To the editor:

We all know Lawrence has traffic problems. We continue to try Band-Aid solutions to solve the 23rd Street mess, but our City Commission continues to ignore the coming problem on Sixth Street. Once again, talk is the order of the day.

A major east-west route north of Sixth Street is needed to relieve what we are told will be a near-failed traffic artery when the improvements to Sixth Street are done. By not voting to extend Peterson Road west to the bypass, the situation in northwest Lawrence will only get worse.

Of course, there are many excuses, but only bold action will solve this problem, not talk (the Lawrence solution for everything). I predict that in less than five years, the city will begin a Band-Aid approach to the Sixth Street traffic problem. I suggest we rename Sixth Street “23rd Street north” to reflect what it has become.

The city planning staff and the Planning Commission are to be commended for recognizing the problem and proposing bold action by opening Peterson Road to the west, but a big BAH! to the City Commission for once again sitting on their hands while the Sixth Street problem grows increasingly worse and becomes more difficult to solve.

Ernest E. Angino,

Lawrence