The City of Fresno is putting forth a vision for a better South Blackstone Avenue. The South Blackstone Smart Mobility Strategy calls for improvements for the area between Dakota and the 180, which will make traffic safer for everyone — not just drivers, but also pedestrians and cyclists.
Some have questioned this plan, raising concerns about the impacts on traffic flows and whether it is smart to focus on improving Blackstone while homelessness and crime remain a concern. As someone who lives a few streets from Blackstone and regularly shops, bikes, walks and drives on this avenue, I believe it is a necessary plan.
The South Blackstone Mobility Plan calls for a number of changes. The most criticized facet of the plan calls for the removal of one travel lane in each direction, changing Blackstone from a six-lane road to a four-lane road. If your experience of Blackstone is being stuck in traffic around River Park or waiting to turn onto Herndon to get the 41, this may seem like a terrible idea. But South Blackstone is a very different place…