Traverse City DDA Looks at State Street as a Two-Way Street

The Traverse City DDA wants to a make some of its downtown one-way streets open to two-way traffic.

The DDA is looking at a plan for turning State Street over to cars traveling in both directions. It’s been a discussion for several years – and they even experimented with the idea before. It’s also rooted in history.

But before anything is made official, they are taking the plan to the city commissioners at a study session Monday night. Downtown Development Authority CEO Jean Derenzy says they are “really looking at this as a two-way option, we know it’s going to take time. (We’ve made) thoughtful consideration in how this meets the goals of both the city and the DDA.”

The DDA is looking at State Street, and also parts of Boardman and Pine Streets, for two way traffic. It would be a pilot program for two full years starting in the spring of 2023. Derenzy says, “It’s not change just to change. It’s change for how to move downtown forward. And how to look at things differently and what is going to serve this community to the best of the infrastructure capabilities.”

Derenzy says they’ve already taken input from city planning, engineering, and public services – and other stakeholders. “We’ve been looking at a 2-way option, the DDA and the city has looked at this street as a two way option for many years.” The city turned State Street into a two-way for . Beyond that, it’s been more than 50 years since State Street was a two-way. The year was 1967 and the Monkees “I’m A Believer” was topping the charts.

Now the DDA is a believer that they can make State Street work as a two-way once again. “We have an option. We’ve seen this work in 2020. And we know it does work. We put some data points in place in 2020 that we know we can improve upon,” Derenzy says. And over the years – if not decades – of discussion, this idea is finally gaining some traction – no two ways about it. “I think it’s about as far as the discussion has (ever) gone. I believe that we’ve looked at more data components for this as well as how is it connecting to the grid.”

Derenzy says that grid of downtown streets is a key consideration. “How are we better connecting to the grid system really is important. And to look at it very thoughtfully and critically on the pedestrian experience.

The DDA says one of the major advantages is safety. Two way traffic means slower traffic – and less risk for serious injuries in accidents with pedestrians. “You weight the pros and cons and you really look at the circulation. Does it slow so it’s gridlock? No it’s not going to be gridlock. Do we know that there’s going to be challenges? There’s always challenges with change.”

The DDA says it would make sense to make the change will the city is already looking at major upgrades to street lights and signals, and the upcoming MDOT improvement project along Grandview Parkway.

Bringing it to commissioners is the next step. “We really want to make this a collaborative effort and get the elected officials input,” Derenzy says. The City Commission won’t take any action on the recommendation just yet – but it’s likely to go back on the agenda as an action item at a future meeting. You can check out the proposal by .