Here is the same road in Portland, many miles north, which has been turned into a boulevard. The road has no right-turn lanes, so cars slowing to turn right must delay traffic behind them. Left-turn lanes are partially blocked by median strips. The few thriving businesses in this area have large parking lots on the side or in back; most other businesses are doing poorly.
The road does not serve the residential area as well as it does in Oak Grove, where it provides higher traffic flows, higher speeds, and access to a wider range of businesses. But planners like it better in Portland because, they think, driving is discouraged. Oak Grove residents are currently working to save their highway from being turned into a boulevard.
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