Test Monroe plan

It seems a bit odd that the city is continuing to push the Monroe Street redesign after the negative impacts of its recent and continued construction in downtown. One simple and low-cost option that would prove or disprove the city’s opinion of the benefit would be to just restripe Monroe into new traffic and parking lanes.

First, put up the new lighting and flashing beacons, everyone agrees that is needed. This first step is honestly a no-brainer. Then, if necessary, use regular, movable concrete traffic diverters to reinforce the restriping. This could be done over two days, using night work, to almost eliminate impacts to business and traffic.

Then, if after one year, it is deemed a success by the local community and businesses, then the city could use the remaining taxpayer money for a full scale demolishing of the roads and sidewalks. The money is taxpayer money, and so far, the taxpayers don’t want this disruption to occur. We can’t afford to destroy any more small businesses. Please let the taxpayers and businesses decide how to use these funds.

Thomas Colosimo

Spokane