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Council hears Federal Street multimodal plan, approves new city street and related traffic work
Summary
Council received a public update on the Federal Street multimodal corridor — including traffic signal, a proposed roundabout, sidewalks and an 8‑foot multi‑use path — and approved certification to open a new city street created as part of that corridor.
City staff presented a progress update on the Federal Street multimodal corridor project and the council approved certification to open a new city street that will form part of the planned North‑South corridor.
Staff described a corridor concept that includes a new traffic signal where the state highway meets South Main Street, a proposed new north‑south city street linking the state highway to Mason Street/Lemma Drive, sidewalks on Lemna Drive, and an eight‑foot multi‑use path on the east side of Federal Street. The plan also proposes a roundabout near the railroad tracks to maintain corridor flow where several tracks and gates make traditional stop controls impractical; staff said they are in preliminary discussions with the railroad about right‑of‑way impacts.
Councilors and members of the public raised operational questions about roundabout capacity during train gate closures, whether a two‑lane approach could be required to allow bypassing vehicles, and the possibility of coordinating signal timing with railroad activity. Staff said advanced radar and detector technologies and potential radio ties to signals could mitigate some railroad‑related queuing but that coordination with the railroad is complex and may increase cost.
Staff said trees removed for construction will be addressed as part of restoration plans and that some tree replanting is planned; they also flagged pedestrian-safety measures such as signalized crosswalks where appropriate. The project team described a phased schedule: right‑of‑way work targeted in the coming year, with construction tentatively planned for 2027–2028, depending on funding and permitting.
The council then approved a certificate accepting and opening the new public street created in the corridor (motion by Eric; second by Marie); the clerk recorded the vote as 6–0 in favor. Councilors asked staff to continue reviewing safety and operational design details and to return with refined crosswalk and traffic-control plans as engineering advances.
The update also covered planned streetscape improvements downtown, connection to the rail‑trail and replacement of some signal hardware paid for earlier work; staff said the city will reuse upgraded signal equipment in the corridor design.
