Why Change Traffic For Art Fair Only?

Why Change Traffic For Art Fair Only?

Last week, the Sun received a letter from the city of" Arm Arbor proposing Williams be made a two way street between Thompson and State during the week of July 7 through the Art Fair. The temporary change could become permanent if "it proves beneficial to improved traffic flow," according to the letter from John Robbins, director of the city's Department of Streets, Traffic and Parking. Some parking will be removed some new stop signs installed, the traffic signal at State and Williams, and Thompson and Williams will have to be changed, and most important, the island at State and Williams removed.

In April, city residents were told how tight city funds were. City employees had to be layed off for the 1975-76 fiscal year. Services at every level have been cut back, and yet the city is now thinking about an expensive change in traffic flow which may not even be permanent. Can we afford this?

The answer seems obvious. The city is currently studying traffic circulation with a look towards the overall congestion of downtown and campus, and possible long-term solutions. We believe no traffic changes, particularly expensive ones such as this, should be made until that study is complete. City Council must act to prevent the city bureaucracy trom moving aliead with plans tliat are costly, short-term. and ot' uncertain beneficiality to the entire community such as this.