Offers suggestions 

on traffic congestion

 

I am a retired civil engineer and would like to offer a suggestion for alleviating some of the traffic congestion occurring between 11 a.m.-1 p.m. during week-days downtown. With the ongoing construction of the new Arts and Entertainment Center, the downtown area along Front Street has lost approximately 15 parking spaces. Patrons of restaurants and other businesses in the Front Street, Fourth Street, and along 22nd Avenue often use up much of their lunch hour searching for a parking space. The intersection of Front Street and 22nd Avenue (with its convoluted traffic light) causes unnecessary delays and traffic backups. A possible solution to this problem would be to make the block of Front Street between 22nd Avenue and 23rd Avenue open for two way traffic. The traffic signal at that intersection could revert to a normal signal. Left turn arrows could be installed facing Front Street with maybe a turn lane in Front Street. No turn signal would be necessary in the 22nd Avenue direction as the traffic flow from Front Street is one-way north. Traffic entering the intersection from the railroad overpass would have free turns in both directions and easy straight ahead travel. The intersection of 23rd Avenue and Front Street could be controlled by stop signs on Front Street with 23rd Avenue having the right-of-way. It would be necessary to change the parking along the north side of Front Street from 22nd Avenue to 23rd Avenue. I hope this will be of help to you and the engineering department.

Sincerely, 

 

Richard A. Dixon, P.E.