We work on many projects throughout Anchorage and we are finding that many neighborhoods share some common beliefs about road improvement projects.
 A wide, fast freeway- type road is going to be built through the middle of the neighborhood.
We already know that speeding and the number of cars on your roads is a concern for the neighborhood. Leaving the road as it is will not improve safety or the speeding problem. We will use the narrowest lane and shoulder widths that current safety standards allow. These standards consider the number of cars, public and school bus routes, emergency vehicle sizes, and snow storage needs. When we redesign the road it also allows us to put in traffic calming measures that discourage speeding.
The roads don’t need shoulders and buffers. It just makes them wider and encourages speeding.
Have you ever had to swerve to avoid hitting something? Have you ever needed to pull over on the side of the road? What about on those days of big snowfalls, where do the snowplows put the snow? Can two cars pass safely on a winter day? What if you have to get out of the way of a fire truck? Shoulders are important for vehicular safety and give the driver just a little extra room in case something goes wrong. Buffers help with snow storage and protect pedestrians. Again, we will keep them as narrow as possible but the public’s safety is our priority.
There is no need for a trail on one side of the road and a sidewalk on the other.
It just makes sense to keep cars separate from pedestrians and recreational bikers. There are school district walking and bus routes in the area as well as a People Mover bus route. Pedestrian facilities on both sides will help to reduce the number of mid-block crossings and direct users to safe crossing locations.
The MOA and design team won’t listen to us, so why bother to participate?
Can you image the range of comments we get on a project! We can’t meet everyone’s needs and the MOA will not compromise on safety standards; however, we will listen to and evaluate comments. This means we will explain why we could not make a change in the project. Our job is to balance all of the different needs and try to find a solution that best fits the larger community.
My neighbor told me you are going to acquire my property and put the road right in my backyard.
Please talk to us first and we can work with you to determine the potential impacts to your property. We have the accurate maps and latest design information. The MOA does not want to have to take property unless absolutely necessary. It is distressing for property owners and it is expensive for the City. Impacts to private property are minimized to the extent possible but yes, in some cases it can’t be avoided. Both of these projects have a lot of existing right-of-way—land already owned by the city—so we expect minimal impacts to property owners.
The design does not use “Context Sensitive Design.”
Context Sensitive Design is a process that evaluates the need for the road improvements and if alternatives:
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Are technically and financially feasible,
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Meet safety standards,
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Consider the environmental, scenic and aesthetic values of the area.
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Consider community values
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Make efficient use of everyone’s resources (time and budgets).
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Provide for meaningful input
We are inviting you to participate in this process so we can take into account the unique qualities of your neighborhood. Again, this does not mean everyone will be pleased with all aspects of the final project. We will all have to find areas of compromise.
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