A sad lesson from Broad Street’s past

[thelakelander]

A before and after look at the evolution of LaVilla's Broad Street after it was converted into a one-way corridor in 1980.

Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/a-sad-lesson-from-broad-streets-past/

[jaxlongtimer]

^  Like the quotes from the traffic engineer. 

I wonder what it takes to be one.  I am not convinced that their often lack of common sense or understanding of real world human behavior (not just blindly following "the rule book") should disqualify many of them from having the only or "expert" word on street designs and layouts.  They often remind me of never outgrowing one's childhood when we played with toy cars on imaginary roads made in the backyard dirt or with model train or Lego layouts.  When we were all "traffic engineers" in our own little way  .

How many times have we seen outcomes that go counter to traffic engineers (especially when acting as "consultants") projections or expectations?  How many roads or other transit projects need to be remade because they didn't properly plan for, or design, them the first, second or more times?  How many times do they bend to the control of developers, special interests and agenda-driven politicos rather than draw a line in the sand and stand up for what is appropriate and right?  How many times are they in "search of a project' to justify their functions or prove their "relevance"?

Nothing personal against any particular individual but I see too many times when the the profession gets it wrong... and, working for or on behalf of government, they are rarely, if ever, accountable for their wrong calls.  I guess that lack of accountability is my bottom line gripe.