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Downtown commission backs two‑way street conversions and forwards recommendation to City Council
Summary
After a public comment urging two‑way street conversions, the commission voted to adopt a recommendation asking City Council to convert downtown streets to two‑way traffic; commissioners debated whether to evaluate streets individually or adopt a blanket conversion.
The Downtown Planning Commission voted to adopt a recommendation asking City Council to convert downtown streets to two‑way traffic and forwarded the recommendation for council consideration.
Josh Goldenberg, a high‑school junior speaking for the grassroots group Aura, urged the commission to support two‑way conversions as a low‑cost way to improve safety and livability. "As a young person who wants to live car free when I grow up, I want to feel safe while walking around downtown," Goldenberg said, adding that prior conversions had increased foot traffic and street vitality.
Commission discussion then focused on the scope of any recommendation. Commissioner Gina Houston said the staff presentation she recalled described evaluating each street individually rather than a blanket conversion. "...the plan was to evaluate each street individually and make a determination about whether or not it was a good idea to change that street, whereas this recommendation says to just blanket convert all the streets, period," she said.
The commission voted by voice to adopt the recommendation. Chair announced "Aye" during the roll call and declared "Motion carries," sending the recommendation to City Council for its consideration.
What happens next: the recommendation will be forwarded to City Council; commissioners requested the council or staff perform street‑by‑street evaluations as the next step so council can assess implementation details, expected costs and impacts.
