Community Meeting on Farmers' Market Plaza Street Closure Proposal
The public is invited to a special community meeting with the North Coast Growers' Association Farmers' Markets, City of Arcata and all downtown merchants and interested parties. The meeting will be held in the Arts and Crafts room at the Arcata Community Center. We will discuss a proposal to limit through-traffic on 8th and 9th streets on the Plaza during the main season Arcata Plaza Farmers' Market. Details on the proposal below. Please join us! If you cannot attend, please contact us! Background: Closing 8th and 9th streets (between G and H) to through traffic during the main season of the Arcata Plaza farmers' market, April-November, was presented as an option at the fall meeting 2018. The goal of the proposed closure would be to reduce traffic congestion, improve safety and walkability of the downtown area, and increase pedestrian access to downtown businesses during the farmers' market. Through a series of working group meetings, including relevant stakeholders, downtown merchants and city staff, numerous options and details were discussed. The DRAFT proposal is detailed here. The proposal will: 1. Change the flow of traffic on 8th and 9th street by closing the streets to through traffic, thereby reducing congestion, improving safety, and increasing walkability. Signs will be placed at the corners directing traffic not to turn onto 9th from G street, or onto 8th from H street 6am-3pm Saturdays. 2. Encourage vendors to park in designated parking lots near the Plaza (corners of 7th & F, or 8th & F), which will open spaces on the Plaza for designated handicap accessible parking and vendor/customer loading zones. A few spaces will be available for vendor parking on 8th & 9th streets. 3. Work towards reducing vendor parking on the Plaza, by staff working directly with vendors to address parking concerns, and test off-loading options 4. Add new signage to direct the flow of vehicle traffic to continue on G and H, avoiding through traffic on 8th and 9th streets of the Plaza. Loading and unloading for vendors and customers picking up bulk and heavy items will be permitted on these streets. Fire lane will be maintained. 5. Designate additional customer parking for handicap and mobility limited customers: Reserve 4 spaces on 8th Street and 4 spaces on 9th Street for customers with mobility limitations, and provide loading zones for customers to pick up bulk and heavy items.
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