Two-Way Street Conversion
One-way streets can often be dangerous, especially for pedestrians, because they were designed to move cars as quickly as possible from one destination to another. According to Smart Growth America's Dangerous by Design 2022 report, pedestrian fatalities have increased 62% since 2009, with disproportionately higher fatality rates in minority and low-income neighborhoods, because the design of our streets prioritizes speed over safety. Two-way streets are proven to be safer and simpler for all road users, especially pedestrians.
Metro is in the process of reviewing one-way streets throughout the community, and several streets have been identified for conversion from one-way to two-way, with input from both Metro and the community.
Current Projects:
Chestnut St/River Park Dr & Muhammad Ali Blvd
Advantages of one-way to two-way street conversion include:
-
Increased safety – traffic flows slower on two-way streets, decreasing the number of crashes and reducing crash severity.
-
Improved circulation – two-way streets promote more efficient circulation, creating more direct street routes to destinations.
-
Increased visibility for businesses/organizations – two-way streets increase the foot-traffic of businesses/organizations because they are more visible and accessible.
-
Increased mobility – two-way streets are easier to navigate and cause less confusion for drivers trying to access destinations. Additionally, two-way street networks often decrease the walking distance from parking facilities and bus stops.
