SAN JOSE — The heated debate over the Lincoln Avenue “road diet” — a plan that slashed the number of lanes from two to one on the popular thoroughfare — rages on with passionate arguments on both sides. But a council committee decided this week to let the City Council determine whether the changes should be made permanent.

Councilman Pierluigi Oliverio, whose district includes the Willow Glen area, asked the committee to place an item on a future City Council meeting agenda to continue the road diet, which has been in effect for about six months. The committee voted unanimously Wednesday to send the proposal to the full council next spring.

Oliverio proposed the lane modifications reducing Lincoln Avenue’s traffic capacity to slow down drivers, improve pedestrian safety and remove commuters. He said the six-month trial worked well because traffic is calmer and no pedestrians have been hit in the crosswalk, but more time and data are needed to decide if the changes should remain.

“People are so passionate about this because it’s been discussed for over 30 years,” Oliverio said. “Some people feel it’s safer to cross the street and it’s easier to park their car. But the folks that were against it felt any delay in their commute is intolerable.”

Opponents of the plan said commuters are now cutting through Almaden Expressway, Meridian and Highway 87 to avoid the congested Lincoln Avenue. It’s causing a headache for those routes and problems for Willow Glen neighborhoods, they say.

Karen Stevens, 56, has operated a dance company and costume shop on Lincoln Avenue since 2008. She says her customers complain about delays, are frequently late to dance performances and the business has suffered double-digit decreases in revenue the last two months because of the lane changes.

Stevens rallied a group of business owners and residents to oppose the plan and organized a petition that’s garnered 730 signatures.

“The impact on businesses is incredible,” Stevens said. “There have been people laid off and folks being transferred because the businesses are feeling the crunch. It could lead to businesses closing.”

Oliverio said none of the Willow Glen businesses complaining about the road diet have provided data to back up their claims about sales losses. He said tax information from the state, which is four months behind, will determine whether the businesses are suffering, along with crash and traffic data to support safety claims.

Oliverio suggested some changes to the plan, but said he’s happy the City Council will ultimately determine whether it should continue. “They will consider making it permanent or not,” he said.

Follow Ramona Giwargis at Twitter.com/ramonagiwargis or contact her at 408-920-5705.