CHAPEL HILL - CHAPEL HILL - The town is pushing ahead with plans to return the annual Franklin Street Halloween celebration to its community roots with a "Homegrown Halloween in Chapel Hill" campaign.

"We're determined to put safety first, and with such a large crowd that has become almost impossible," said Town Manager Roger Stancil. "The possibility for serious injury or worse tragedy draws nearer each year."

Last year, police estimated the celebration drew about 80,000 revelers at its peak, many more people than the 54,000 population of Chapel Hill.

While public safety is the town's top concern, it spent $221,000 last year on about 400 law enforcement officers, clean-up crews and emergency medical support teams.

Stancil has approved the following changes for Halloween on Franklin Street:

* Chapel Hill Transit buses will no longer provide shuttle services to the downtown from area Park and Ride lots.

* A traffic diversion plan that restrains access to the downtown area by reducing travel lanes on Raleigh Road (Hwy 54), Martin Luther King Drive and East Franklin Street will be implemented.

Discussions continue concerning the final recommendations relating to alcohol sales in the downtown area. Town leaders have heard from several bar and restaurant owners and plan to release a decision by Oct. 15. Police Chief Brian Curran would like to end sales after 9 p.m., which the town can do by declaring a state of emergency.

"Halloween on Franklin Street is no longer an event that reflects the character of our great community," said Mayor Kevin Foy. "It will take time to return Halloween on Franklin Street to the family friendly, grassroots celebration that it once was ... but it is well worth our efforts to improve public safety."