August 3rd, 2016 by WCBC Radio

The Allegany County Chamber of Commerce has endorsed the plan known as “option 3a-1” for the Baltimore Street re-design.  That plan, as recommended by consultants to the city of Cumberland, calls for one way traffic from both ends of the downtown mall, limited parking and bike lanes. A letter from the Chamber to the Mayor and City Council asks that the final design retain the majority of the elements of the proposal now on the table which has been subject to public review and input.  One issue of concern about the project raised during a recent city council meeting centered on the issue of how downtown businesses would be impacted during the construction phase necessary to re-convert the mall from pedestrian to one that allows vehicular traffic.  Bill Atkinson, a member of the committee that studied the various proposals, and a Maryland Department of Planning employee, said the city should be able to address any potential problems by keeping the public notified about the schedule, and promoting the project as an attraction- even during the construction phase…