“Should Pioneer Way in Oak Harbor be turned into a one-way street?It’s a question that has been discussed in the city for many years, but this Thursday the city planning department and consultants will try to get an answer from the community and bring the discussion to a close, once and for all.The city has sent out letters of invitation to all the downtown business owners, inviting them to the downtown circulation workshop Nov. 9, 7 p.m., at the city shop on NE 16th Avenue. Members of the community are also urged to attend.The push to turn the downtown thoroughfare into a one-way street started several years ago during a meeting of downtown business owners. Many of the business owners felt that a one-way street would help business in the area by increasing the amount of space for on-street parking and wider sidewalks, as well as slowing down traffic. The hope is to create a pedestrian-friendly environment that will lure more shoppers downtown.City consultants presented several options for improving circulation downtown – looking at Pioneer Way as both a one-way and a two-way street – at a community workshop last summer, but they didn’t get any consensus from the citizens.City Planner Tom Burdett said the consultants took the two most popular proposals and created some detailed drawings that will be presented at the workshop. They include:* Converting Pioneer Way to a one-way, eastbound street between City Beach Street and Midway Boulevard. Ely and Dock streets, which are currently one-way, would be turned into two-way streets. Some existing parallel parking would be turned into angle parking.* Keeping Pioneer as a two-way street, but it would meander to allow angle parking on opposite sides. Ely and Dock streets would be converted to two-way streets. The traffic signal at the intersection of Pioneer Way and Dock Street would be removed and all-way stops signs added. The intersections along Pioneer Way would be improved by narrowing the roadway or adding islands.At the Blueprint For Change event earlier this year, a team of visiting architects advised the community not to turn Pioneer Way into a one-way street. James Moore, the team leader, said that many cities in Florida experimental with one-way streets in downtown areas during the 1980s, but nearly all of them found it didn’t work and switched back to two-ways.Burdett said the public’s input will ultimately decide which direction the city will pursue. He said the city’s comprehensive plan task force needs to adopt an updated transportation plan, including downtown circulation, this year.You can reach News-Times reporter Jessie Stensland at jstensland@whidbeynewstimes.com or call 675-6611. “