Changes would improve area's traffic congestion

While the long-term solution to Sandpoint's traffic problem may be in the distant future, there are measures which could be taken immediately at little cost to reduce the congestion in the downtown core.

1) Designate Pine and Fifth as a two-way through truck route. There would be ample space for two-way traffic on both Pine and Fifth if parking on both sides of the street were eliminated. North-bound traffic on Highway 2 could use Fifth instead of Boyer, Division or First avenues. No new traffic lights would be required.

2) Restore two-way traffic to all streets. The present one-way streets are confusing to strangers and add unnecessary traffic, forcing maneuvering around the one-way system. Businesses on both First and Cedar would benefit from cars coming from the north on highways 95, 2 and 200, which would be able to enter the downtown immediately on Cedar instead of waiting until they get to Oak or Pine. Access to the Sandpoint beach would be greatly improved.

ED BITTNER

Sagle