Palmer proposes new traffic patterns, stoplight

PALMER -- The City of Palmer hosted an open house at the Palmer Depot Tuesday night, so citizens could review the city's proposed traffic improvement plans. The plans are based on recommendations that came out of a recently completed traffic study.

The first recommendation calls for extending Dogwood Avenue west across the Glenn Highway and placing a full traffic signal at the intersection of Dogwood and the Glenn Highway. The study said this extension would provide alternate travel paths for residents of Palmer who want to avoid traffic on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway and the Glenn Highway. In addition, the extension would ease congestion at the intersections of the Palmer-Wasilla Highway and Arctic Avenue with the Glenn. And a signal at the intersection of Dogwood Avenue and the Glenn Highway will improve safety for those traveling on or crossing the Glenn Highway.

"It just doesn't make any sense not to have traffic signals that allow better east-west flow across the Glenn Highway," said Sara Jansen, Palmer's community development coordinator.

The second recommendation calls for a reconfiguration of the city's stop signs and a four-way stop at Dogwood Avenue and Alaska Street. The study showed that changing the signs from an east-west orientation to a north-south orientation would encourage drivers to use roads through business areas rather than through residential areas to access the new Fred Meyer and other downtown businesses. It would also improve travel time along those routes.

Jansen said these changes would allow drivers a straight shot to Alaska Street.

"The general idea is to get traffic off narrow residential roads and on to 60-feet-wide roads like Cedar, Dogwood and Dahlia," she said.

Palmer resident Dan Lucas, one of about 20 people who attended the open house, said he's watched the traffic problem grow in recent years.

"Traffic is difficult at best these days. I used to have little routes to work to avoid traffic, but even these are bad now," Lucas said.

He said that, so far, the plans look pretty reasonable. Jansen said the city hopes to hear from other residents like Lucas. Though there won't be another open house, citizens still have time to review the plans and give feedback.

"This is still a proposal. People can still make comments and give input until Nov. 12." she said.