One-Way Street Movement vs. Two-Way Street Movement

The Traffic Engineering Department of the City of Fort Wayne recently conducted a before-and-after study of traffic volume trends and speed-delays encountered on the east and west one-way street system now in operation as compared to two-way street movement. This study was confined to the central business district only, as the traffic survey and recommendations were basically confined within this area. Twelve-hour volume counts of all movements at 12 intersections on Jefferson Street, Washington Boulevard, Wayne Street, and Berry Street, from Harrison Street to Clinton Street, were counted and tabulated for comparison with the former count (Table 1) of 1946 at the same location; but under two-way traffic operation. Table 2 shows the comparison and the percentage of gain in volume. This table indicates that all the streets of the one-way street system show a percentage of gain over the former two-way operation. Washington Boulevard shows a 46.6 percent gain for high, and Berry Street, 8.9 percent gain for low. The table indicates that the street combination of Washington Boulevard westbound, and Wayne Street eastbound shows the greatest percentage of gain in volume. These streets are the combination which traverses the heart of the central business district. On a comparison basis of one-way users of two-way operation dur­ ing the peak hour (4 P.M. to 5 P.M .) the percentage of gain on the present one-way street system over the former system of two-way operation is very convincing. The main east and west state routes and crosstown streets of Jefferson Street and Washington Boulevard show the greatest per­ centage of gain of 34.9 percent and 70.9 percent, respectively. Table 3 is a comparison summary of the traffic speeds and traffic delays encountered during the course of travel on Jefferson Street,