Between 2014 and last fall, the Ada County Highway District reconfigured sections of seven downtown Boise streets to accommodate two-way traffic. The conversions have proven popular; Boise officials are so smitten with the changes they want more. They’re keeping their fingers crossed ACHD makes good on a plan to alter parts of 5th and 6th Streets downtown to two-way thoroughfares.
Boise spokesman Mike Journee tells the Statesman one-way streets are good at moving vehicles, but at the cost of pedestrians and cyclists. Journee says police like two-way streets because few, if any, people end up driving the wrong way. Businesses are also fans as two-way traffic provides better visibility and makes finding the establishment less difficult.
As ACHD mulls converting sections of 5th and 6th Streets, the held two an open houses at the Basque Center April 13 for people curious about the possible changes.
City leaders think there's value in retaining some one-way streets in downtown to provide quick transit through the area. Journee cites arteries like Capitol Boulevard, Main Street, and Idaho Street as examples.
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