Opposing the two-way street conversion are, from left, Jack Anderson, Bob Elmore, Charles Gearhiser, Pat Rose, Marti Rutherford and Merv Pregulman. Click to enlarge.
The newly formed Save Our Streets Association is urging citizens opposed to the conversion of McCallie Avenue and MLk Boulevard/Bailey Avenue to voice their opposition to two-way streets.
Former City Council member Marti Rutherford said, "If the public will start voicing their concerns and their opposition, I really believe the City Council will look at it."
She appeared at a Tuesday morning press conference along with attorney Charles Gearhiser, engineer Jack Anderson, former Mayor Pat Rose, business leader Merv Pregulman, and former Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Bob Elmore.
The City Council has unanimously approved the changes, and the city is awaiting action from the federal government that is necessary before they could be carried out.
Mr. Anderson, a longtime leader of the Chattanooga Engineers Club which issued a report saying the move would be costly, unsafe and cause congestion, said, "From an engineer's point of view, this is not feasible at all. I don't know how they came up with it."
He said the current four lanes will be going down to one lane and there will be a turn lane as well as oncoming traffic. He also said those parking along the street would be backing in and out. He said of the parkers, "I don't know how they are ever going to get out. And Lord help us if there is ever an accident. You may be stuck for hours."
Mr. Elmore said it would be extremely expensive to carry out, and then there would be more costs if it was later decided to go back to one-way. He said the city would also "lose a lot of beautification spots, including the small park near the Volunteer Building."
Former Mayor Rose said it will bring increased traffic congestion and delays, and be costly and dangerous. "It is very difficult to understand why things are going backwards," he said.
He said he "totally supports our good mayor Bob Corker," but disagrees with him on this issue.
Attorney Gearhiser, who heads the panel, said a survey is being made of business owners along the routes to determine how they feel. He said hundreds of people have signed petitions against it.
Mr. Gearhiser, who said he has been driving from his home on Missionary Ridge to his office on McCallie for 40 years, said the recent analysis by an Orlando, Fla., firm was "not a study, but a marketing brochure." He said there was no bid on the contract, and the firm was hired to defend the move.
He said the costs will be closer to $8 million rather than the firm's estimate of $1 million.
Mr. Gearhiser said, "At a time when traffic congestion is getting worse, the city's solution is to reduce the ability of the available streets to service that traffic. We hope, regardless of where you live, that you will join us in opposing this needless change."