City to Vote Tuesday on Two-way Traffic

The Sturgeon Bay City Council will vote Tuesday night to either keep Third Avenue traffic flowing in two directions, or to change the street back to one-way traffic.

Parking and Traffic Committee members recommended 2-1 (Vandertie) to change Third Avenue back to one-way traffic, and then re-address the issue after Michigan Street bridge construction is completed in the fall of 2010.

Nearly 75 percent of Third Avenue business owners and operators are in favor of keeping traffic two-way on the street, according to Terry Ullman, owner of Copper Kettle Confections. He is one of a group of concerned Third Avenue business owners who have circulated petitions and met regularly with city staff and aldermen on the issue. He said the switch to two-way traffic has helped his business.

“My July sales were up 30 percent from 2008,” Ullman said, “and August was a 20 percent increase. In this economy, that’s a wow. A business across the street from me said his business was up 11 percent. The street is safer for pedestrians now with more stops signs. Traffic has slowed down, and with traffic in opposite directions, there’s no space for drag racing.”

Ullman said parking has been at a premium this summer, which encourages visitors to grab a spot and then walk around the downtown area.

“As a shopkeeper, I look at that as a good thing,” Ullman said.

Third Avenue traffic was last changed from two-way to one-way in the early 1970s due to busier shipyards and the use of only one bridge to the downtown area.

City Engineer Tony Depies said the decision is now in the hands of the policy makers – those who are elected to make the political decisions.

“Which is the best option?” Depies questioned. “We have proven that all options are doable. However, the community isn’t just the downtown business district. What is best for the whole community? That isn’t a decision that is 100 percent engineering anymore.”

Stove Dog Bakery owner Dan Saurer said the Third Avenue merchants have a petition with more than 600 signatures asking the city to keep traffic on Third Avenue flowing two ways. The petition will be presented at the council meeting Oct. 6.

“We’re experiencing good times here on Third Avenue in a bad economy,” Saurer said. “When we do good, [the city does] good. I employ five part-time people, and they all live in Sturgeon Bay and spend their money here.”

The Sturgeon Bay City Council meets at City Hall, 421 Michigan Street. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 pm. Also on the agenda is a preliminary Planned Unit Development for a 120,000 square foot Wal-Mart Supercenter, which is subject to conditions. More information and the agenda can be found on the city website: http://www.sturgeonbaywi.org.