Drivers say cobblestone intersections are slippery and dangerous but New York State Dept. of Transportation says they are aesthetic enhancements that serve as a "traffic calming method."
"Albany, NY spent $2.5 million this year for a face-lift of the trendy street, including planting new trees, replacing sidewalks and installing historic streetlights. One highlight is the Belgian block stones that adorn each four-way intersection...Experts acknowledge that cobblestone surfaces tend to be dicier for automobile tires... a regional spokesman for the state Department of Transportation [said the cobblestone intersections] tend to serve as a 'traffic calming method,' encouraging drivers to slow down, and as an aesthetic enhancement."
Thanks to Sam Gold
FULL STORY: Slippery when charming

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Study: Anti-Homelessness Laws Don’t Work
Research shows that punitive measures that criminalized unhoused people don’t help reduce homelessness.

The French Solution to Congested Tunnels: Make Them Car-Free
Bay Area transportation officials keep expanding car capacity. Lyon’s Croix Rousse Tunnel offers a different way.

Missouri Governor Reverses Anti-Discrimination Housing Policies
A new state law bars cities from prohibiting source-of-income discrimination against tenants using Section 8 housing vouchers.

USDOT Launches Unfunded 'SAFE ROADS' Program
The program targets “distractions” and “political messages or artwork,” and paves the way for autonomous vehicles.
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