One of the things that I’ve heard more people talk about since I’ve been here is the traffic on Main Street in downtown Hartselle.

It’s something that has upset more people than anything else that I can remember. I can’t count the number of people that just hate those two traffic lights on Main Street and feel that they just don’t make any sense.

I’ve been one of those people, too. I have figured out the pattern of how the lights work. I base my traffic movements on what part of the cycle that the lights are in.

When I am approaching from the west, I notice whether traffic is moving on Hickory, Sycamore and Sparkman streets. If it is, I will stay on Main Street and go through the lights.

When I approach from the east, I notice whether the westbound is moving. If so, I know that the lights going my way are about to change. Thus, I stay on Main Street.

If I’m approaching from Sparkman, I watch and see if eastbound traffic is moving. That means the lights are about to change to allow traffic to cross Main Street.

If any of those three situations do not occur, I always try to bypass the downtown lights. And I know I’m not the only one that does that.

Probably, the only people who don’t do that are visitors or newcomers to Hartselle who don’t know their way around.

However, the City of Hartselle has finally given me and every motorist who comes through downtown a reason to cheer.

The city is hosting a meeting with Sain Associates Tues., Jan. 20, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Hartselle High School’s lecture hall to present proposals for improving the downtown traffic situation.

Mayor Don Hall said that representatives from the Alabama Department of Transportation have also been invited to attend the meeting. If the meeting is cancelled due to weather or other issues, Hall said the meeting date would be Thur., Jan. 22 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Those attending the meeting will be able to see the proposals and then leave written comments. Hall said comments will also be accepted before and after the meeting.

Department of Development Director Jeff Johnson said those written comments will help determine the action the city will take.

I encourage you to attend this meeting if you can. If you can’t, we will publish stories about the proposals in the Enquirer. You can read about them and then send in your comments after the meeting.

I’m glad that we’re having this meeting to see if we can get this problem corrected. We need to get it fixed ASAP because the traffic is increasing every day and it’s only going to get worse.

Brent Maze is the managing editor of the Hartselle Enquirer.