It may be legal, but residents and a city commission don't see it as neighborly that large, sometimes speedy, commercial vehicles are using St. Mary's Boulevard instead of Missouri Boulevard.
At the Jefferson City Transportation and Traffic Commission regular meeting Wednesday, Thomas Minihan, who has lived on St. Mary's Boulevard for 27 years, requested the commission send a letter to area businesses.
"They seem to think it's their private driveway," Minihan said.
In the past, Minihan has talked with various managers about safer driving habits for their drivers. He said the frequency subsided briefly.
"It's simply a case of managers of these businesses being made aware that neighbors who live on the residential street feel they should stick with the commercial street," Minihan said. "Our concern is we're being robbed of our residential street by these companies."
The panel considered changing city code to restrict commercial traffic, but it would require many exceptions, create a cost for the city and be difficult to enforce.
Commissioners also discussed ways to discourage commercial driving patterns, such as reduced speed limits or speed bumps.
After much discussion, the panel unanimously voted to have staff draft a letter, something Britt Smith said he has not seen it do in his 15 years as staff liaison.
The letter would encourage the businesses near St. Mary's Boulevard to use Missouri Boulevard.
"Keep in mind, what the drivers are doing is legal, although it may not be neighborly," Smith said.
In other business, the commission:
• Heard the request of Jeff Buker to remove the time limit on parking near the corner of Broadway and Miller streets. The commission voted to take no action.
• Introduced the need to research ways to curtail noise pollution from vehicles on through highways.