Pedestrians and cyclists have several reasons to traverse north Main Avenue, and to travel its length. But the crossing locations are not physically very friendly, and they could be safer. Thirty-five mph is the speed limit along its length.
Reworking north Main to be more pedestrian and biker friendly is on the city’s to-do list for good reason. Progress on that plan has been made in recent weeks by soliciting comments, and that has culminated in a draft of the consultant’s work. It is part of an effort to also help give north Main’s commercial strip a more appealing appearance and functionality. Until now, it has been downtown Main Avenue, between Fifth Street and Buckley Park at 12th Street, that has received almost all of the city’s attention.
The Durango Public library, Durango High School, La Plata County Fairgrounds and the Durango Community Recreation Center have easy access from the Animas River Trail to the east. But from the west, traversing Main Avenue and traveling the length of Main Avenue, is not as safe or as friendly as it could be.
At 19th Street, the most direct route to and from the public library, there is no light. On north Main, pedestrians do not receive from drivers the same deference they do while crossing in downtown Durango.
Lights do exist to reach DHS and then the fairgrounds, a block farther north. So, too, the rec center. But the speed limit is 35 mph, and street surroundings suggest to drivers let’s-drive-as-quickly-as-we-can, rather than reflecting the presence of foot and bicycle traffic by old and young. “Calming” automobile traffic is an adjective that is used to describe a component of what is needed.
Narrower traffic lanes to provide for wider sidewalks have been suggested, and landscaping. Those biking north and south could also be encouraged to use East Second Avenue for a portion of the distance. At 19th Street, as long as that intersection has no light, a median could provide a refuge for pedestrians.
And, it is possible to expect more of the yellow caution and red stop lights that were new to pedestrian crossings on Camino del Rio and puzzled drivers.
Durangoans have no shortage of suggestions as to how to better traffic flow, especially when it comes to integrating pedestrians and bicycle riders.
It is worth emphasizing that north Main Avenue’s traffic controls are under the control of the Colorado Department of Transportation, as is Camino del Rio. They are state highways. While CDOT’s mission is something along the lines of moving automobile traffic as efficiently and safely as possible, we can expect that, especially within a city’s boundaries, it will take a broader view of a community’s needs. We have seen examples of that.
Durango, for the most part, has great physical appeal and is adapting quickly to increased numbers of pedestrians and bicyclers, and we can expect that, at some time in the not too distant future, north Main Avenue will have to do the same.
