County to submit letter urging caution if Iowa City removes one-way streets near main county campus

Supervisors discussed a draft letter Aug. 27 that would express the county’s views to the City of Iowa City if the city decides to convert one-way streets around the main county campus to two-way operations.

The county treasurer had raised pedestrian-safety concerns at a prior meeting, citing observations of toddlers crossing midway between crosswalks on Benton Street. County staff presented a short letter that would ask the city to consider pedestrian movement and traffic configuration impacts before making a change; the county would not oppose a change by the city but asked to be notified since county property and pedestrian patterns are adjacent.

Why it matters: changes to traffic configuration near county buildings can affect pedestrian safety, access for county visitors and employees and the county’s operations; the letter aims to ensure city decision‑makers account for campus pedestrian patterns.

What’s next: staff will bring the draft letter forward for formal consideration at the next board meeting.

Speakers quoted in this article are those on the record regarding this agenda item.