Council approves 3‑lane Douglas Avenue redesign with bike lanes, to run six‑month pilot

Wichita City Council approved a design concept for Douglas Avenue from Washington to Grove on Dec. 16, endorsing a 3‑lane roadway with on‑street bicycle lanes, curb extensions and pedestrian improvements. The council also authorized a six‑month pilot beginning 2026 that will use temporary pavement markings and flexible posts to evaluate traffic and safety impacts.

Public Works staff described traffic counts (13,000–13,400 vehicles per day in the corridor) and said a 3‑lane configuration will calm speeds and reduce crash frequency; staff cited national studies showing crash reductions when four lanes are converted to three. The proposed concept includes diagonal parking retained on the south side in part of the corridor and parallel parking on the north, with dedicated bus staging near East High School and a signalized pedestrian crosswalk with a refuge island.

Public comment was sharply divided. Business owners along Douglas argued the lane reduction threatens access, deliveries and customer parking and questioned safety and the data used. Bike‑advocacy groups, public‑health supporters and some nearby developers and property owners backed the plan, emphasizing reduced speeds, improved bike‑safety and economic activation of the corridor. Council members and staff negotiated adjustments — for example, removing some curb extensions and shifting bus staging — after input from East High School and property owners.

Council voted 6‑1 to approve the plan and pilot. The timetable calls for a public online project map and a street‑by‑street listing of the proposed 2026 treatments; staff said they will post details and a searchable map so residents can check impacts in their neighborhoods during the pilot.