Sebastopol could be looking at a major downtown makeover as the city considers ditching its one-way streets to fix a “harrowing” safety record for pedestrians and cyclists.
According to the Press Democrat, the Planning Commission recently endorsed a plan to return Main Street and Petaluma Avenue to two-way thoroughfares, aiming to slow down traffic at the notoriously congested crossroads of Highways 12 and 116.
While many residents are desperate for safer crosswalks, the proposal has sparked a heated debate over whether the changes will worsen the city’s already legendary gridlock. Business owners are concerned about losing parking and increasing commute times, but supporters argue the shift is necessary to reclaim the town’s vibrant center from heavy industrial rigs and fuming motorists.
The City Council is set to make a final call on the plan on March 3rd.