TOLEDO, Ohio — Huron Street officially switched from a one-way street to a two-way street and had its speed limit reduced from 35 mph to 25 mph between Bush and Cherry streets on Thursday.
City of Toledo officials said the change is part of the Vistula Neighborhood Plan.
"The change will affect us in a positive way," said Pvt. Sheldon Collins, spokesperson for the Toledo Fire & Rescue Department.
He said a majority of TFRD stations use the street and the change will make the community safer.
"It will reduce our arrival time where we will be able to navigate faster. A two-way also slows down traffic so it can be less pedestrian and vehicle accidents," Collins said.
Some residents who live in the area said the reduced speed limit is an overdue change.
"They need more traffic around here instead of just this one way, it's been a problem for a long time and they're finally doing something about it," one resident said.
But not everyone supports the new pattern.
"I got nine kids, so when they see my kids come out, they all come out, they're all out here and it's like a lot of kids right here in this area playing," said Huron Street resident Laquita Hamilton.
She said this new update is going to be a challenge for her family.
"It was already hard when it was just a one-way street, now it's a two-way street, they're not going to be able to play ball or do nothing the kids were doing before they made this into a two-way street," she said.
Hamilton said people are constantly speeding down the street and blowing through stop signs, and she believes a reduced speed limit won't solve that issue.
"They could do a speed bump, 'cause they don't pay attention to the speed limits," she said.
The Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority provided WTOL 11 with the following statement:
"TARTA strongly supports an increase to accessibility in any area. We will continue to adjust to this and other traffic changes to help people reach essential destinations."
Next month, the city says it will begin turning Erie Street into a two-way street.