The Public Works Committee on May 5 voted to forward a resolution authorizing up to $20,000 for a Gonzales Companies LLC study on options for widening the Veneta Drive bridge. Staff said the study will review whether the existing substructure could support an additional lane, whether a separate new bridge is required to add two lanes, and provide rough order-of-magnitude cost estimates for each alternative.

Staff said the recent Park Place development and its traffic study prompted the study request. The consultant will provide typical sections and structural options and will not be limited to the existing alignment; staff said other alignments and an at-grade crossing will be considered if feasible.

Public commenters asked whether bicycle and pedestrian accommodations would be included. A resident, Tracy McSorley, asked specifically about bicycle and pedestrian accommodations; staff responded that pedestrian accommodations are considered on any project and that the area currently has a separated sidewalk on the bridge but limited pedestrian facilities leading to Highway 50. Staff noted trail connections in the city's Forward 50 plan and said the consultant would look at pedestrian and bicycle options, including potential at-grade solutions that might be easier to accommodate.

Residents also asked whether developers would contribute to bridge work. Staff said the Park Place developer is paying for some off-site road improvements required by the traffic study, but that bridge widening itself was not required as part of the current development approvals.

The committee forwarded the contract authorization to the full council for approval.

Ending: The consultant will return alternatives and rough cost estimates for council review; staff said they will consider pedestrian/bicycle accommodations and multiple alignments as part of the study.