Here's a
LINK to a story about a study of streets in Louisville converted from one-way to two ways. An excerpt:
While Louisville experienced a five percent jump in crime during the
post-conversion study period (2011 to 2013) as well as the period before
conversion (2008 to 2010), a disproportionate amount of crime occurred
on multi-lane one-way streets (according to police records). Yet nearly
three years after the conversions took place, crime dropped a jaw
dropping 23 percent on the converted streets. Auto theft alone has
decreased by almost a third on the converted streets, even as it climbed
by 36 percent on the nearby one-way streets. At the same time, there
was a 42-percent reduction in robberies on the converted streets.
Some of the best returns on real estate investment in Louisville are
now found on these formerly fast and furious streets. Property values
have increased on two-way streets while nearby one-way streets have
declined. The now two-way Brook Street has seen a 39 percent increase in
property values after conversion, according to records from the
Property Valuation Administration.
Orange Avenue in downtown Orlando could see a resurgence of retail if the City were to convert it from one-way to two-ways. As a pilot project, the City should at least consider such a conversion north of Colonial Drive. According to the
Orlando Sentinel, a citizen volunteer task force advising City Hall said that
City officials should consider changing downtown's current one-way street network, which is designed to moved traffic in and out quickly but isn't so great for people who aren't in cars.
Ridgewood Avenue, which connects North Park Avenue in Winter Park to Maitland, would become more desirable to home buyers if converted to two-ways. I suspect the City made Ridgewood a one-way street heading north to reduce cut-through traffic from the Enzian theater and Park Maitland School. However, a conversion to two-ways would slow-down cars as well as reduce unnecessary motor vehicle travel by residents, who often must "circle around" to get home. I also suspect property values would rise. If presented with data from the Louisville study, I'm curious as to what the residents who live there would prefer.
