Staff gives multiple updates: bicycle-and-pedestrian plan engagement, Market one-way pilot, and speed-limit reductions

City staff delivered a package of updates including the bicycle-and-pedestrian plan outreach schedule, a one-way conversion pilot on a narrow corridor, and progress on lowering posted speed limits under new state authority.

Joanna Kwok and other staff summarized the Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan update: phase 1 engagement concluded in June, staff compiled input and produced a draft network and prioritization list. Phase 2 engagement will include a public open house tentatively scheduled for Nov. 19 and an October 4 outreach appearance at a Canal Alliance event. Staff said the October 20 web map and comment tools will publish the draft network and the top 20 priority projects.

Staff also briefed the committee on a proposed one-way conversion pilot for a narrow street segment the committee identified as subject to conflicts between school- and neighborhood-origin trips. Staff said volume counts are complete and that the pilot is tentatively scheduled to begin in early 2026; the direction of the one-way has not been decided and county coordination is required where city and county streets abut.

Staff reviewed changes enabled by the state law that allows lowering posted speeds to 20 mph in appropriate business and residential districts. Staff said they completed a first phase of downtown sign changes and that a second phase of street segments outside downtown is being studied, with many locations targeted for additional signs and enforcement coordination.

Committee members requested earlier access to map-heavy presentations and asked staff to post materials online before meetings; staff agreed to improve pre-meeting materials and web posting when construction documents are available.