It's good when downtown is congested

"Congestion" is grossly misunderstood.

The war on congestion is necessarily a war on Main Street.

Main Street thrives with congestion. Commerce, socializing, entertainment - these things happen where car traffic moves slowly.  

“Good” traffic engineering level of service – the absence of congestion – is anathema to a vibrant community. 

Memorable main streets are those places where people feel safe and comfortable on foot. Plenty of walking space, seating, lighting, and places to spend money… these are common traits of Main Street. 

Most traffic analysis treats your main street like a highway, so here are some questions to ask the experts:

❓ Is it better for business if tourists walk through downtown or speed through in a vehicle?

❓ Is it safer for children to walk across a 2-lane street or a 6-lane street?

❓ Will restaurants offer outdoor seating along a 20 MPH street or a 45 MPH street?

Famed placemaker Fred Kent says:

If you plan cities for cars and traffic, you get cars and traffic. If you plan for people and places, you get people and places.

You’ll probably find the rules found in your local development ordinances, zoning regulations, and traffic impact guidelines need to be revised or outright purged. Otherwise, “good” traffic analysis results will destroy Main Street.

Take some inspiration from how Walt Disney planned his downtowns: