TRAVERSE CITY — The city’s Downtown Development Authority voted Thursday to recommend making two-way traffic on State Street permanent after a pilot program showed the change encouraged more shopping at businesses and slowed average traffic speeds.

City leaders said the switch should make the street safer for residents and easier to navigate for visitors. A three-year study found that when State Street operated as a one-way route, most drivers used it primarily to connect to other parts of the city.

According to the study, two-way traffic brought more visitors who treated the area as an extension of downtown. The recommendation now moves to the City Commission, which will have the final decision on implementing the permanent two-way traffic pattern.

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