The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1954-05-14

will move traffic faster than 600
cars per hour per traffic lane.
More Traffic Lanes
Relieving congestion, then be-
comes a problem of making sure
that lanes are wide enough and
controlled well enough to get the
optimum amount of traffic moved
over the road. And in addition.
providing added traffic lanes for
streets needing these lanes.
Here, there are a few common
sense facts which must be under.
stood. They apply to 3O-foot streets.
i. Ii each traffic lane requires
II feet, then two-way streets re-
quire % feet for traffic lanes.
leaving 8 feet for parking. This is
adequate for one side parking only.
therefore two-way streets cannot
accommodate two side parking
satisfactorily.
Y. If traffic on a one-way street
Is congested, then another lane
must be opened and parking re.
stricted to one SIDE.
%. 1t does not matter whether
a car or truck is loading or un-
Loading in traffic lane. fit stops,
then that lane of traffic is blocked
and is of no value. -
Practical Application
Practical application of these
facts to the streets of Key West
indicate that we must do the fol-
lowing to relieve the congested
portion Of Key West.
II. Duval Street needs two traf-
fic lanes. This means that there
can be only one side parking. Since
this includes loading and unload
ing, we must provide loading zones
on both sides of the street, alternat-
ing each half block. And since this
will require most of the available
space, parking meters must be re-
duced or eliminated on the con-
gested part of our main street.
Furthermore, no private cars or
pseudo delivery cars can be per-
mitted in this part of Dupaf Street.
"2. Other portions of Fleming,
Simonton and Southland may re-
quire this treatment. us
80. All two-way streets must be
cut to one side parking. This is the
pill which must be swallowed to
relieve the pain of traffic iconges.
ton and traffic hazards. The bitter
part of the pill will be enforcement.
This, the City cannot undertake to
do without your support. If you
come squawking to the commits
sion every time you get a ticket,
or If you refuse to take your medi-
cine, no cure can be affected. Let's
get one thing straight, no law in
a democracy can be enforced with
out the help of public opinion. It
is no ones idea to attempt a noble
experiment in Key West. This is
an attempted solution to our traf-
fic problems along common sense
lines.
What About Parking?
"Now can hear you saying,
What about parking?' True
enough, traffic congestion and
parking offer conflicts which must
be solved separately. If we relieve
the traffic congestion, we add to
parking difficulties. We must re-
member, however, that the primary
purpose Of streets is to get the peo-
pie to their destination and not to
provide storage space for their
cars after they arrive. On the
other hand, there is no need for
them to arrive if they cannot store
their car reasonably close to their
destination.
There are two means of getting
more parking space for customers
in the business area.
| 81. Get a more rapid turnover
on curb parking. It is amazing
how short sighted some business
men can be. They will park their
own vehicles at the choice spots
and feed the meter all day, cutting
their own threats. Choking off their
customers and aggravating their
parking problems.
"2. The second means of getting
more parking space is off-street
parking.
| Vacant Lots
"There are vacant lots within a
three-minute walk of practically
the entire. congested district for
parking several hundred cars. One
lot alone will provide parking