Opinion of Road Diets

[Ban my account ffs!]

THe new plan shouldn't result in much congestion provided that the intersections also have right turn lanes.  If they don't, then things will be a bit more backed up... but ultimately having a center left turn lane for both directions should mean you won't have any congestion from left turning vehicles in the main traffic lane.  And though this is a no-no by official rules, people often use the center lane as a merge in lane for left turning vehicles coming from businesses or driveways located directly on the main road between intersections.

This allows such vehicles to turn out into the road at a safer, clearer time on the side of the street they're crossing even if there are vehicles coming from the direction they're turning into.  Then they can wait and safely merge into the traffic flow.

Overall the only problem I would foresee is right turning vehicles potentially hitting cyclists waiting near intersections.

[Ban my account ffs!]

Required reading:

http://www.streetsblog.net/2016/06/06/finding-the-political-will-to-fix-four-lane-death-roads/

It wouldn't surprise me if this was in reaction to speeding drivers having killed a pedestrian or two on that road. And, of course, study after study has shown that business goes up along corridors where people walk or bite to get there, rather than just zoom through in their metal cocoons.

I obviously support this sort of measure anywhere and everywhere.

Anywhere and everywhere is a bit of a stretch.  A 4 lane median separated rural highway is about the safest road you can have... and with wide shoulders it can also accommodate cyclists and pedestrians (though those are rare on rural highways)

I think the biggest thing is that you want traffic moving... not stopped... but also not moving too quickly.  And you want a faster transit alternative.  The problem with American cities is often even with these traffic calming road diets, you are not offering an alternative.  Now the buses have to drive slower as well.  And dedicated bus lanes are only feasible in the "bus"iest of areas (see what I did there)