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City to Continue 1^st Street Virtual Meetings Today, May 28

[Duluth, MN] The City of Duluth will continue its virtual public meetings on the potential conversion of 1^st Street from one-way to two-way traffic later today, May 28, at 4:30 p.m. Today’s meeting will focus on the downtown segment of 1^st Street from 3^rd Avenue East to Mesaba Avenue. Those who are interested in participating should visit: https://duluthmn.gov/live-meeting, click on the “Planning and Development Public Meetings”. Clicking on this option will take residents directly to the meeting.

The City of Duluth completed a study to convert the currently multi-directional First Street traffic to consistent 2- way traffic from Mesaba Avenue to 24th Avenue East. The consultant is now finalizing engineering plans to complete the change this year. Currently, the direction of traffic flow on First Street changes from 1-way to 2-way at four locations: 6^th Avenue West, 3rd Avenue East, 12th Avenue East, and 24th Avenue East. This is confusing and dangerous for motorists and makes east-west travel more difficult in both Downtown and the Medical District, especially when construction or emergency closures disrupt traffic flow on parallel streets.

The benefits of the project are: 1) More direct access to Downtown and the Medical District and better circulation between them; 2) Reduced travel speeds of 5 to 10 mph; 3) Improved pedestrian safety due to reduced speed; and 4) Greater flexibility for east-west circulation. Reduced delay time will also result from traffic control changes.

Making sure that Downtown Duluth businesses will be able to load and unload needed goods and services is an important priority. The Duluth Police Department consulted   businesses about their needs and is recommending six modified truck-only loading zones located between 5th Avenue West and 3rd Avenue East. Other existing on-street parking configurations will remain mostly unchanged.

As part of the project, existing traffic signals will be replaced by stop signs at 1st and 2nd Avenues East, and at 4th and 5^th Avenues West. This will reduce delay time for motorists and pedestrians.

Further information about the project is available on the City of Duluth website www.duluthmn.gov/engineering/currentprojects/

1st-Street-Study/.

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