Carbondale BikePed commission narrows MAP work to pilot projects, schedules April traffic counts

Members of Carbondale’s BikePed Commission spent much of their meeting discussing how to move from planning into tangible work on the town’s MAP implementation list and agreed to focus near-term efforts on pilot traffic‑calming projects and low‑cost safety improvements.

The commission, which advised trustees and staff on implementation steps, coalesced around two items from a longer 12‑point checklist included in the meeting packet: 4a (pilot tactical projects such as painted roundabouts, raised crosswalks and temporary bike facilities) and 7 (low‑cost maintenance and safety measures). Kevin (town staff) told commissioners, “I would think probably mid April” was realistic for placing traffic counters, and later said, “Data is the first thing we need.” Commissioners said they want before‑and‑after speed counts to evaluate the effect of pilot installations.

Why it matters: the MAP plan identified numerous intersections and corridors for safety and multimodal improvements, but commissioners and staff said limited staff time and town resources make prioritization essential. By narrowing immediate work to pilot projects and inexpensive, town‑funded fixes, the group aims to demonstrate visible progress…