Athens in Motion hears staff request on Barber Street segment; defers formal recommendation pending more data

City transportation staff asked the Athens in Motion Commission on Thursday whether the panel would accept using shared-lane markings ("sharrows") on segment 4 of the Barber Street bicycle and pedestrian project to expedite construction amid higher-than-expected utility and right-of-way costs.

The request focused on segment 4, the stretch between Prince Avenue and Boulevard. Jason (staff) outlined the project history and said the design previously recommended by the commission called for a 12-foot, two-way separated multiuse path with a five-foot sidewalk. He told commissioners the current budget shortfall stems from utility relocations and right-of-way acquisitions and that using sharrows would reduce those costs and allow a portion of the project to be built now.

"This is subproject 7 from T-SPLOST 2018 and the Barber Street Bicycle Pedestrian Improvement Project. We're specifically gonna be discussing segment 4 from Boulevard to Prince Avenue," Jason said during the presentation.

Commissioners voiced reluctance to substitute sharrows for a separated facility, citing concerns that paint-only treatments do not provide the same level of safety and would create a gap in the continuous separated network the commission has endorsed. Theresa and others said they could consider a temporary or stopgap acceptance of sharrows only if staff returned with more detailed information about budget shortfalls, exact cost differentials, crash data for the corridor and a timeline for subsequent construction of a separated facility.

"I think that idea was a good idea. I don't know if you can and if you say it's a temporary recommendation," one commissioner said, urging caution about permanent trade-offs. Several commissioners emphasized avoiding new gaps in the network, noting the commission had previously ranked segment 4 as the highest priority for completing continuous separated facilities along Barber Street.

Staff did not request a vote at the meeting. Jason said staff can provide additional materials — including crash data, exact budget shortfalls by segment, timeline impacts and potential traffic-calming alternatives — and return to the commission either at its next regular meeting or at a special session if the mayor and commission require a faster answer.

The commission asked that staff also outline what would be lost and gained by installing sharrows now versus holding funds until a separated facility can be built, and to include any planned traffic-calming measures that could accompany a sharrow treatment.

The commission agreed not to change its previous formal recommendation at this meeting and to receive the additional information before making a recommendation to city decision-makers.