The Virginian-Pilot
©
VIRGINIA BEACH
Why did the jaywalker cross the road?
To get to Town Center or Pembroke Mall.
Why will the jaywalker soon have to take the long way?
Because the city is putting up a 4-foot-high fence in the median separating eight-lane Virginia Beach Boulevard between Independence and Constitution.
It’s to keep jaywalkers from risking their lives between Kohl’s and The Cheesecake Factory.
“There’s just a tremendous amount of pedestrian activity going back and forth,” traffic engineer Robert Gey said.
No one’s been hit , but the City Council figured it was a matter of time. And there’s no interest in beefing up the enforcement for jaywalking, because the city wants Town Center to be pedestrian-friendly .
On Friday, why did Trakesha Jones and three of her girlfriends dash – ahead of the fence builders – across the Boulevard to Max & Erma’s for lunch?
“That block is too long!” Jones laughed.
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WALK
You going to PF's or the Cheesecake Fact for luch and stuffing your face with 2k-3k in one sitting..why not walk an extra 50 yards if that to the nearest traffic light and cross the right way and work off some of those calories...
what's the bridge connected to?
There has been talk about ped bridges in other cities... but for the life of me, I can't think of one that goes from ground level up to cross a street and then back down to ground level... I can only think of bridges that go from building to building. Maybe if there was a large building right accross from PF Changs that could connect the TC building and that, it might make sense. It could be accessible from the parking section.
Rethinking the problem
Why not fix the problem of a 45 mph 8-lane highway dividing Town Center be moving the roadway? There's so much vacant space and unused parking lot that traffic flow could easily be diverted north of Pembroke Mall. If that's inconvenient for those travelling beyond local streets they could use I264.
No bridge, no fence, no pedestrian fatalities, no speeding and maybe you even add a bus stop or 2, plus generate more income from increased roadside retail space.
Briliant Idea!
This is an example of when someone in city gov't uses their head. It's nice to see a proactive approach for a change. Imagine their preferring jay walking traps (e.g. speed traps) to make some lazy cops an easy quota for tickets.
Manufacturing a Demand
Crossing at the corners hasn't been a problem for me. The pedestrian signs work. Some people likely weren't as close to the corners and end up jay walking. You think these people want to walk the distance to steps or wait for an elevator, then walk across the bridge, go down steps or wait on another elevator and then repeat that going back? How long is your lunch break?
Sounds to me they're trying use this to manufacture a demand for a pedestrian bridge by obstructing pedestrian traffic.
I've said it before...
If the city *really* wanted Pembroke Mall and the Pembroke Office buildings to be a part of their Town Center club, they would've widened Columbus Loop to 6 lanes and closed the inside to all but foot traffic (and deliveries vehicles between 3-6am).
There's not going to be a pedestrian bridge until Pembroke Mall has been razed and more offices, condos and 'out-of-town' restaurants move in.
Conn Fence of Newport News
Guess the City of VB couldn't find a business in VB to install a fence. Bringing one down from NN was cheaper...
Good to know that fence
Good to know that fence people in Va Beach weren't willing to do this.... kind of makes you wonder!! Also makes you wonder what this just cost the taxpayers!
God forbid
that the stay at home moms and teenagers heading to the mall should actually have to walk a little extra and spend an extra minute or two getting to where they want to go. All your complaints are the same that people have when griping about a speed limit being lowered yet you guys are also the same who complain about speed limits being to high when an accident happens and someone gets killed. You cant have your cake an eat it to so sacrifice a minute or two and burn off some of that back fat you've aquired over the years from being lazy and deal with it and obey the law for a change.
Nice....
Not all of us are the "lazy, back fat people". Some of us are mildy handicapped and the extra distance would be cumbersome to say the least! They want people to support the business in the new "downtown" Virginia Beach yet they are not willing to make it pleasant to shop there at all. Seems like they are a bit confused.