The Madison Plan Commission examined the need for improving different parts of the city’s transportation infrastructure at a meeting Thursday.

The Downtown Plan, a proposal for the renovation of Madison’s downtown area throughout the next 20 years, includes several recommendations for one-way streets to be implemented. Downtown Coordinating Committee member Patrick McDonnell urged the Plan Commission to make a more comprehensive evaluation of downtown one-way street systems, highlighting their downfalls.

McDonnell said the years 1953 and 1955, when several two-way streets were changed to one-way avenues, were watershed moments for Madison’s transportation. He added such a design has had a fundamental impact on the shape, culture and economy of downtown for the last 50 years.

“One-way streets are designed for vehicles to move faster, and it creates a less attractive and less comfortable environment for pedestrians and bicycles,” McDonnell said.

He added the design also lowers visibility of businesses because one-way street designs are not consistent with the concept of complete streets and the idea of a lively downtown.

According to McDonnell, the Downtown Plan was drafted with the suggestion of a very limited number of one-way streets that could possibly be converted to two-way streets. He said he believes a more comprehensive evaluation is necessary.

McDonnell also said the commission should consider the inclusion of more one-way streets that can be converted into a two-way system in the plan.

“What this plan should do is make the point that a one-way network has not been here forever and has resulted in a cost in culture and business of the downtown,” he said.

A new transportation master plan has been proposed recently to look into the costs and benefits of one-way systems and to address whether one-way streets fit well into the Downtown Plan, according to McDonnell.

“Transportation and land use are intrinsically entwined,” McDonnell said. “In fact, it is fair to say that you only get the land use that traffic will allow.”

Commission members also discussed the inclusion of more transportation choices in downtown Madison into the plan.

Plan Commission Chair Nancy Fey said the plan encourages bicycle travel and the use of community bikes so more transportation choices are available to the public.

Commission members also focused on the issue of parking and agreed the plan should include suggestions to increase parking in the downtown area.

Plan Commission member Ald. Steve King, District 7, said environmental concerns and air quality in Madison should also be addressed in the recommendations made by the committee.

“Madison is in air quality trouble,” he said.

Fey agreed with King that environmental capacity concerns and problems such as air sustainability should be acknowledged in the commission’s recommendations to improve the underlying values of the Downtown Plan.

Commission members also addressed various items included in the plan for editorial changes to avoid confusion.

Fey said that some of the terms in the plan regarding technology use are too specific and may not be applicable in the future.

She added specific terms such as smart phones should be changed to “personal and public technology” to avoid confusion.