Some enterprise house owners on American Road in Sitka are asking that town change its standing from one-way, again to two-way. The battle over the downtown route got here up at a latest Police and Fireplace Fee assembly, and fee members weighed in.
_____________________
American Road runs perpendicular to town’s predominant downtown thoroughfare, Lincoln Road, which was closed to visitors this summer season in the course of the largest cruise ship days. And in early Could, town modified American Road to a one-way heading northbound ‘to protect parking and help with visitors circulate.’ On the time, a metropolis press launch stated the change can be in place ‘till additional discover, for the summer season season.’ However whereas Lincoln Road opened again as much as full use in October, American Road technically stays one-way.
Thad Poulson owns the Sitka Sentinel, on American and Barracks Road. He stated the general public hadn’t been given the suitable discover in regards to the closure.
“I used to be shocked on Could 13 this yr, to be taught, after 53 years residing and newspaper publishing Sitka, to be taught {that a} downtown road could also be modified from two-way to a one-way with no advance discover to the general public or to affected particular person property house owners, of whom I’m one. And that’s what occurred to American Road on that day,” Poulson stated. “As to why I ought to be shocked? The straightforward reply is it has by no means occurred earlier than, so far as I do know”
However Stedman Insurance coverage proprietor Carl Stedman stated lots of drivers hadn’t actually seen the change, and simply saved driving each methods.
“There’s poor signage, [and] it induced some issues. On American Road intersection with Lincoln Road, there’s a cease signal, nonetheless there, dealing with the mistaken manner of a one-way road. There’s no a method signal,” Stedman stated.
American Road additionally has parking on one facet– Stedman stated that wanted to be maintained. However he knew there wasn’t essentially consensus on the visitors.
“There’s not an actual good reply to the state of affairs. Doesn’t matter what determination you guys make, it’s in all probability going to be mistaken in some peoples eyes,” Stedman stated, and a few within the viewers laughed. “So, I nonetheless really feel strongly, it’s labored for 41 years as a two-way road. Individuals simply have to go sluggish, you’ve received to be well mannered,” he added. “And, you recognize, when someone will get a supply, I can exit the opposite manner and never suppose I’m breaking the regulation.”
When it got here time for the fee to contemplate the merchandise, fee chair Gregg Olson puzzled if the road had been reconfigured resulting from security issues and requested if there had been any accidents. Sitka police Lt. John Achee stated within the final three years there hadn’t been any accidents reported. As for altering the visitors configuration, Olson stated the suggestions they’d acquired from the general public was blended.
“There’s not unanimity on what folks suppose ought to occur,” Olson stated. “Primary, I don’t know what it’s we’re being requested to do. And quantity two, I don’t know if we all know sufficient to do it.”
Olsen stated with out extra steerage from town’s Public Works division on why the visitors circulate modified, he didn’t know what the fee may do. Commissioner Loyd Platson agreed that some clarification can be useful.
“Perhaps somebody from Public Works comes earlier than this physique then explains the rationale,” Platson stated. “What are the professionals for doing it the best way that they’re doing? What are the cons for doing it? And clarify that to us, if they need us to have the enter, and permit the general public to be right here at the moment to ask questions as nicely.”
Platson nonetheless thought the fee may take one step: recommending the road return to two-way till additional data and see is given to the general public. His movement handed unanimously.
