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We’re glad to hear that Natchez city officials are in no rush to implement recommendations from a 2024 traffic study.

The results of the $39,000 study have yet to be shared publicly, but members of the Downtown Natchez Alliance and the aldermen and mayor have all individually seen the reports.

DNA officials have shared publicly that the study recommends radical changes to downtown traffic flow, including moving from one-way traffic to two-way traffic on Main and Franklin streets as well as replacing traffic lights with all-way stops.

It’s not surprising to us that city officials have received less-than-enthusiastic feedback from residents and business owners. The wisdom of rerouting traffic on two major one-way thoroughfares or removing stoplights where pedestrians need to cross was questioned by lots of folks who said it just didn’t make sense.

And without the details of the study being made available for public review, it’s not surprising that folks don’t have a warm and fuzzy feeling about moving forward.

When it comes to improving walkability and engagement downtown, as well as addressing traffic concerns, needs such as additional public parking seem more pressing than changing one-way traffic flow.

While the mayor says the traffic study is “very low on the totem pole” of priorities, we suspect the public is still quite interested in those results. We certainly hope the DNA will make the full study available to the public, especially if DNA leaders believe issues raised in the study will eventually need to be addressed.

Share the study with the public; then let’s work together to address any valid traffic issues in downtown Natchez.