Plans Unveiled to Revitalize Norwood Central Business District with Traffic Improvements-September 12, 1978

Comprehensive plans to revitalize the central business district and attract shoppers back to the town center were unveiled last night during a public meeting attended by a small gathering of local merchants.

Traffic Flow Proposals and Consultant Recommendations

The revitalization proposals stem from a six-month study commissioned by the Commission to Promote Business and Industry, conducted by consulting firm Alan M. Voorhees & Associates, Inc., and funded jointly by the town and county at a cost of $12,000. Project Manager William Roach presented the findings, which focus on improving traffic flow, upgrading traffic signals, and introducing aesthetic enhancements such as street trees, brick pavers, and pedestrian benches to foster a mall-like environment.

Of the four alternative traffic schemes evaluated, consultants recommended their primary option:

• Maintaining Washington Street for two-way traffic.
• Converting Central Street (from Nahatan Street to Washington Street) into a one-way southbound route.
• Converting Broadway (from Nahatan Street to Guild Street) into a one-way northbound route toward Nahatan Street.

Roach explained that while this configuration would not alter overall traffic volume on Washington Street, it would increase traffic on Central Street by approximately 27 percent while decreasing traffic on Broadway by 33 percent, effectively eliminating congestion and enhancing safety.

Preliminary estimates place roadway construction costs between $500,000 and $1 million, though the vast majority of funding would be covered by state and federal grants, leaving the town responsible for a modest matching share. A final report detailing precise cost estimates is expected within 30 days.

Merchant Reactions and Parking Utilization

Speaking for the business promotion commission, Franklin Swift expressed disappointment over the light turnout, emphasizing that consultant recommendations required direct input from local business owners. He noted that retail trade in town had suffered over the years due to the rise of regional shopping malls.

The study’s conclusions challenged long-standing complaints regarding a shortage of parking spaces downtown. “Our studies show you have adequate parking spaces, but they are not fully utilized and need to be better managed and made more attractive to shoppers,” Roach stated.

However, Gordon Perry, president of the Uptown Merchants Association, disputed the parking findings, arguing that patrons were forced to walk excessive distances from municipal lots to reach storefronts. Perry also questioned the utility of downtown traffic changes given severe bottlenecks on major access arteries like Route 1 and Nahatan Street.

While a show of hands among the modest audience indicated some support for the consultants’ preferred traffic plan, several merchants favored retaining existing traffic patterns while upgrading signal lights.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger