A proposal to convert West Railroad Avenue in Patterson to a oneway street, drew both postitive and negative feedback at last week’s city council meeting.
Originally approved as part of a downtown revitalization project about eight years ago, West Railroad Avenue is slated to be converted to a one-way street. With the conversion, traffic will flow from Georgia Highway 32 to Church Street.
The change was recommended for safety reasons since the approach to Georgia Highway 32 is a blind corner when turning left from West Railroad Avenue on to the state route.
Chris Paszko, co-owner of Eagle Nutrition in the downtown area, and Ivy Mock, a customer of the business, both voiced their opposition to the change.
Paszko said he was afraid the change was going to cause his business to lose customers, because the new traffic flow would limit parking and limit access from the Church Street side. Paszko also lives on the street and said he doesn’t have anywhere to park at his home that would be accessible to the street.
Paszko pointed out there have been no serious injuries and no accidents that he could recall at the intersection.
Mock said she didn’t want to lose the Church Street access.
Her husband, Chris, serves on the council and she said she has expressed her opposition to the change both to him and now to the council.
Laurie Mancuso of The Beauty Shop in Patterson spoke in favor of the one-way street.
“Many of our patrons are (in their 80s),” she said. “People fly by on the street and they don’t watch as it is. I think we should think safety first.”
No action was taken on the comments in accordance with city policy.
Patterson Mayor Dedi Thomas said the comments would be taken under advisement.
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