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Council directs staff to get bids for citywide arterial and collector bike-lane improvements; sharrows and safety debated
Summary
After an extended discussion about sharrows, green bike legends and protected lanes, council asked staff to prepare a bid package for arterial and collector improvements (priority to collector sharrows near schools) and to return with firm cost estimates; staff estimated about $1.3 million to finish arterials but will seek bids.
The Aliso Viejo City Council directed staff to prepare bid-ready designs and cost estimates for a citywide bike-lane improvement program focused on arterial and collector streets after a lengthy staff presentation and public comment on safety and design principles.
Public Works Director Sean Pelletier summarized the current approach: continue implementing painted green-bike legends and buffered Class 2 lanes where roadway width allows and add Class 3 'sharrow' markings on lower-speed collector streets (posted speeds under 35 mph). He estimated roughly $1.3 million to complete the arterial bike-lane program but noted that number is a planning estimate and that staff had not yet solicited formal bids.
Council and public comment emphasized three themes: consistency (uniform placement/spacing of stencils and green markings), safety (multiple speakers urged vertical protection such as bollards or temporary barriers rather than paint-only treatments), and cost/timing. Several residents and a transportation planner recommended physically protected lanes or flexible vertical elements where feasible. Staff said that some corridors (notably two bridges over state highway 73) lack the physical width for dedicated bike lanes and that sharrows are an option on many collector streets.
Council members asked staff to produce a bid package and cost estimate for arterials and collectors (with an initial focus on sharrows near schools) so the council can evaluate scope and budget; staff said they will return with a request-for-proposal/bid-ready package and will prioritize safety and maintenance considerations in the design.
