The following story ran in The Sun on 4/19/2000:
Downtown businesses like 2-way traffic plan
By CHRISTOPHER SCOTT
Sun Staff
LOWELL -- Two-way traffic on Merrimack Street downtown, floated as a trial balloon by a city councillor several weeks ago, is proving to be an attractive suggestion to downtown business owners.
Nearly 50 people, many of them downtown business owners, attended the inaugural meeting of the City Council's ad-hoc Downtown Subcommittee last night.
The subcommittee was formed less than a month ago to brainstorm ways to improve the retail and overall business climate.
"People use Merrimack Street to enter the city, we ought to give them the opportunity to exit the city the same way and see what we have to offer," said Janet Pitzer, owner of Welles Emporium on Merrimack Street and chairman of the Downtown Lowell Business Association.
"In successful downtowns traffic crawls," added Otto Erbar, executive director of the Lowell Office of Cultural Affairs on Merrimack Street.
Espresso Pizza owner Frank Carvalho said he recalls the downtown in the late 1960s and 1970s when some area streets, like Market and Middlesex, were two-way and business flourished.
Two-way traffic on a street like Merrimack, added City Councilor Rita Mercier, might prompt visitors to stay around longer. Mercier, who recently filed a motion to study the idea, said current traffic patterns only encourage heavy-footed drivers.
In a related matter, city Traffic Engineer Juan Avendano said a consultant has been hired to conduct a detailed downtown traffic analysis and suggest ways traffic patterns can be improved. A report should be ready by December, Avendano added.
Councilor Bill Martin, a sub-committee member, said he hopes the study will evaluate ways to improve access to the city's renovated mills, thereby making them more attractive to businesses that employ many.
If the attendance was any indication about the enthusiasm for re-energizing the downtown, then the city's renewed efforts to rehabilitate its central business district are off to a good start.
"I think it was an excellent meeting and it shows there's a lot of interest to get things done," said Councilor Dan Tenzcar, committee chairman. Also on the committee is Mayor Eileen Donoghue.
Several other ideas to improve the downtown were mentioned, including the installation of public toilets; shuttle buses linking city parking garages and downtown tourist and shopping attractions; better enforcement of traffic laws; brighter streetlights; and public transportation and holidays.
Although the subcommittee agreed to meet again in two weeks, it has yet to formulate any kind of timetable for completing its work.
Also, at the suggestion of the J. Matthew Coggins, Division of Planning and Development director, subcommittee members and interested businessmen may form smaller committees to address specific issues.
All rights to republication of special dispatches herein are reserved.