Business owners and council debate one-way conversion for a downtown Iberia Street block

Business owners and community volunteers told the City Council they want the 100 block of Iberia Street evaluated for a one-way conversion after multiple collisions damaged a downtown marquee and created pedestrian-safety concerns. Danette Bird, owner of Bird on the Bayou, said her building “has been hit twice” and urged the council to consider making the block one-way to reduce congestion and repeated property damage.

Audie Como, who represents iPOW and the S & E theater building, said the marquee has been struck repeatedly and that the organization spent about $116,000 on its marquee project in 2022. "We've put the bollards in the front… they've been hit so many times we can't even count," Como said, urging council members to inspect the block at different times of day to understand traffic patterns. Councilmembers discussed trade-offs including loss of travel lane(s), possible retention of curbside parking, loading/unloading needs for businesses, garbage and utility-truck access, and the importance of connecting a planned bike lane downtown.

Troy Como (council) disclosed a family relationship to a commenter and asked that traffic engineers be hired to evaluate safety and parking impacts. The mayor said staff will pursue a grant and hire a traffic consultant to produce data-driven recommendations before any ordinance or traffic-control changes are proposed. Council agreed to continue public outreach before any formal vote.