Board backs conversion of Truman Street to two‑way, will notify city council

The Hammond City Board of Public Works and Safety on June 12 voted to refer a recommendation to the City Council to convert the 1200 block of Truman Street and a neighboring alley from one‑way to two‑way traffic.

Correspondence from Dean Button said public‑safety complaints and reduced bus traffic after the Columbia School ceased operations prompted the request. "The Columbia School, which is immediately North of Truman, no longer is an active school... therefore the need for Truman to be 1 way is sort of gone away," Button told the board.

Button said the change would improve access for motorists and public safety and that he had checked with Councilmember Salinas and the mayor's office, which expressed no objection. He told the board he believed the change requires a seven‑day notice to the city council. The board moved to approve the recommendation and forward it to council for the required seven‑day notice; the motion passed by voice vote.

No specific traffic studies or implementation timing were presented at the meeting; Button said the city would deploy the change after the council notice period.