Rendering of the new Baltimore Avenue Pedestrian Plaza provided by University City District.
Many folks are probably wondering what is going on at 48th Street and Baltimore Avenue, so here’s what we learned: The three bumpouts now hugging the curbs of the intersection’s south side were the first phase in a new University City District project that’ll transform the glut asphalt into a pedestrianized plaza.
The second phase, which should start this week, will have stone barriers and terra-cotta style planters housing budding perennials installed around the bumpouts’ outer edges, serving as protection from oncoming traffic. A new crosswalk directly connecting the Gold Standard Café and the Calvary Center was also painted.
Once completed this spring, the plaza will shrink the vast, daunting gap of the 48th Street and Baltimore Avenue juncture, shortening crossing distances, improving pedestrian safety, slowing vehicle speed, and “better [knitting] together Baltimore Avenue,” UCD’s Seth Budick told West Philly Local. The organization partnered with the Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities and worked with the West Philly community to develop design plans, he said.
The local plaza development is one of two implemented by UCD, which received two grants under the City of Philadelphia’s recently-announced Pedestrian Plaza program that aims to convert excess street surface into usable pedestrian spaces. The first plaza, named Woodland Green, was finished last fall at 42nd Street and Woodland Ave.
– Annamarya Scaccia
May 29th, 2013 at 12:50 pm
liked for “pedestrianized”.
May 29th, 2013 at 12:54 pm
a great and worthy project. this intersection is a nightmare and i applaud UCD’s efforts.
May 29th, 2013 at 1:51 pm
Hooray! Crossing this intersection has always been a little confusing. These look like good plans.
May 29th, 2013 at 1:57 pm
Eastbound drivers are going to find this an unpleasant surprise, since the bumpout on the SW corner narrows the roadway and takes away eastbound traffic’s ability to swerve around someone who’s waiting to turn left (i.e. north) on 48th. Now, unless they drive over the bumpout, they’ll have to sit and wait until the left-turner gets out of the way. IN theory this is good for bikers and pedestrians, since that swerve takes drivers into the bike lane. But I’m guessing that there’s going to be some envelope-pushing in that spot as go-straight drivers try to get around left-turners. The spot by the crosswalk where the woman in green pants is shown will be an excellent place to get run over by some aggro-naut trying to save those precious seconds …
May 29th, 2013 at 2:09 pm
good observation
May 29th, 2013 at 2:28 pm
I believe the planters and paint are all non-permanent. If I remember correctly from UCD’s community presentation of this plan, they said that if there are issues the design and placement can be tweaked. As both a driver and a pedestrian that frequents this corner, I think overall this is going to help much more than it hinders but only time will tell.
May 29th, 2013 at 2:57 pm
You mean like the rest of Baltimore Ave., and the majority of Philly, where people have to wait for left-turns to be made? I think they’ll manage. And any complaints wouldn’t be taken that seriously; -pedestrian safety trumps little annoyances.
May 30th, 2013 at 1:36 pm
They’ll manage all right – but they’ll take chances with your life. I’m in favor of this kind of traffic calming, but just be aware that it’ll be a squeeze zone in that particular spot.
May 29th, 2013 at 11:26 pm
I had a woman try to run me over as I stood in the X box as she went around a car/trolley on the right. This was a dangerous mis-use of the extra space, and I believe illegal. It would be like passing someone on the highway, by using the shoulder of the road. Hooray for the tighter space.
May 30th, 2013 at 10:09 am
Most importantly, it will make the people who make the 150 degree right hand turn onto Florence at high speeds unable to do that. I’ve almost been hit numerous times by someone doing that.
June 1st, 2013 at 11:16 am
And I witnessed someone being hit. It’s an awful intersection 🙁
May 29th, 2013 at 3:37 pm
as a concept the plan looks ideal in theory compared to what we as a family have had to deal with over the years. my only comment is, if the plan indicates the tan color to remain, it surely is a poor choice of color. my only comment ‘Is it possible to include curbs defining the tan region? For example, half way up the hill on ridge ave heading to roxbourough, they built a beautiful stone sign indicating ‘ welcome to roxbourough, it was only after a week when some drunk idiot ran his car right into it and knocked it down. They have since removed it. not to be a Debbie downer, but I guess, only time will tell how long it takes someone does the same. lets keep our fingers crossed. thank you UCD and the streets department for taking this on……
May 29th, 2013 at 9:54 pm
Yeah man, definitely a Debbie Downer.
May 30th, 2013 at 10:12 am
http://sf.streetsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/04_02/Picture_11.png
I am pretty sure we’re just stealing (good) ideas from NYC. Low cost glue and sand (hence the tan), low cost planters. If someone runs into one you replace it, unlike with an expensive sign.
May 29th, 2013 at 4:05 pm
This still looks pretty confusing, especially in the area with the three crosswalks so close together. Will there be two sets of stops signs for drivers on Florence or 48th? This intersection would be a good candidate for a roundabout in my opinion.
May 29th, 2013 at 4:38 pm
A roundabout?! I thought this is why we escaped England. 😉
May 29th, 2013 at 5:12 pm
No one who has taken even a rudimentary course in urban planning or transportation design would seriously propose a roundabout.
May 29th, 2013 at 9:57 pm
Some people talk just so they can hear their voice. @Cory, your comment proves that point. Round abouts would be even more confusing as most Philidelphians don’t have to drive them. Experimenting with that on a busy pedestrian throughway seems ludicrous. I for one, LOVE the new design, color scheme, etc, etc… This is a much welcome addition. Kudos. They got something right.
May 30th, 2013 at 8:16 am
I have never found this intersection (48th & Balt.) to be confusing or hard to ‘navigate’ – on foot/in vehicle. I would rather see something done about the mess that is 46th & Baltimore. Talk about awful and DANGEROUS.
May 30th, 2013 at 9:25 am
Explain to me how this makes pedestrians safer. Rarely has paint or sidewalk decor changed my walking or driving habits.
May 30th, 2013 at 1:38 pm
Then you’d better start paying attention to the paint, because you’re legally obligated to respect it.
May 30th, 2013 at 2:57 pm
and the cops will pull over the bad drivers, right? Right? NO? oh, well then.
May 30th, 2013 at 11:46 pm
They don’t get them all, oh unhappy one, but they might get you.
June 3rd, 2013 at 12:37 pm
You’ll have to change your habits… unless you want to drive into a planter and/or giant boulders. There isn’t just paint on the road, there are actual things blocking people from driving over them
May 30th, 2013 at 9:48 am
Dear HC, There are now large blocks of granite occupying the painted extensions of the sidewalk. These will act as bumpers for any car trying to swerve into the area. About it not being a problem, last week I saw the owner of Lucky’s Take Out with his 9 mo. old in his arms, stranded in the middle of the walkway between the Gold Standard and Calvary crossing eastward. I was never so afraid for someone, especially as cars come barreling through the intersection turning up Florence or continuing on down 48th. The real need for something more sane and pedestrian safe has arrived.
May 30th, 2013 at 2:56 pm
What I am saying is that bad drivers and dangerous peds are going to do their own thing regardless of paint and planters. It may wake up the inattentive but the real dangers will remain.
beyond that any efforts that make the area look nicer the better. I might even buy a second $5 footlong when theyre done.
May 30th, 2013 at 11:22 am
Excellent idea, can’t wait to see it finished!
May 30th, 2013 at 5:34 pm
After the large DEVO HEAD install, I’m now under the impression the intersection is becoming more confusing.
May 30th, 2013 at 7:36 pm
Firstly, I wish we would hesitate to refer to spaces like these as “plazas.” I think that “plaza” should be reserved for areas that have been permanently closed to non-emergency car traffic. This is really just an augmented sidewalk, and this city still has yet to implement a successful pedestrian zone.
Secondly, I think this redesign is a positive indication that our community is attempting to improve dangerous infrastructure at an accelerated pace. Sure, it might not be the best theoretical implementation, but it’s better than decades of no change. I think we should reconcile our differences and show gratitude toward the people involved in this project.
As for the comment regarding roundabouts, English roundabouts are notoriously treacherous. They really should be not be emulated on any of our roads, especially not this one.
Fortunately, the Netherlands, with walking and biking rates tens of times higher than ours, has appropriated roundabouts from the English and extensively redesigned them. They don’t look nor function anything like our American conception of a roundabout. They are almost always found on high-volume distributor roads where it’s necessary to convey all traffic types with minimal conflict. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhqTc_wx5EU
I think a good possibility for this intersection would be to close the entrance to Florence entirely, providing car access only from 49th. This would leave it as a normal four-way intersection.
At the very least, make it one-way eastbound from 49th to 48th, allowing only a right turn onto 48th. There is no reason to facilitate thru traffic onto this street. This intersection, like 46th and Cedar, functions only as a dangerous “rat run” for traffic that should use Baltimore Avenue.
May 31st, 2013 at 8:47 pm
Greatest plan to cut down on traffic in this area is already underway. Once they open the Dunkin’ Donuts’ at 41 and Woodland the number of cars wasting their time in this end of the city will decrease by more than 50%.
This will be a nice change of pace after the lunch rush at Subway. West Phila will have a nice ebb and flow.
June 3rd, 2013 at 2:02 pm
Hope they have it in their budget for some more paint and potted plants to make the rest of the intersections on Baltimore ave. “safer”.
August 23rd, 2013 at 12:18 pm
For all they have done to fix this intersection, the Springfield Avenue turnoff near the Sunoco station has become even MORE treacherous.
Thanks to all that work by [well-intentioned-I’m-sure] U-City Green, it is nearly impossible to see oncoming traffic and cyclists due to the overgrown plants.
August 23rd, 2013 at 8:30 pm
Another biker was just by hit by a car about 10 minutes ago, but as nearly all the accidents at this intersection, the driver was heading west on Baltimore and turning onto Springfield… meaning the greening of the triangle does not play a factor.
August 23rd, 2013 at 10:35 pm
How many people have to be hit at this intersection before the city eliminates the turnoff onto springfield altogether? I know that sounds drastic in a city where throwing some paint on the street is considered “progressive” urban design, but the turnoff is absolutely unnecessary when you can just as easily turn onto springfield from baltimore at the 45th st. intersection. God forbid we inconvenience the drivers who feel they need tear through this densely populated residential neighborhood at 50mph at all times.
August 25th, 2013 at 11:53 am
I really appreciate the updated intersection, I find it much easier to navigate as both a pedestrian and a driver. Though, I do admit, I never find myself eastbound trying to turn onto Florence and see how that could be tricky.
Anyway, I hope the streets dept. and UC has intentions to make other strange and confusing intersections on Baltimore like 45th & 46th more defined.