Board Recommends Reconfiguring Willits—2Chester Intersection and Adding Bump-Outs on Willets

The Multimodal Transportation Board voted March 6, 2025, to forward a set of geometric changes for the Willets—2Chester area in the Maple/Willits project to the City Commission. The board’s motion asked staff and the consultant (F and V) to finalize designs that remove the existing island at Willets and Chester, add bump-outs at the Willits and Bates intersection, review pedestrian crossing timing and install a mountable-curb bump-out at the southeast corner as shown in truck-turning exhibits.

Staff presented three alternatives: the original conceptual recommendation (exhibit A) that removes the island; an A-1 variant that adds a left-turn lane to address left-turn queuing; and an A-2 variant that would convert the approach to a T intersection. City staff and the engineering consultant cautioned against the T-intersection option because it would put existing driveways inside the intersection influence area and likely require additional traffic control (an all-way stop or signal), which could disrupt nearby signal operations.

Consultant-run truck templates showed that bump-outs can be sized to accommodate typical local trucks, but the board instructed staff to finalize curb geometry and to confirm whether pedestrian crossing time at the intersection could be extended safely. The board approved the staff motion with a second and asked staff to prepare permit-ready materials for commission review.

Board members said the recommended changes aim to slow vehicular approaches, clarify pedestrian crossings and improve neighborhood access while minimizing driveway and truck conflicts. Staff will return formal design drawings and an implementation schedule to the City Commission.