Some Cedar Rapids residents don't want two-way streets

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) - Some Cedar Rapids residents have said they're concerned with the city's plan to convert several one-way streets into two-way streets.

The five-year plan, which was approved Tuesday by the Cedar Rapids City Council, would change portions of at least six roadways, KCRG-TV reported (http://bit.ly/1LlG3LH ). Crews have already started working on some streets.

City officials said two-ways provide easier access to downtown businesses and reduce traffic speeds, but residents said they're worried about an increase in traffic.

Mary Chesebro, a Wellington Heights resident who lives on one of the roads affected by the change, said her street isn't busy now, but turning it into a two-way could mean more congestion in the neighborhood.

Many of the one-way streets the city plans to change run through Wellington Heights. Justin Wasson, the neighborhood's president, said traffic patterns are important to the community.

"You don't want too heavy of traffic in the neighborhood because it just creates undesirable conditions, and we want the neighborhood to be as livable a place as possible," Wasson said.

Rob Davis, the city's public works engineering manager, said the conversion plan does nothing more than point staff in the direction the city wants to go.

"It's just telling us the overall direction of 'yes' they want to look at converting streets to two-way," he said.

Engineers said residents will have the opportunity to give feedback on each conversion project, and the council must approve them along the way.

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Information from: KCRG-TV, http://www.kcrg.com