39th Street Traffic Calming
HPNA, with support from our nearby Neighborhood Associations, has applied for PIAC funding for the implementation of traffic-calming measures along East 39th Street, from Main Street to Woodland Avenue.
39th Street has long been considered as one of the most problematic and dangerous streets in Midtown. This Street functions today with four 9' lanes with no dedicated turn lanes (these are uncomfortably narrow for most motorists), a major bus corridor serving the heavily utilized 39 bus line (the buses typically cannot maintain these lanes when in motion), nearly 60 utility & light poles located just 6 to 8 inches from back of curb (these get broken consistently by vehicles hitting them), narrow sidewalks located immediately adjacent to the curb (these conditions make the corridor practically unwalkable), on-street parking available 22 hours a day (these are underutilized because of the restrictions and unsafe traffic patterns), only two crosswalks between Main and Troost (pedestrians are forced to wait long periods of time, and then run).
In 2022, Hyde Park hired Street Smarts Design + Build to create the Hyde Park Street Safety report. While we received nearly 300 responses for a variety of concerns, the street with the greatest amount of feedback was 39th Street. Several thoroughfares were also studied for the 2018 Midtown Complete Streets plan. The results were clear, 39th Street had the highest concentration of injury accidents and total crashes, even surpassing Southwest Trafficway. Though never officially adopted by the City, the Midtown Complete Streets Plan from 2018 called for a for a road diet along 39th Street. This study found that nearly two-thirds of respondents preferred to see 39th brought down to one lane each direction along with turn lanes and parking. The City's Vision Zero Action Plan has identified 39th Street as a High Injury Network (HIN) Top Priority.
Quick-Build traffic calming solutions have been an effective and inexpensive capital improvement utilized around the city. A very successful example would be the 31st Street project completed in 2022. Residents and business owners alike immediately noticed improvements in traffic flow, a reduction in speeding, and an overall enhancement of the walkability and liveliness of the area. Improvements with this road diet plan along 39th Street could include increased lane width, dedicated turn lanes, parking, bus stops and crosswalks, a safety buffer for sidewalks, improved site lines and a more regulated traffic flow.
Click here to view the PIAC presentation.