TRAVERSE CITY — Business owners along State Street say a pilot program converting the corridor to two-way traffic has boosted their bottom line, leading city officials to consider making the change permanent at Tuesday’s commission meeting.
The conversion, which began during the COVID-19 pandemic as a trial, has slowed traffic and improved parking access, according to multiple business owners interviewed about the project.
“We’ve noticed, actually, a pickup in business,” said Joel Mulder, who operates a brewery on State Street. “When it was one way, it led out of town. So when you’re leaving town and you see a restaurant, you’re already leaving town. But when you’re coming into town and see a restaurant, there’s more opportunity to stop.”
Gerilyn DeBoer, who has owned Cousin Jenny’s restaurant for 47 years and operated on State Street for three decades, said the one-way configuration created unsafe conditions.
“It was like a speedway,” DeBoer said. “People just came around the corner and buzzed around. When they changed it over to two ways during Covid, it slowed down traffic.”
Anna Poertner, a business operator on the street, noted improved accessibility for customers.
“Allowing cars to come in from both sides allows people to access our business a lot easier,” Poertner said.
The traffic calming has created additional benefits. Mulder said slower speeds have made the large outdoor patio at his establishment more appealing to customers who previously contended with cars “zooming past real fast.”
City officials cite increased parking availability as another advantage of the two-way system, though business owners offered mixed reviews on that claim.
Malki Singh, who opened his business on State Street in October, said the two-way traffic helps visibility for multiple businesses.
“People can see my signs and they are going to come more,” Singh said. “It’s good for me.”
The State Street corridor is seeing significant development, with plans for new apartment buildings and a parking garage on the west end of downtown. The projects have sparked debate about balancing growth with parking availability.
De Boer expressed concern about losing surface parking lots.
“I just hope they don’t take away too many surface parking areas because I think they’re necessary,” she said. “I hear it all the time: There’s no parking, I never come downtown. And I say, yes, there is parking. You just got to be creative.”
The success of the State Street pilot has prompted discussion about converting Front Street to two-way traffic as well, though that proposal drew more cautious responses.
“I think it’s worth a shot,” Poertner said. “If it’s done good things on State Street, you might as well give it a shot on Front Street.”
Mulder said he would prefer Front Street maintain its current one-way configuration to preserve its character.
“I like the Front Street being somewhat unique in that it is Front Street and it’s a very picturesque small town feel,” Mulder said. “I think one way does good for that.”
The city commission will consider making the two-way traffic pattern permanent for State Street during its Tuesday meeting.