Council directs traffic/engineering study for North Boyer corridor to test slower, more pedestrian-friendly design

The Sandpoint City Council on Oct. 15 directed staff to commission an engineering and traffic study for the North Boyer Avenue corridor to evaluate whether a narrower vehicle cross-section, on-street parking, and routing bicycles onto the existing shared-use path could slow traffic and support street-facing homes in the University Place subdivision.

Why it matters: The study aims to test whether modest changes to lane widths, parking and signage can lower vehicle speeds and create a safer, more walkable street edge where phase 3 of the University Place development is due to build new homes. The outcome could affect how new lots are oriented and how the city manages truck and arterial traffic in the area.

Staff described the draft concept: reduce 12-foot travel lanes to 11 feet, convert the northbound 6-foot bike lane into an 8-foot parking buffer and move bicyclists to the 10-foot shared-use path on the street's east side; add street trees and on-street parking as a traffic-calming buffer; and, if warranted, extend the 25 mph speed limit north to East Mountain View Road. Public-works staff advised that the cross section is feasible to study but that an external traffic engineer must evaluate truck impacts, sight distances, snow removal implications, lane geometry, and design standards before implementation.

Developer Cliff Mort and Monogram Homes told council they are open to orienting some new homes toward Boyer if the right-of-way performs at lower speeds and provides a better front-yard interface. Mort said similar street-front housing types have been built in other local markets and argued the change would increase housing variety.

Council debate touched on competing considerations: the corridor is a designated minor arterial and a truck route today, so engineers must determine whether the proposed cross section can safely carry larger vehicles; some councilmembers said the proposal could be a meaningful, long-term improvement if coordinated with the city's multimodal plans, while others warned the change would offer little benefit because large portions of Boyer already have rear-facing lots and fences.

Action taken: Council authorized staff to commission a traffic/engineering study of North Boyer to evaluate the proposed cross section and related questions (scope to include speeds, truck volumes, sight distances, ADA access and snow removal considerations). The motion passed by roll call (majority approval).

What happens next: Staff will scope the engineering study, solicit proposals from traffic engineers, return a scope and budget estimate for the work, and report back to council. A preliminary range for study cost discussed by staff was roughly $10,000 to $20,000 depending on scope; funding would come from city street engineering budgets.

Ending: Council members said they wanted a study that considered the longer corridor and potential future truck-route changes tied to the city's multimodal plan so the results can inform both short-term striping decisions and longer-term street design.