Residents object to Bunce Road multimodal path; councilors pledge further talks

During the March 3 City Council public-comment period, numerous Bunce Road residents strongly opposed the multimodal path component of the Bunce Road Rehabilitation Project, saying outreach was insufficient and the proposed design threatens trees, driveway safety and emergency response times.

Amy Herberger, a Bunce Road resident, told council the project is a “rushed flood plan” and said the May 7 notice to residents left out the multimodal pathway detail. She said fewer than 3 percent of students bike to school, that most supportive submissions were form letters from cycling advocacy organizations, and that more than 225 signatures oppose the project. Herberger warned the path would remove mature trees, reduce green space, create traffic bottlenecks and could reduce emergency access.

Resident Matt Herberger said he and other neighbors felt blindsided: he said the project materials referenced a bicycle lane buried in the notice and that a bicycle lane is different from the multimodal path now proposed. He questioned the extent and timing of public engagement and said many supportive responses were form letters.

Shannon Mortland, who identified herself with decades of communications experience, warned council the multimodal path would create dangerous conditions for residents backing out of driveways and for slower users mixing with fast-moving cyclists; Mortland said the project risks injury and political backlash and urged council to listen. David Mortland described Bunce Road as a neighborhood where people sit and watch the street and said the proposed changes would materially alter that character.

Mayor George responded to concerns about notification, saying the May 7 project letter twice referenced adding bike lanes and that staff intended to make travel easier and safer for vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists. Councilman Bullock said he has met with neighbors and urged ongoing dialogue to identify refinements — distinguishing elements that can be adjusted (materials, maintenance, enforcement) from fundamental disagreements about the design. Councilwoman Snyder thanked residents for participating and urged unity in facing broader municipal challenges.

Background: staff said Bunce Road improvements are part of the city’s Active Transportation Plan and the federally required integrated wet-weather/sewer improvement projects. Several speakers noted that stormwater, sewer replacement and street-paving work are needed and supported those elements while opposing the multimodal path portion.

Ending: Councilmembers and staff agreed to continue conversations with neighbors, identify possible design refinements, and return with additional information; no formal vote altering the project was taken at the March 3 meeting.