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Council approves Park Avenue traffic-calming striping, buffered bike markings and speed feedback signs
Summary
The council authorized striping and markings estimated at $120,000 to add buffered bike lanes, narrowed vehicle lanes and speed feedback signs; staff will include the work in the summer paving contract pending budget adoption.
The Capitola City Council approved a staff plan on June 12 to add traffic-calming striping, buffered bike markings and speed-feedback signs along Park Avenue, directing staff to include the work as a change order to the city's 2025 pavement maintenance contract.
The plan narrows vehicle travel lanes to 10.5 feet, adds painted bike lanes and green intersection markings at crossings, and installs speed-feedback signs. Staff estimated total cost at about $120,000: roughly $98,000 for striping, $8,000 for feedback signage and a $4,000 construction contingency. The work is scheduled to be combined with the contractor's summer paving work should the council adopt the proposed budget later in June.
Why it matters: Park Avenue is a principal arterial with documented speeding and pedestrian crossing concerns. The measures are intended to calm speeds and improve bicycle and pedestrian safety without removing physical parking; outreach in 2023–24 showed community support for protected bike facilities and concerns about parking loss.
Council and staff comments: Staff noted Park Avenue had been studied multiple times and that speed surveys are the typical mechanism for a formal speed-limit change. "There is no change in the speed limit," a staff presenter clarified; the project installs feedback signs that display actual vehicle speed to drivers. Council members said they wanted the city to continue reviewing whether a consistent 25 mph limit could be established on the corridor and noted recent enforcement data showing an increase in citations.
Public comment and next steps: One speaker raised a public-safety concern at a nearby park in the broader area. After brief public comment the council voted to approve staff recommendation and authorized staff to execute the change order contingent on final budget approval. Staff will coordinate with the contractor to implement the striping and signage this summer and to install ADA ramp updates and green bike markings at intersections already included in recent nearby projects.
Sources: Staff presentation to Capitola City Council, June 12, 2025; council roll-call vote.
