Race Street Connector

[supersupper]

The most recent plans for The Race Street Connector presented to the OCCA can be viewed at Brownstoner - Philadelphia: Full Steam Ahead: Plans for the Race St Connector

It's a challenging area to tame, so this should be interesting.

I would like to see the four lanes Race becomes at 2nd Street be narrowed and WELL DEFINED down to 2- one for I95, one for Thru to Del. It would help tame the crazy traffic at that area (SLOW DOWN!!!).

I like the idea of a green-painted bike lane, but the bollards should be between bikes and cars, not bikes and pedestrians.

Though I like the concept, I'm quite wary of the Torchia design.

New plantings, addressing the impromptu parking area, narrow walkways, etc are all thumbs-up. A seating area at the bottom of Race- not so much so. It would look nice but would never be used.

[Alley]

I am really excited about the Race Street Pier and Race Street Connector projects since I live close by. I have tried to attend meetings for both. The last Race Street Connector meeting made me think it is going to happen, yipee! I like the concept of most of it. I had no idea those cars on the sidewalk were illegally parked until attending the meeting. This irks me because those cars illegally parked make it hard to cross. The LED art if it happens should be cool.

[desolate]

A nice plan.

Let's hoe the like, ya know, don't' gloss over the fact that they are sending people directly into two highway on ramps. The only ones for 1/4 of Center City and the Del Ave one being a high speed left turn.

You're going to need a light.

[mixiboi]

Connecting the City to the River: The Race Street Connector Project at Plan for the Central Delaware: Transforming Philadelphia's Waterfront

Interesting...

[supersupper]

I am really excited about the Race Street Pier and Race Street Connector projects since I live close by. I have tried to attend meetings for both. The last Race Street Connector meeting made me think it is going to happen, yipee! I like the concept of most of it. I had no idea those cars on the sidewalk were illegally parked until attending the meeting. This irks me because those cars illegally parked make it hard to cross. The LED art if it happens should be cool.

Oh I am looking forward to it too. It is such a low-profile, interesting/odd left-over area with not much to lose that it is perfect for experimentation. I am really waiting for the day the utility building becomes something else.

That "slide-off" is very dangerous for pedestrians, and those cars parked on the sidewalk obstruct the motorists view of people trying to cross. I know that area well, and the only way to cross safely is to use the stairs up against the Highway. Only locals would know that- it's not apparent to out-of-towners, many of whom come from the Comfort Inn to get into the city.

[DCnPhilly]

I would like to see the four lanes Race becomes at 2nd Street be narrowed and WELL DEFINED down to 2- one for I95, one for Thru to Del. It would help tame the crazy traffic at that area (SLOW DOWN!!!).

This concept should be applied to a lot of surface streets. The speed limit is typically 25-35 on most Center City Streets, but a lot of the major intersections are designed for high speed suburban traffic, sending people from major freeways directly into pedestrians at 50mph. Lanes don't need to be eliminated, they need to be - like you said - well defined. Landscaping and proper curbing helps with this.

[dartmo]

Seems like if the Race St. Connector comes to fruition along with the Pier it would make the empty lot on the NW corner of 2nd and Race even more attractive to some sort of development. I'm sure there is a thread here somewhere about what was supposed to go up there, but I am curious as to current status. And no, I'm not expecting it to become a combination Target/Trader Joe's/CVS.

[radiocolin]

Perhaps a fair-trade coffee shop, farmer's market, or bike repair shop.

[desolate]

Perhaps a fair-trade coffee shop, farmer's market, or bike repair shop.

I think it should be a cafe that respects everyone's ethnic heritage and desire for a green planet.

[MTEMPLE]

Seems like if the Race St. Connector comes to fruition along with the Pier it would make the empty lot on the NW corner of 2nd and Race even more attractive to some sort of development. I'm sure there is a thread here somewhere about what was supposed to go up there, but I am curious as to current status. And no, I'm not expecting it to become a combination Target/Trader Joe's/CVS.

Skyline Online: Design Changes Planned for 205 Race Street As Condo Market Softens

Two years ago the developer wanted to build apartments and two floors of retail instead of condos. As far as i know he gave up on the project.

[DCnPhilly]

I think that sign has been on that block for five or six years. I'm sure it's dead.

[ArcticSplash]

I think it should be a cafe that respects everyone's ethnic heritage and desire for a green planet.

And shaped like a tofu treat.

[RonMcNasty]

I think it should be a cafe that respects everyone's ethnic heritage and desire for a green planet.

I am hoping for another strip club.... A real seedy one.

[desolate]

I am hoping for another strip club.... A real seedy one.

Well that strip club better have first floor retail and at least hold public hearings so the residents can pick what the whores will wear.

[DCnPhilly]

Well that strip club better have first floor retail and at least hold public hearings so the residents can pick what the whores will wear.

I would love to see that OCCA meeting play out!