Sioux Falls, SD (KELO AM) - The Main Avenue Road Diet pilot project was such a success that the City of Sioux Falls is working to make the changes permanent. The project repurposed one traffic lane of Main Avenue from Sixth Street to 14th Street to increase safety for pedestrians and bicyclists, add parking, extend public seating areas, and calm traffic.
While the pilot project was in place for just more than three months, the positive outcomes included:
- Three businesses utilized bumpout areas.
- The additional 75 parking spaces were used on a daily basis.
- The average traffic speed was reduced by 8 percent, bringing it closer to the posted speed limit.
- Vehicle travel times were nominally affected, and no crashes were attributed to the changes.
- Survey feedback was primarily positive and included an increased feeling of safety for pedestrians.
In order to make the changes more permanent over the winter, the diagonal parking spaces will be restriped. In response to survey feedback, the angle of the parking will be changed from 60 degrees to 45 degrees in an effort to make it easier to back out of spaces. The 90-minute free parking will be continued while the Public Parking Division explores implementing pay stations in that area of downtown in the future. Planters and some bumpouts will be left in place. A bike lane may be added in the spring.
“As we look at making this project more permanent, our first priority for investment of taxpayer dollars will be the block of Main from Tenth Street to 11th Street,” says Mark Cotter, Director of Public Works. “Creating a vibrant, walkable downtown requires us to rethink our street systems, and this project is one example of our efforts to create complete streets in Sioux Falls.”