The main offender in this regard is San Benito Street. Until the Highway 25 bypass is built, the main access to the main part of Highway 25 will have to be through town. Unfortunately the potential of the main street area is greatly diminished by having masses of commuters barrel through town on their way to and from work.
Imagine a Main Street with the only traffic coming from those who wish to shop or eat along San Benito Street! Imagine only one lane in each direction with angled parking spaces along the entire route! Imagine no stoplights, just stop signs! Imagine an area where you don't feel like you are taking your life in your own hands just to cross the street! It can happen!
But as it stands the most depressing thing about San Benito Street is the multitudes of fine businesses that have come and gone over the years. You'd think that having throngs of traffic drive by your business would be a good thing, but as was mentioned, the area is not friendly for parking (despite the Briggs Building), and especially not for pedestrians.
But why am I taking up so much space just for downtown? There are other areas of town, mostly residential, that have speed limits that are too high, or too low. Some streets are racetracks (Ladd Lane), while others need proper signs to alert motorists of the speed limit (Union Road).
I'm sure I'm leaving out a bunch of streets here. Have at it!
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