The Fort Wayne City Council on Tuesday supported converting downtown Calhoun Street to allow two-way traffic.
In a 5-2 preliminary vote, the council approved hiring Hipskind Concrete for $1 million to change Calhoun between Washington Boulevard and Berry Street from a one-way northbound route to allow two-way traffic.
Council members Karen Goldner, D-2nd; Tim Pape, D-5th; Glynn Hines, D-6th; Marty Bender, R-at large; and Liz Brown, R-at large, supported the change. Councilmen John Shoaff, D-at large, and Mitch Harper, R-4th, opposed it. Councilmen Tom Smith, R-1st, and Tom Didier, R-3rd, were absent. A final vote on the issue is scheduled for next week, but council members rarely change their votes after casting preliminary ones.
Goldner said having a street one way for two blocks is confusing for motorists, especially those unfamiliar with downtown. She said the council already approved the switch in 2006 – before she was elected – and it should stick with that decision.
“While Calhoun Street is charming, let us not confuse charming with perfect,” she said.
Shoaff argued the project was overly expensive, especially because it would demolish the prettiest streetscape in the city. He said he supported a conversion of Calhoun, but one that cost far less and didn’t destroy the ambience of the area.
“If you’re going to spend $1 million, is the best way to tear up two charming blocks that many love?” he asked.
A 2006 report showed it would cost $26,000 to convert Calhoun to two-way without changing the traffic lanes.
John Urbahns, director of community development, argued the city’s plan for Calhoun has not dramatically changed since it was first proposed in 2006 – it was estimated to cost $700,000 at the time. He said the street can’t be changed simply by adding some signs and repainting the stripes because of traffic concerns.
Delivery trucks frequently stop on Calhoun to provide goods to area businesses, and the city’s plan includes space for them to park. The plan also includes left-turn lanes, preventing traffic from backing up at intersections. The city would remove all the existing planters and trees on Calhoun, and much of the sidewalk. New trees would be installed closer to the street but with more underground space to grow. Smaller planters would also be added along Calhoun.
While the sidewalks would be narrower after construction, Urbahns argued there would be more usable space because of better placement of trees. Shoaff argued the current placement of trees and planters is what makes those blocks so special. Several people in the audience applauded Shoaff’s arguments.
Pape, however, said the plan was about more than two blocks but the entire downtown. He read letters from several downtown business owners about how better traffic flow would help, including many on South Calhoun Street, where access is difficult because of the one-way stretch.
If given formal approval next week, construction on Calhoun would begin the following week, according to Shan Gunawardena, city traffic engineer. The project would be completed the weekend before Thanksgiving, and one lane would remain open to traffic at all times, he said.
