Ellen J. Toscano's letter, published in the Dec. 22-23 Deseret News, expressing her belief that the closing of Main Street between North and South Temple will create a heavy burden for residents of Davis County, strikes a resonate chord with those of us who live in downtown Salt Lake City, but alas, the damage is already done. Every day, we see the effects of traffic coming down from the Capitol Hill area, four lanes wide, being squeezed into two lanes after traffic enters the two-lane "track" area between South Temple and 700 South.
East-west traffic on 100, 200, and 300 South is often blocked by cars that cannot clear the intersections due to the two-lane patterns. Far from being pedestrian-friendly, the situation is more like an obstacle course, with five bullets.Drivers are so frustrated that many take chances that they might otherwise avoid. They run red lights, stop signs, ignore the pedestrian crossing lanes and make right turns into pedestrians who have the right of way at the intersections.
Further, why make it pedestrian-friendly when most of the pedestrians have disappeared from downtown? One rarely sees shoppers on Main Street any more. Many of the little shops have closed, and most others will surely follow.
If one has not read the signs thus far, it is my prediction that the city has already planned to close off Main Street with the intent of making it into a larger downtown pedestrian mall leaving 100, 200 and 300 South open to east-west traffic. You know, that might not be such a bad idea, if all those little shops opened up again.
Ron Davis
North Salt Lake