Let's figure out the traffic snarl

It seems only to be a matter of time.
The level of golf cart traffic during the week of the Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Association’s show has reached extraordinary levels. Golf cart traffic on the show grounds has also surged in recent years.
And the traffic congestion issue isn’t limited to golf carts. Some of the goofiest driving witnessed last week was done by motorists cruising the dozens of garage sales and rummage sales.
The problem also wasn’t limited to visitors. Plenty of those behind the wheel were local residents.
It’s only a matter of time before there’s a serious personal injury traffic accident directly related to the congestion.
The community clearly benefits from hosting the engine and tractor show, and great relationships have been built between the association and the city. But attendance at the show grew substantially this year, and if it continues to grow at anything approximating that rate, the traffic issue is only going to become more complex.
The city has done its part by developing a good golf cart ordinance, but its resources are stretched too thin when it comes to enforcement.
(Again this year, at least one golf cart was spotted cruising down a North Meridian Street sidewalk in clear violation of the ordinance.)
So what’s to be done?
We’d urge leaders of the engine association, the Jay County Chamber of Commerce, and city government to get together soon to start kicking around solutions and suggestions.
Maybe some streets should be golf-cart-only during the busiest days of the show. Maybe city police resources should be beefed up to provide even more traffic control. Maybe garage sale operators have a role to play.
The goal should be to continue to make Portland a welcoming venue for the engine and tractor show while making it safer and even more inviting not only for visitors but for local residents as well.
The key is for folks to get their heads together now — when the next engine show is 12 months away — and start talking about how to make that goal a reality. — J.R.[[In-content Ad]]