Cedar Rapids, the second-largest city in Iowa is disassembling its traffic lights in the downtown area. Intersections will instead be controlled by two- and four- way stop signs. The Municipality of Cedar Rapids intends on creating “a low-speed urban environment,”said Matt Myers, a Cedar Rapids traffic engineer. Where one-way streets with traffic lights have crowed and delayed traffic, a mixed-use of the downtown streets will now allow cyclists, pedestrians, disabled and car drivers to share the urban space. Myers explains, that putting down the traffic lights has been a reaction to a changing atmosphere in the downtown area, there is less traffic but a larger demand for a mixed-use space. Removing traffic lights and improving the traffic flow will benefit all users in downtown as it is safer, less crowded and quiter – it gives downtown Cedar Rapids a different appearance and urban quality.
The GazetteWhy not share this article?
