The City of Hollywood is considering a large redesign for Young Circle. The City held a number of community meetings where Ian Lockwood, a consultant from Toole Design Group, was brought in to find ways of improving the traffic flow at Young Circle.
During the meetings, community leaders and residents were encouraged to discuss the values that would influence the re-design of Young Circle, what should be preserved, what people dislike and want to change and what is missing.
Most people said there is too much traffic, difficult access, lack of parking and problematic when merging onto Young Circle. Residents want Young Circle to be more walkable and more comfortable like a small town that has arts and crafts and cultural events. Everyone said they want it to be more walkable, comfortable, engaging and accessible.
During presentations, Lockwood said right now Young Circle is like a sea of asphalt. His objective is for it to be a more welcoming place for bicycle riders, pedestrians and drivers. An important goal would be for cars to drive slower around the circle. Cars can now legally drive at a high enough speed that it makes it especially hard for pedestrians and bicycle riders.
Some possibilities include eliminating all traffic lights around Young Circle. There is the possibility of making it a two-way traffic circle. There is even the possibility of building a tunnel so that drivers could avoid the traffic circle.
Young Circle is one of the largest urban circles in the world, with a diameter of about 1,000 feet. The next step includes more analysis of the situation. Eventually design drawings would have to be completed, a concept selected and funding for the project secured.
