FAIRBANKS — The Fairbanks City Council has shot down an attempt by the Fairbanks North Star Borough to rename a prominent downtown road.
The Council decided Monday against the borough’s effort to change Terminal Street to Citizens Way. The short street north of the Chena River leads to the borough’s administrative center, The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported.
The borough had proposed changing its address, which is 809 Pioneer Way, to 907 Citizens Way.
Borough Chief of Staff Jim Williams said the name change was sought because the administrative center has an inaccurate address and because Terminal Street sounds morbid.
But residents who testified at Monday’s meeting said Terminal Street represents the history of the Tanana Valley Railroad and its now defunct terminus.
Council members agreed with the public testimony, with Councilman Jerry Cleworth saying changing the name would give up “what Fairbanks is about.”
The borough’s platting board in January denied the Citizens Way name, but the idea was resurrected by the borough’s planning commission this month. The city had 30 days to veto.
