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F .A. - _ THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 1964 THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 1964 THE NEWBERRY SUN, NEWBERRY, SOUTH CAROLINA '« * 11 PAGE HVE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT ONE-WAY STREETS RECOMMENDED BY ENGINEERS: I Charles Davis, Newberry Traffic Engineer, said in a re port to Newberry City Council recently: “The first effort should be on the part of the City to improve traffic flow and provide terminal facilities. These go hand in hand and one will not work without the other. It is necessary to im prove traffic flow in order to accommodate the additional vehicles on the street, attracted to Newberry by this com bined effort, and to alleviate the existing congestion which is considerable. Improved traffic flow also is necessary in order to realize the full potential of the off-street parking lots. The effectiveness of an off-street parking facility is determined by its accessibility. Ease of traffic flow is necessarily a part of accessibility. In Newberry, with its narrow streets, one-way streets are the only answer to improved flow and reducing congestion short of major expenditures for widening built-up downtown streets or the removal of the most valuable parking in the Central Business District, which parking is located on the street in front of business establishments.” WE MUST BE READY TO MEET OUR POTENTIAL A recent Engineering Land Development Plan Survey pointed out that the City of Newberry had a 27.2 per cent increase in retail sales between 1954 and 1958, 62 per cent of our retail sales in the County occur in Newberry and that by 1970 NewberCounty will govern 42 per cent of all retail sales in tb-_ area composed of Newberry, Edgefield, Abbeville, Fairfield, Saluda and McCormick Counties. We must plan now to be ready for this poten tial. We cannot stand idly by—we must be ready and able to catch the ball when it is thrown, and it will be thrown. SURVEYS SUBSTANTIATE FOUR-YEAR TRAFFIC INCREASE—MORE IS INEVITABLE A traffic survey conducted by the South Carolina State Highway Department on Main Street during 1960 reflect ed 3,000 vehicles traveling this street in a 24-hour period. A more recent survey in the same area conducted by the Highway Department shows that the number has in creased more than 100 per cent in four years. Imagine an increase of ’30 per cent more cars in our present, down town streets, under present conditions. Then you can un derstand the traffic problem that faces us. Now is the time to prepare for this eventuality, not when it is upon us. ONE-WAY STREET SAFETY CAN NOT BE BOUGHT The safety features of one-way streets can not be meas ured in terms of dollars and cents. According to “Traffic Control Roadway Elements,” prepared by The Automo tive Safety Foundation in cooperation with the U. S. Bu reau of Public Roads (1963): “One-way streets have a number of characteristics which should enhance highway safety. First, there are fewer points of potential conflict at intersections. Second, with no opposing traffic the chance of head-on and sideswipe accidents is virtually eliminated. Third, turning vehicles can be passed, thereby reducing the possibility of rear-end collisions. Fourth, and perhaps most important, signals can be timed for pro gressive movement, reducing the number of stops and keeping vehicles in orderly groups, with well defined in tervals between groups for pedestrian and vehicle cross ings. These are some of the more important benefits demonstrated by experience.” CD XL J J If I had an opportunity to vote on this issue, I would: ( ) VOTE for a 90-day testing period. ( ) VOTE to place it in effect in its entirety now. ( ) VOTE to reject the project. Check one and send to City Hall. CITIZENS URGED TO AT TEND IMPORTANT MEET ING MONDAY, AUGUST 24 Every detail of the plan will be presented by Traffic Engineer Charles Davis at a Citizens Meeting Monday night, August 24, at the Community Hall, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Also present will be Robert Marvin, Landscape Architect, who will present city beautification aspects of the total program. The CITIZENS OF NEWBERRY have a SPECIAL INVITATION to attend. We encourage all who are interested in the future development and growth of our city to participate in this important discussion, lis ten to all the facts and offer whatever suggestions are necessary for its improvement. All of us have an obliga tion to express our interest in the future of the City of Newberry. At this meeting, citizens wall be asked to con sider the one-way traffic pattern for a 90-day testing period. This would give everyone a chance to evaluate its effectiveness. This would allow for flexibility. Then, after a fair period of testing, adjustments could be made as may be required. CITIZENS ARE ASKED TO COMPLETEj THE FOL LOWING COUPON, CHECK A PREFERENCE, AND MAIL TO: THE CITY OF NEWBERRY, NjEWBERRY, S. C. ! i : o METAL POLE ® WOODEN POLE v YIELD SIGN O STOP SIGN •A- STOP LIGHT WE SOLICIT YOUR SUGGESTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS STREET SIGNAL CONTROLLER ¥ -V >772) X —r r ! i jr* ; vrs ! •v < *“**•■* )1 % i i •’ » D </> 1; 4 1 STREET c 4 | | J-Lizv -V— ■ '~=r-\\ H i 111 CD | •J) j v. STREET CD CD SNI99IH P