Road alteration could bring more business traffic

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Finding ways to bring new businesses, and more business, into any city are obvious ways to improve the local economy: by bringing in more jobs. 

Sometimes, though, to lure more businesses, improvements and alterations become a necessity.  At least, that’s what one City Council believes.

The Terre Haute City Council has turned their sights on changes to a city street that will, hopefully, bring in more small businesses downtown.

They believe it's as simple as changing one lane’s direction of traffic.

However, the plan to change Cherry Street from a one-way heading west into a two-way street raises some concerns from other city workers.

It's the street that runs along what used to be the south border of Indiana State University’s campus.

You may know it as one of the fastest ways out of the city’s downtown area.

It’s currently a pair of one-way lanes aimed to the west, eventually turning into three lanes around the 3rd Street intersection.

But, as ISU’s campus continues to grow—and downtown looks to rebuild—the THCC feels it’s time for a change.

“What the City Council is considering is making Cherry Street two-way again: from 3rd Street to 8th Street,” said Terre Haute City Councilman Todd Nation.  “The idea is to give better access to downtown businesses, and to ISU.”

The idea has great economic implications and was created with pedestrian safety in mind; however, some believe the change would also bring some driving safety hazards.

The Terre Haute City Engineers Office believes the change raises those concerns.

"There's a likelihood, with the new left turning movements along those intersections: along 8th 7th and 6th Streets, that there would be an increase in traffic accidents,” said TH City Engineer Chuck Ennis.

According to an independent study of Terre Haute streets, this year, the one-way street of Cherry saw 49 accidents between 4th and 9th Streets, which could increase when changed.

A comparative example would be that of downtown Terre Haute’s other major two-way street, Wabash Avenue, which saw 117 accidents within the same area. 

"That's probably one of the most dangerous maneuvers in an intersection: that left turn move," Ennis said.    

It will also be a difficult maneuver for the THCC as they make the tough decision Thursday night.