The Essex Junction Bike Walk Advisory Committee reported progress on several visible bicycle and pedestrian projects this year and asked the City Council to give the committee a formal role in the city’s traffic-calming policy and a modest budget increase to support pilot installations.

John, a member of the Bike Walk Advisory Committee, told the council the group “got several new members, a lot of them with young families,” and that the committee led purchases and siting of bike parking, collaborated on design work and outreach, and completed a reapplication for its bike-friendly community designation. "We implemented a bike parking survey" and installations followed, he said, citing locations next to Boxcar, in front of Planet Fitness and the Essex Junction Market.

The committee described technical and engagement work it completed: an RFB purchase of intersection “Blinky Lights” awaiting electrical installation at Athens and Maine; collaboration with UVM engineering on a Park Street corridor redesign; participation in Chittenden County regional safety data reviews; AARP bike-and-walk audits with Local Motion; and a temporary traffic-calming pilot at Lincoln Terrace using bulb-outs and pylons. “That was the project that she specifically brought forward, and we were able to see that through with that temporary installation,” John said of the Lincoln Terrace pilot.

John asked the council to give Bike Walk a role in the city’s traffic-calming policy and “possibly even giving us a modest budget increase so that we can kind of take on projects of that kind, temporary installation projects,” and said the committee is ready “to collaborate with public works, police, and other community organizations to collect and assemble the data and develop the criteria.”

Council members discussed trade-offs and effectiveness of treatments. Councilor Marcus Serta noted that low-traffic route designation could improve safety but worried such routes might not be direct enough for commuting cyclists; John agreed connectivity and visibility are crucial. Councilor Tim and others said green paint can increase cyclist comfort but is expensive and wears off; Tim observed that paint alone does not physically prevent vehicles from encroaching. Regina, the city manager, told the council the city is reviewing Pearl Street alternatives that would widen a sidewalk into a multiuse path on one stretch, and noted staff capacity and responsibilities for paint and roadway maintenance.

The committee also described outreach work: a city bike map (available at the library and city offices), participation at community events including Essex Bridal Fest and the Fourth of July balance-bike race, and a joint meeting with Williston’s bike-and-walk group. They noted regional safety data showing lower instances of bike- and pedestrian-related injuries than some neighboring communities.

If the council gives Bike Walk a formal role, the committee indicated it would take on scoring and site selection for pilot projects and coordinate with staff on installation and safety data. The committee did not present a specific dollar request; John said budget numbers depend on staff guidance and project volume and that the Lincoln Terrace pilot cost was “a lot less than any public works project that we see come through the city.”

Council comment closed with general support for the committee’s work and suggestions for incremental, visible measures (stencils, bulb-outs, signage) as lower-cost first steps while staff and council evaluate resources and long-term designs.

Ending: The committee left the council with a concrete ask — a formal role in traffic-calming planning and modest funds to run temporary pilot projects — and the council signaled interest but noted funding, maintenance responsibility, and staff capacity must be clarified before commitments are made.