Citizens weigh in on traffic changes

PENSACOLA, Fla. (WALA) - Citizens of Pensacola got their chance to weigh in on some potential downtown traffic changes. Thursday's meeting was the third of four scheduled sessions at City Hall, which addressed making changes to downtown streets to make the area more accessible.

East Government Street is not only home to many residences and businesses, but probably one of the most adored dead ends in history.

Folks there said they like their quiet community, all sectioned off from one of the busiest streets in Pensacola.

But that may be about to change.

"It's not a private street, it's a public street," said Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward. "We have a lot of traffic that goes through the neighborhood just to the north of Government Street, and we need to open that traffic up. You have your east-west corridor in a historical city, and it's just going to add better traffic flow."

The mayor wants to knock down the barriers between 9th Avenue and Government Street, opening Government and helping to create what the mayor calls a more accessible downtown.

One-way streets would be converted to accept two-way traffic, all to turn Pensacola into a grid.

But residents like Virginia Wilson are speaking out against the mayor. 

"The historic district is a jewel, and you just can't replace it," Wilson said. 

At the weekly meetings, Wilson and other residents are coming up with an alternative plan to present the city council.

Wilson not only had 70 residents sign a petition, but had a pedestrian plaza drafted which would replace the posts with an archway. There'd be no through traffic.

Some residents don't want the noise, and call it unsafe.

"We have nine entrances to the historic district, and we do not need to add anymore," said Joe Bernard, who has been living in the historic district for 17 years.

Charles Mielke just wants it to be done right if he has no say in the matter.

"If it does get done, get it done correctly," Mielke said. "Traffic signals, and if they want to open up the grid, we're okay with that. We want to see the traffic patterns get correct downtown, too, safely."

The public will have its final say at City Hall next Thursday, July 26 at 5:30 p.m. After that, a proposal will be presented to the city council in August.