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Council approves Huntoon Street redesign with complete‑streets elements after debate over sidewalk width
Summary
After extended debate about sidewalk and shared‑use path widths, the council approved design for the Huntoon Street reconstruction including a single travel lane, bike lane and shared‑use path; an amendment to limit sidewalks to six feet failed on a 5–5 tie.
The governing body approved a design contract and concept plan for the Huntoon Street (Huntoon) reconstruction project on Feb. 11, including complete‑streets elements: a single travel lane, a dedicated bike lane and a wider shared‑use path on one side. The approved concept follows the project team’s recommendation to include facilities intended to serve both novice and experienced cyclists and to improve pedestrian safety.
Assistant City Manager Brexton Copley and project staff said the project includes full reconstruction of pavement, water‑line replacement (they said roughly 30% of blocks in the project lack adequate water lines), and a change from the current two travel lanes to one lane to reduce conflict points and lower speeds. Copley said the multidisciplinary public engagement and capacity analysis showed one lane could carry expected traffic volumes and that the design contract should proceed to detailed design.
Councilman Ben Duncan moved an amendment that would cap sidewalks at six feet in width; Councilwoman Hofer seconded the amendment. Proponents of the amendment argued narrower sidewalks would protect existing front‑yard space and reduce project cost. Opponents pointed to the city’s Complete Streets policy (adopted in 2009) and the Mid‑Topeka Metropolitan Planning Organization (MTPO) 2019 design guidance recommending wider shared‑use paths; Public Works staff and several council members said a 10‑foot shared use path on one side and a 5‑foot sidewalk on the other is consistent with those guidelines and with AASHTO guidance for multi‑user paths. The amendment resulted in a 5–5 tie and failed.
Council members who supported the design said past neighborhood engagement favored the complete‑streets concept: Councilman Miller noted an in‑area public survey and hearings where staff reported roughly 77% of respondents preferred the single‑lane design with complete‑streets elements; staff cautioned the electronic survey did not capture addresses for every respondent but that the public hearings and outreach were extensive.
On the final roll call the concept design and authorization to proceed with detailed design carried, 6–4. The clerk recorded yes votes from Council members Dobler, Mayor Padilla, Hiller, Valdivia Acala, Kahl and Miller; Council members Duncan, Hofer, Ortiz and Banks voted no. Staff said detailed design will include additional property‑specific outreach, right‑of‑way review (the project’s typical section fits within the 60‑foot right‑of‑way in most locations) and multiple further public engagement sessions during engineering and utility design.
