A controversial pilot program on Whitaker Street — which judging by social media response has been overwhelmingly unpopular — gets another tweak this week with the addition of a "pedestrian buffer."
The City of Savannah has revised the Whitaker Street pilot program and restored the roadway from Bay Street to Broughton Street to two traffic lanes, instead of the effort to make the street a single lane.
"The two lanes are now narrower in order to expand the area next to the sidewalks for pedestrians. The on-street parking spaces have been removed," says a City spokesperson.
The City has been receiving feedback on the Whitaker Street pilot for the past month and made the changes on Monday.
“We are listening and we appreciate everyone who is giving us feedback,” said Heath Lloyd, the City’s Chief Infrastructure and Development Officer. “The goal of this pilot program is to enhance the experience along Whitaker Street for our pedestrians. This shift should allow for more efficient vehicular traffic flow, while effectively slowing the traffic down and making the area safer and more enjoyable for our walking citizens and visitors.”
The City reduced Whitaker Street to a single auto lane between Bay and Broughton streets Feb. 5-March 5 "in an effort to visually enhance the corridor and provide additional on-street parking," the City says.
"After receiving feedback from the trial, it was determined that a revised approach to the corridor was necessary. The revised approach incorporates two traffic lanes and a pedestrian buffer."
The 90-day pilot program will run until the May 6. The City has a feedback form here.
The City of Savannah has revised the Whitaker Street pilot program and restored the roadway from Bay Street to Broughton Street to two traffic lanes, instead of the effort to make the street a single lane.
"The two lanes are now narrower in order to expand the area next to the sidewalks for pedestrians. The on-street parking spaces have been removed," says a City spokesperson.
The City has been receiving feedback on the Whitaker Street pilot for the past month and made the changes on Monday.
“We are listening and we appreciate everyone who is giving us feedback,” said Heath Lloyd, the City’s Chief Infrastructure and Development Officer. “The goal of this pilot program is to enhance the experience along Whitaker Street for our pedestrians. This shift should allow for more efficient vehicular traffic flow, while effectively slowing the traffic down and making the area safer and more enjoyable for our walking citizens and visitors.”
The City reduced Whitaker Street to a single auto lane between Bay and Broughton streets Feb. 5-March 5 "in an effort to visually enhance the corridor and provide additional on-street parking," the City says.
"After receiving feedback from the trial, it was determined that a revised approach to the corridor was necessary. The revised approach incorporates two traffic lanes and a pedestrian buffer."
The 90-day pilot program will run until the May 6. The City has a feedback form here.
