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Staff seeks direction to study downtown southeast streetscape improvements; Civiltech recommended
Summary
City staff asked the committee for informal direction to hire a planning and engineering firm (Civiltech recommended) to design streetscape improvements for the downtown southeast quadrant focused on pedestrian and bicycle safety, parking preservation and utility evaluation; no vote was required.
City staff presented an informational discussion about possible streetscape and safety improvements in the downtown southeast quadrant — the Riverside/Walnut area near the Fox River — and requested informal direction to engage a planning and engineering firm for concept design and engineering.
Staff said the goals are to increase pedestrian and cyclist safety, create a cohesive connection to the Fox River Trail, evaluate utilities and maintain an adequate parking count for downtown businesses. The work would include an existing conditions analysis, a modest public engagement effort and engineering deliverables; staff recommended Civiltech, the consultant that helped develop the city’s pedestrian and bicycle plan.
Why it matters: downtown stakeholders and businesses have reported congestion and pedestrian conflicts in the quadrant; staff said a traffic study and utility review will be needed and that a concept plus engineering scope could exceed $100,000 depending on recommended improvements.
Council feedback: members generally supported studying improvements and suggested the consultant examine burying overhead power lines where feasible, effects of changing traffic flow (including potential one‑way conversions) and downstream impacts on emergency response and neighboring streets. Staff noted burying lines could be costly and that the project could be funded from the TIF if the recommended improvements proceed.
Next steps: staff said it had sufficient direction to proceed with a consultant scope and will return with concept recommendations and cost estimates; no formal action or vote was taken.
