Kittanning Businesses Oppose Proposed Traffic Changes

By Jonathan Weaver

A group of downtown Kittanning business owners stand against proposed plans to allow two-way motor traffic back onto McKean and Jefferson Streets.

More than 20 people attended a town hall meeting at the First Church of God - including at least four local business owners, six members of Borough Council and Mayor Kirk Atwood – to address those concerns and review the project designs with Whitman, Requardt and Associates Senior Project Engineer Dan Fritz.

Starting in 2012 and ending in February 2013, engineers surveyed residents and business owners, analyzed traffic patterns and monitored vehicle movement along the two roadways as they interfaced with Market Street – with most responders wishing for two-way traffic.

“When we took the three alternatives out to the public – the existing, partial two-way street conversion and full two-way street conversion – the public overwhelmingly selected the full two-way street conversion for both streets,” Fritz said.

“All said and done, we conducted various surveys and public outreach. We touched probably about 371 – close to 400 – people, who were involved in the decision-making of this project,” Fritz added.

Engineers considered only converting the southern blocks – such as from Market Street to Jacob Street – to two-way, but found it would not be as beneficial as the choice selected.

Road access and parking topped the list of importance to those surveyed, but responders agreed both areas needed improvement. And the converted roadways would safely permit access from as little as two routes to as many as six.

“There’s where you really see your greatest benefits because folks really have full access to the central business district in town, it opens up possibilities to some of your community assets – like the YMCA – and also special event access – with several festivals that happen in Riverfront Park when Water Street is closed and traffic is detoured,” Fritz said. “Now, folks can take either Jefferson or McKean – depending where they want to go.”
“Sounds like a win-win.”

But, it’s not a win for South McKean Street Lawyer Paula LaStrapes or South Jefferson Street businesses Bugsy’s Pizza Owner Jeff Bowser, Oakwood Tavern or Family-Life Media Owner David Croyle – who were not of the 10 different business owners that receive truck shipments interviewed

Those interviewed by phone by engineers included seven along Jefferson Street (such as Obade Candy, Family Dollar and Klingensmith’s Drug Store) and one along North McKean – Sprankle’s Market.

Croyle – also a First Ward councilman - said incoming business for the vacant properties in town will need access to new infrastructure, but will create more problems and parking headaches.

A businessman and resident in the 100 block of South Jefferson Street, Croyle was adamantly against the proposed changes.

“I appreciate the work you’ve done; however, I am totally against two-way traffic,” Croyle said. “Nobody except Armstrong Beer Distributing was even contacted, when we’re the ones so directly associated.

“From the time I’ve come on Council, my main concern is making sure we become business-friendly. I want to see business come in, but it won’t be in the 100-block if it’s two-way – there will be (no truck access unless blocking the entire lane). This is not going to be good for business.”

Bowser was also against the changes and also for allowing specific loading zones during certain times of the day.

“The last two-three weeks alone I’ve walked up-and-down that street, and if traffic’s now allowed to make a turn from Market onto South Jefferson and there’s traffic coming the other way, they’re going to hit oncoming traffic head-on. No ands, ifs or buts about it,” Bowser said. “It happens now – they go around trucks that are parked there.

It becomes a nightmare.”

Oakwood Tavern has been on South Jefferson Street since 1999, according to Family Manager George Johnson, and never –legally-seen two-way traffic. The business also receives deliveries twice per week of various orders

“The more I get, the longer they’re going to be there – as of now, there’s hard to deliver with the parking beside us,” Johnson said. “Now, if there’s two-way traffic, it’s going to be an even-bigger hassle.”

Armstrong County Tourist Bureau President Jack Bennett noted beer trucks that stopped outside South Jefferson Street bars for nearly an hour while FedEx and UPS trucks also delivered packages. He also questioned business owners, but could not find any that completed the online survey - and said that even Borough Police Chief Bruce Mathews is against the proposed changes.

Any reversal of the current plans will have to be voted on at the December 1st council meeting.

The two-way traffic is part of Phase II in the Downtown Kittanning Revitalization Project – which is estimated to be about $2.6 million, according to County Community Division Director Jennifer Bellas.

Design drawings were originally expected to be delivered to PennDOT – since Market Street is a state highway - by Friday to prepare for next construction season, but due to a potential reversal of plans in two weeks, more time could be added to the process.

Kittanning Hose Company #4 Fire Chief Earl “Buzz” Kline predicted if more people came to earlier public meetings, this might no longer be an issue

Resident Bill Steim said the two streets were converted to one-way in the early 1970’s by PennDOT.

2 Comments

• 

  By jorn jensen, November 19, 2014 @ 8:57 AM

  So, the main reason to keep one way streets is truck loading/unloading. That’s it? You have to be kidding.
• 

  By jorn jensen, November 19, 2014 @ 12:17 PM

  If people don’t come to town in their cars, then there’s no need for trucks to come to town to load/unload. Put the horse in front of the cart. One way streets waste time and fuel.

Other Links to this Post

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI

Leave a comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.