Committee presses for permanent traffic-calming measures; $1 million Safe Streets funding noted but Coventry work remains undone

Council members reiterated concerns about speeding and pedestrian safety and pressed staff to ensure traffic-calming projects move from planning into construction, with specific reference to Coventry Road and Lee Road.

Members noted a federal Safe Streets grant of about $800,000 and a $200,000 city match included in the mayors budget for a $1,000,000 total and said the grant appears oriented toward permanent measures rather than demonstrations. One member said a prior $400,000 council request had funded planning work but that Coventry-related improvements were not completed. Members described traffic-calming tools such as chicanes, bump-outs, flex posts and permanently installed measures that physically slow vehicles, and urged the administration to prioritize locations where pedestrians are consistently at risk.

Staff reported that Director Zamp plans to hire an outside firm to help implement Safe Streets projects and that planning staff have strong designs but may lack execution funding. Committee members asked for a clearer accounting of what the $1,000,000 will cover and asked the appropriate department directors to meet with council members to set priorities. Several members signaled a willingness to allocate additional budget resources if it would ensure construction at Coventry and Lee Road.

Ending: The committee asked staff to meet with Director Zamp and planning staff to detail the Safe Streets grant spending plan and to confirm whether additional council funds will be needed to complete priority projects such as Coventry and Lee Road; no final budget changes were approved at the meeting.