Committee backs revised Battery Street preferred alternative, asks DPW to review curb cuts for pedestrian and bicycle safety

The committee voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council adopt the revised Alternative 2 as the preferred design for the Battery Street scoping study and directed the Department of Public Works to review curb cuts along the corridor to enhance bicycle and pedestrian safety during future design phases.

Staff and consultants presented revisions made after previous review: the updated graphics now show parking on both sides of the street in the southern two blocks, retention of the existing pull-off area in front of the Marriott, and left-turn pockets for hotel access. The team also added narrative on stormwater management and summarized stakeholder outreach, including follow-up meetings with property owners and advocacy groups.

A recurring concern from members and advocates was the curb cut and driveway configuration near the College Street intersection, a high-volume pedestrian crossing. Staff reported the project team had met individually with a property owner but that the owner would not “willingly reduce the curb cut.” Committee members agreed this design detail should be refined during preliminary design rather than be locked in at scoping. One committee member asked that the study text make clear the graphics are conceptual and that staff would continue safety reviews.

The advisory committee’s design calls for lane reductions at key intersections to shorten pedestrian crossing distances; staff said shortening the crossing at the College Street location will increase queuing space for pedestrians and is a major safety benefit. The project team will pursue a Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) grant to fund interim safety improvements while the full capital program (estimated in the tens of millions of dollars) advances.

The committee approved a motion recommending Alternative 2 as the preferred alternative and further recommending that DPW review curb cuts across the corridor in future phases. Staff will add narrative to final documents clarifying that design details will be resolved in preliminary design and that the preferred alternative is not yet final.

Ending: Staff will update the scoping report with the committee’s requested language and seek City Council action to move the project to the next phase.