the tunnel has been installed.  Or at least today is the first time I've noticed it.  It could have happened months ago.

 

that's interesting to hear.

 

Saturday about noon my wife and I drove through the underpass and while the poles were up for the art to be hung from, the art was not yet up.

 

Sounds like they had a busy sunday?



#224 rriojas71

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Posted 29 March 2021 - 01:52 PM

I don't think that it is fully installed.... the horns have not been added yet but the rod and polls that they will hang from have been up for a few weeks now.  I drove by yesterday and would have noticed them but maybe they did have a busy Sunday afternoon like Viking stated.



#225 JBB

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Posted 29 March 2021 - 02:14 PM

The only thing I actually saw on Saturday morning was the support structure on the downtown side.



#226 Austin55

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Posted 24 April 2021 - 07:41 PM

The first full horn is on and several more are half up.

 

TDF3CZf.jpg



#227 Volare

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Posted 26 April 2021 - 08:47 AM

We drive by this on the way to school every day. My 6 year old has had fun trying to guess what it is. Before she thought it was a roller coaster. Today with the half horns she says they are a bunch of frozen windsocks. I haven't bothered to tell her what it actually is- too boring.



#228 rriojas71

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Posted 26 April 2021 - 01:48 PM

Yeah... this is really bad.  I don't find it interesting at all and it is kinda embarrassing.  



#229 roverone

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Posted 26 April 2021 - 02:48 PM

"Frozen windsocks" is a very clever interpretation.

 

I don't really "get" the underling idea of this, but maybe it is an abbreviation of an idea.  One could imagine if you had a photograph of actual longhorns ascending an irregular hill, and you captured the positions and translated those horns into their positions mounted in 3D space with width, it might have been something better, but probably difficult to do over lanes of traffic and also wildly over budget.

 

Not including the artistic value, I'm kind of disappointed that the curvature of the main rail is not smooth and continuous at the joints / supports, and that the nearest set of horns is mounted in a different way than the rest, and that the electrical boxes (2 of them ?) are large and gray and have a large handle and are very much a part of the sculpture instead of being in an in-ground vault or something.  It seems like you could power 27-28 LED longhorns without too much difficulty.  And I don't really know what is going on just before the 2nd column from the foreground: it kind of looks like there is supposed to be another arm there.

 

I don't want to be hyper-critical, but I think that attention to detail is especially important for object whose only purpose to exist is aesthetic.  I think everyone on this forum knows that the details can make or break a project even if you don't notice them when they are right -- when they are wrong they disrupt and steal attention away from the intent.



#230 Volare

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Posted 26 April 2021 - 04:56 PM

Here in the land where everything has to be "Cow"

 

Reminds me of going to Houston in Middle school when everything had to be "Astro..."



#231 Doohickie

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Posted 27 April 2021 - 06:15 AM

Yeah... this is really bad.  I don't find it interesting at all and it is kinda embarrassing.  

I'm trying to reserve judgment but I'm in this neighborhood.


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#232 Jeriat

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Posted 27 April 2021 - 09:11 AM

Here in the land where everything has to be "Cow"

 

Reminds me of going to Houston in Middle school when everything had to be "Astro..."

 

Which I'd prefer, to be honest...


7fwPZnE.png

 

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#233 Volare

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Posted 28 April 2021 - 07:54 AM

Today the girl looked at the installation (which now has most of if not all of the horns installed) and said: "Well, it can't be a windsock. And it can't be a bird tail. Maybe it's art. Or a roller coaster."



#234 panthercity

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Posted 17 August 2021 - 04:15 PM

The mustaches are now lit. They dont look half bad this way.

#235 rriojas71

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Posted 19 August 2021 - 02:29 PM

Yeah, I noticed the other day that they are all installed now.  I guess I have to see it now that they are lit up.  It is starting to grow on me a bit... when I say growing on me that means that I don't think they are as terrible now






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