The block of Thayer Street between George and Waterman streets has been permanently made one-way with parking spaces added to both sides of the street. This is the finishing touch on an overhaul of the block, which included repaving the road, repairing the sidewalks and planting trees along the sidewalks.
These changes occurred in connection to the recent renovation of Metcalf Chemistry and Research Laboratory.
Before the Metcalf renovation, this portion of Thayer was two-way. Northbound drivers sometimes continued past Waterman onto a one-way portion of the street, posing a danger to drivers and pedestrians.
The University worked together with the city's Department of Public Works to conduct "a thorough traffic analysis." The study concluded that converting this portion of Thayer Street to one-way would increase safety by "eliminating the confusion that was occurring at the intersection," wrote Michael McCormick, assistant vice president for planning, design and construction, in an email to The Herald. This change also allowed the addition of much-needed parking spaces.
The addition of the parking spaces serves Thayer Street merchants, and the change to a one-way street makes sense, said Allison Spooner, president of the College Hill Neighborhood Association. She added that pedestrians and drivers will not be inconvenienced by the change.
Many Brown students agreed the transition was a wise decision.
"It's clearly a lot safer with a one-way street," said Coco Schoeller '15.
Ana Olson '14 said the overhaul of the street is a welcome compliment to the Metcalf renovation. "The changes in space are lovely," she said.
But she expressed concerns about parked cars blocking drivers' views of pedestrians. She added that a car barely missed her when she tried to cross the street earlier that day.
