State Street between Park and Union streets will be converted to a two-way street in downtown Traverse City starting today (Wednesday). The move is intended to accommodate traffic flow due to the closure of the 100 and 200 blocks of Front Street - also between Park and Union - to vehicles for the summer. Starting Monday, June 22, Front Street will be open to pedestrian traffic only, with several improvements made to the corridor over the next week before the two blocks have their official opening day as a new pedestrian district on Friday, June 26.

North-south cross streets including Park, Cass, and Union will remain open to vehicle traffic for the summer, and will also have increased handicap spaces and free 30-minute parking spaces for quick visits or curbside pickup. The Traverse City Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is increasing parking times in downtown surface parking lots from 2-hour to 4-hour maximums. The DDA is also installing new signage and banners throughout the district, and is partnering with Up North Pride on a project to paint an emergency lane on Front Street for first responders, as well as different colored dots that act as a visual cue for social distancing and lead visitors to different parts of downtown. Those dots will also lead to public art installations connected to several local nonprofit organizations.

Restaurant owners in the pedestrian district will have expanded space in front of their businesses for street cafes. Traverse City commissioners Monday approved allowing those businesses to keep out furniture overnight in the street, provided it is secured each night and the cafe area swept and kept clean. The DDA is also exploring the possibility of installing a "unique lighting installation" later this year, according to a press release. The changes to State Street and Front Street will remain in place through Labor Day.