Main Street is a critical East-West corridor in the south of Evanston, but existing roadway conditions between the North Channel and Maple Avenue present serious environmental and safety concerns. Traffic and parking congestion, sidewalk and crosswalk gaps, and the lack of infrastructure for cyclists is a missed opportunity to improve the connectivity of our community and the City of Evanston and region at large. Improvements including continuous sidewalks, improved pedestrian crossings, modernized intersections, and protected bike lanes would link Robert Crown Center, Washington Elementary School, the Channel Trail/ Sculpture Park, Skokie with its bike lanes on Main St, existing bike lanes in Evanston on Dodge and Asbury, as well as the Main-Dempster Mile shopping district to the east.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Due to the current lack of safe infrastructure for cyclists, those on bike must either pedal along the sidewalk creating conflicts with pedestrians, or be forced into the street to share space with cars and trucks, creating traffic congestion and also the potential for life-threatening accidents. Sidewalk gaps exacerbate this problem and, combined with older or missing crosswalks, also act as a barrier for pedestrians and limit access entirely for disabled individuals. As a result, many of those who travel to destinations along Main St drive, due to the lack of safe alternatives. Improvements that better prioritize pedestrians and cyclists will improve safety, reduce vehicle congestion by allowing all residents to safely visit local destinations without a car, improve air quality, and help the city meet its CARP goals by decreasing carbon emissions from transportation.

 

Improving Main Street for all users should include:

Cycling

• Protected Bicycle Lanes offering a safe and low stress connection for all ages and abilities allowing access across currently dangerous stretches of road such as the Channel Bridge and Maple Ave.

 

 

 

 

 

Pedestrians

• Continuous Sidewalks to fill in the gaps along Main between Dodge and Hartrey that make it difficult to travel this area by foot and impossible to navigate if mobility impaired.

 

 

 

 

 

• Stop Sign with Raised Crosswalk near Main & Florence to provide a physical feature to slow car traffic on a stretch of road notorious for speeding, which will make it safer for children, families, and residents to reach Washington Elementary School and Crown Center.

 

 

 

 

 

Motorists

• Dedicated Left Turn Lane for cars at Asbury & Main to reduce traffic backups and improve the efficiency of the intersection, which will reduce idling causing noise and air emissions and create safer conditions for cyclists and pedestrians if less drivers need to "rush" to try and make it through the current congestion.