Don't put reversible lanes on 1300 East, the Salt Lake City Council has told state transportation officials.
In a unanimous resolution Tuesday night, council members hope they ended an acrimonious debate over the future of the street. Residents along 1300 East between 2100 South and 500 South strongly opposed the state's plan to install a reversible lane in the center of the street - one that would allow northbound traffic in the morning and southbound traffic in the evening.The residents said the plan would push more cars onto the street and would destroy the residential character of the neighborhood. Many blame suburban dwellers for the problems and would rather encourage mass transit.
Because of a freeway ramp on 1300 East and I-80, many commuters use the street to drive to the University of Utah.
In the resolution, the city recommended state officials either install a center lane to be used for left turns only, or that they wait until the city completes its own transportation master plan. They also recommend the speed limit be dropped from 40 mph to 30 mph near East High School and 35 mph everywhere else.
Officials in the state Department of Transportation will make the final decision on the road's future. They had proposed the reversible lane notion as one of several alternatives to deal with heavy rush-hour traffic along the road.