Check out this article where researchers discovered that people actually drive more when the stock of roads in their city increases. I don't think that adding more lanes or building more roads to downtown will improve congestion. In fact, according to this study, that may actually make congestion worse. Let's return NP and 1st Ave back to two-way streets which will in turn slow traffic and make it more safe for everyone - pedestrians, bikers, and cars.

http://www.infrastructurist.com/2011/06/06/why-building-roads-creates-traffic/