Sandpoint staff outline Phase 2 Division Avenue plan: sidewalks moved, bike lanes added and curb radii targeted for safety

City Engineer Brandon Steglin and staff presented Phase 2 of the Division Avenue corridor improvements to the Sandpoint Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee on Aug. 14, detailing a plan to move sidewalks to the edge of the right-of-way to create a buffer for snow storage and to install standard bike lanes on the east side of the street.

The plan covers the stretch north from Superior to Pine and would relocate the curb line to reduce excess pavement and remove a continuous left-turn lane, freeing space for one travel lane in each direction with bike lanes and upgrades to curb ramps at crossings. "We're taking space away from vehicles and giving it to pedestrians," Brandon Steglin said during the presentation, describing an intent to prioritize pedestrian space and safer crossings.

Committee members pressed staff for specifics about curb radii at high-pedestrian intersections — notably Division and Pine, a high school corridor — and asked that corners be tightened where feasible to slow vehicle turning speeds and improve visibility for walkers. Staff cited recent federal Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG) and evolving ADA-related guidance as drivers for replacing diagonal ramps with perpendicular ramps at crossings and for updating curb ramp placement and design.

Steglin told the committee the project remains in preliminary engineering; work could proceed as soon as this fall if staffing allows, but more likely next year. He recommended the advisory committee assemble a written list of recommendations and vote on them so staff can fold the committee's input into the final design. "It's probably the most interesting way to get input," he said, urging a draft list for the next meeting.

Members also discussed intersection-specific trade-offs — for example, where a narrower corner radius improves sightlines and reduces vehicle speeds but requires adjusted curb ramp locations to maintain accessible crossings. Staff said the goal is to have crosswalks positioned so motorists see pedestrians after completing turns, consistent with the PROWAG emphasis on detectable warnings and perpendicular ramp alignment.

Next steps: the committee agreed to prepare recommendations (via the intersections subcommittee) and return the item to a future agenda for discussion and a possible formal recommendation to staff.