March 7, 2001--
Get ready for a tight squeeze if you drive 900 East in Salt Lake City.
It's one of the busiest streets in the city during rush hour.
But city officials say there are too many cars and not enough parking.
So Tuesday crews restriped 9th East between 4th South and 13th South, reducing it from
two lanes in each direction to one lane each way.
That gives residents more parking and will likely reduce the number of drivers using the street to commute.
City officials say it will be better for the neighborhood, but reaction is mixed.
Timothy Harpst/Salt Lake City Transportation Dir.: "OPENING UP PARKING FOR ALL THE RESIDENTS 24 HOURS A DAY, WHICH THEY HAVE NOT HAD. AND ANOTHER THING, IT'S A TRAFFIC CALMING EFFORT."
Rory Piontkowski/Salt Lake City: "WE NEED A LOT MORE PARKING IN THIS WHOLE GENERAL AREA OF TOWN. I LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS OVER HERE AND IT'S ALWAYS BEEN AN ISSUE."
Ed Huntsman/Salt Lake City: "DON'T FEEL LIKE IT'S A GREAT IDEA. I'VE LIVED HERE FOR YEARS. THERE'S JUST TOO MUCH TRAFFIC GOING BACK AND FORTH THROUGH THIS CORNER OF SALT LAKE."
Maureen Silvi/Salt Lake City: "IF THEY REDUCE THIS TO ONE, IT'S GOING TO MAKE A LOT MORE TRAFFIC FOR ME TO GET HOME. I TAKE NINTH HOME BECAUSE IT'S TWO LANES AND I'M ABLE TO TRAVEL IT A LOT QUICKER. 13TH IS ONE LANE AND I KNOW IT'S HORRIBLE."
As an alternative, officials say 7th East is eight lanes for a reason, and they want commuters to use it.
For now, the change is temporary.
But if the two-lane road works, it will become permanent next fall.
And the city may examine the number of lanes on other streets.
Also, crews have added a bike lane on 9th East between 4th and 9th South.
It may take a while to get used to, we've noticed drivers still using what is now a parking lane.
