Here's what drivers are doing on Redding's new downtown streets

Drivers may need a little time to get used to the newly opened sections of downtown Redding streets.

John Abshier, the city's assistant director of public works, said he's heard some motorists are confused by the traffic flow since parts of Market, Butte and Yuba streets reopened to traffic in a ribbon-cutting on Wednesday.

While drivers may be slowing down to check out the new surroundings, they need to pay attention to the stop signs and one-way sections, Abshier said.

"Everything is new down there — new buildings and the shared spaces. Cars are going really slowly and the drivers are looking at a lot of things besides just the roadway," he said. "They're taking in all the newness so there's some amount of gawking going on ... once they become familiar, that should settle down."

Not everyone is following the traffic signs. A short survey Friday revealed several motorists driving through the stop sign at Market and Butte streets. 

Diane Chun, manager of Market Street Uniforms, watches the traffic in front of her store and said it seems some drivers are confused.

"I don't see a lot of cars doing a complete stop. The cars are slowly driving to take a look at where they can and can't go," she said.

Jake Mangas, president and CEO of the Redding Chamber of Commerce, said he saw one driver turn right against one-way traffic at Market and Butte streets not long after the streets reopened Wednesday.

There's a lot to see that can be distracting with the Market Center building rising four stories with business spaces on the street level and apartments on the other three stories. Some people on the sidewalks are now taking selfies in front of the colorful murals.

"Pay attention to the roadway when you're driving in there," is Abshier's advice. "It's a new and exciting, different area. It's pretty unique. There's no place like it in Redding and for the most part, no place like it in the North State."

One-way streets

Abshier said all of the new streets are two-way except for two segments that are one-way. The one-ways are:

• Market Street between Tehama and Butte streets southbound,
• Butte Street westbound between Market and the Market/California alley near the multi-level parking structure that's being built.

Speed limit

The speed limit is 25 mph, just as in any business district, but that's not a comfortable speed for drivers right now, Abshier said.

"Drivers are really going through there more at a crawl pace," he said.

Sharing the road

One part of Market Street has a bicycle-friendly sharrow painted on the pavement, which tells drivers two things.

"One, it's an indication to motorists to expect bicycles to be sharing the roadway. And for cyclists, it lets them know where they can position themselves within the roadway to ride through this area," Abshier said.

Who owns the roads?

As far as jurisdiction, Tehama Street is part of a state highway and south of Tehama are all local streets, he said.

Driving on Market Street

A lot of drivers may wonder what lane they have to take to go south on Market at Tehama to continue driving south (or straight) through the former Promenade.

Deputy City Manager Steve Bade said you have to be in the far west or right lane, where drivers can turn left onto Tehama, go straight or turn right. Drivers in the middle and far east, or left lane, must turn left onto Tehama.

Bade said the middle lane of Market Street at Tehama was closed Thursday night due to a road construction project, which was temporary.

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Signs at Market and Tehama should help drivers with the learning curve to become familiar with the new circulation pattern.

“Directional signage is in place along the street, within the streets and on the signal poles. This is a new space and people need to slow down, look at the signage and drive cautiously,” Bade said. 

Abshier said city officials are excited to have that part of Market reopened after being closed for 49 years and they are anticipating more progress.

"We're looking forward to further expansion as the Block 7 project over on California Street gets constructed and we can continue with Butte and Yuba streets and continuing over to California Street," Abshier? said.

Record Searchlight reporter David Benda contributed to this article.

Mike Chapman is a reporter and photographer for the Record Searchlight in Redding, Calif. His newspaper career spans Yreka and Eureka in Northern California and Bellingham, Wash. Follow him on Twitter @mikechapman_RS. Subscribe today!