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Council hears options for Brewer and Ranger roundabout changes and portal exit project; staff to deliver cost estimates
Summary
Staff presented three alternatives for modifications at the Brewer/Ranger/Forest Road area and discussed a portal exit to El Portal/LockaPocket and a proposed shared‑use connector; council asked staff to produce cost estimates for the alternatives and to provide analysis of pedestrian safety implications.
Staff presented geometric alternatives for Brewer and Ranger/Forest Road intersections and discussed the El Portal/LockaPocket portal exit project and a shared‑use connection across Soldier’s Wash. Councilors asked for comparative cost estimates for the three roundabout alternatives and raised pedestrian safety concerns.
Kurt Harris, public works director, described three concept alternatives for the Forest Road / Ranger / Brewer area: a minimal-footprint option (Option 1); a moderate redesign that updates curb geometry and adds rolled curbing and hatched emergency access (Option 2 — staff’s preferred alternative); and a linear reshaping that would remove the existing roundabout footprint (Option 3). Staff characterized Option 3 as the most impactful and highest‑cost option and said it would require relocating roundabout art and would reduce opportunities for mid‑block pedestrian crossings at the current locations.
Council reaction: Several councilors expressed concern about Option 3’s potential to increase vehicle speeds and to remove opportunities for safe pedestrian crossings, and asked staff to provide cost estimates for all three alternatives (not just the preferred option) before making a choice. One councilor said he would not support a mid‑block crosswalk across SR‑89A without a technical safety analysis; staff acknowledged the need for that analysis and agreed to report back.
El Portal / LockaPocket portal: Staff also reviewed SIM 5A — a proposed portal lane and shared‑use bridge to provide an exit to LockaPocket/El Portal and a shared-use path across Soldier’s Wash. LockaPocket representatives have said they would not accept a net loss of private parking; staff said the city is designing the portal and shared‑use path to avoid reducing LockaPocket’s existing parking capacity and is coordinating with the property owner on operational access and potential controlled access measures.
Next steps: Council asked staff to develop cost estimates for the three Brewer/Ranger alternatives and to provide technical analysis on pedestrian crossing safety for SR‑89A crossings before council selects a preferred design. Staff also said it would continue coordination with LockaPocket on portal design and bring a refined concept and cost estimate to a future SIM update.
