Originally Posted by
royce
eliboyer, the statement about LP resident being very vocal against any street level alternatives is so true. I went around 6 and it was hard for me to talk to the MDOT reps there because the LP folks were giving them an earful. I personally really don't understand why they are so adamant against the street level alternatives. None of the street alternatives will divert traffic towards LP that isn't going there already. There concerns about increased traffic are somewhat a concern, but that might only be a problem during a major event downtown like the fireworks or during the auto show. I heard one lady talk about Tiger fans peeing in the area. She must have meant LIONS fans. I honestly can't see where this happens in their neighborhood, and if it does, it's a consequence of having the stadiums downtown, not a consequence of the freeway or any surface street replacing it.
LP residents want to maintain their urban "oasis" but they fail to remember that they are in a city, not a country hamlet tucked deep in the woods. I would never live there for the precise reasons they like it there. They may claim its walkable, but walkable to what? If I lived in the Pavillion Apartments for example, it would take me over five minutes to get to anything substantial by foot, Eastern Market, Greektown, the RiverWalk, or the LP shopping plaza.
Also, I hear them complain about if you remove the freeway, they won't have quick access to the freeway. If I-375 ends south of Gratiot and becomes a surface street, it will still have an access route to the freeway portion, just not at Larned. They'll have to drive a little further north to catch the freeway just south of Gratiot. The Lafayette and Monroe intersections will continue to have stop lights. So, they have to wait maybe two additional minutes to get to the freeway. Really? [[Yeah, I know that's funny coming from me).
The NIMBY mentality among LP residents is in full force and that's too bad. The changes to that corridor, regardless of alternatives, except keeping the status quo, can be more positive than negative. Staying in our comfort zones is safe, but sometimes change is good. I think in this case it will be.