Council signals consensus to revert Cota Street temporary traffic-calming after year of complaints

The Shelton City Council study session on Aug. 26, 2025 heard an update from Public Works Director Jay Harris on the temporary traffic‑calming changes on Cota Street and signaled consensus to pursue Option A—reverting to the pre‑project parallel‑parking configuration—while staff develops a refined plan and public outreach strategy. No formal council vote was taken at the study session.

The change on Cota Street began with a downtown vision and Creative District planning process that included “green street” concepts; the city installed a temporary configuration in 2024 that uses reverse curves (sometimes called chicanes) and 60‑degree diagonal stalls in place of the earlier parallel parking. Harris described the project history and data, and presented two options: (A) revert to the previous striping and restart traffic‑calming planning, or (B) improve the temporary striping and proceed to a permanent corridor design with stormwater planters and other green‑street features.

Harris said the corridor now has about 1,500 vehicle trips per…