City investigates Main Street truck prohibition

Downtown resident Stanford Ross believes efforts to beautify the heart of the city have been largely successful, but there’s still one issue that’s hampering his ability to enjoy everything Main Street has to offer.

“Many people come downtown to go to the coffee shops, the restaurants,” Ross said at the Aug. 15 City Commission meeting. “If they’re sitting outdoors, it’s sometimes almost impossible to have a conversation because of the noise from the large trucks.”

At that meeting, Ross asked city officials to prohibit large trucks from using Main Street. In addition to noise concerns, he believes the trucks are having a negative impact on air quality and pedestrian safety downtown.

He’s not alone. City Commissioner Susan Chapman asked staff to place the subject on a future agenda for further consideration. She had broached the same topic at the July 18 commission meeting, stating that she had heard similar concerns from other residents.

“It doesn’t seem having 18-wheelers coming down the street is consistent with the Main Street operation,” Chapman said. “Especially when people are sitting on the sidewalk, enjoying a sidewalk café.”

“It doesn’t seem having 18-wheelers coming down the street is consistent with the Main Street operation.” — Susan Chapman

The city code outlines segments of 26 different streets on which truck-through traffic is prohibited — and Main Street is not included among them.

Assistant City Engineer Daniel Ohrenstein said staff is just beginning to investigate the possibility of new regulations on Main Street, but his initial assessment was that a prohibition on trucks would be technically feasible. Ross pointed out the trucks don’t actually make deliveries on Main Street itself.

“We have the alley network downtown, so that helps in terms of truck traffic and circulation,” Ohrenstein said. “I think it’s something that could be done.”

Not everyone is eager to embrace the potential change. Chip Beeman, the owner of Pastry Art on Main Street, has heard some rumblings from customers upset with the noise from trucks. He said the traffic can momentarily disrupt conversation at his business’ sidewalk café, but he sees it as a necessary side effect of operating in a commercial district.

He worried restricting through traffic would complicate the work of drivers delivering to downtown stores and restaurants.

“I understand the trucks are loud, but trucks are what brings everything to any business,” Beeman said. “If you’ve got it, a truck brought it.”