Assembly recommends Concepts 4B and 5 for further public review of Main Street redevelopment

The Skagway Municipality assembly voted to recommend two design options — Concept 4B and Concept 5 — to go back to the public for further input on the Main Street redevelopment project. The recommendation followed staff presentations that described Concept 5 as a combination of prior designs with a widened multi‑use path, parking on both sides and full utility replacement.

Staff said Concept 5 would include a widened west-side multi-use path intended to serve pedestrians, bicycles and strollers, two eight-foot parking lanes, 12-foot driving lanes and five-foot green strips on either side. Tyson, a public-works staff member, told the assembly the concept was meant as a “marriage of all the concepts” and that the project requires replacing water and sewer infrastructure in addition to curb, gutter, sidewalk and asphalt.

Why it matters: assembly members flagged the project’s scale and budget implications — a mobilization cost figure of about $2.3 million and an overall project figure near $34 million were discussed — and argued the assembly should weigh phasing against long‑term mobilization expenses. Several members said limiting initial construction to the worst pinch points near 8th Street North could reduce short‑term costs while preserving a single design set to enable future phasing.

Debate focused on safety and user mix for the proposed multi‑use path. One member raised concerns about ebikes and faster cyclists mingling with pedestrians, citing visibility issues for riders emerging from behind parked cars, while staff said people already use sidewalks by bike and that the widened path is primarily a public‑safety feature. The assembly discussed whether to present three options to the public to avoid overwhelming residents with choices; staff confirmed prior surveys and a town‑hall presentation are posted on the Main Street project webpage and included in the packet.

At the end of the discussion, an assembly member moved and the body approved a motion to recommend Concept 4B and Concept 5 for additional public review and outreach. Chair Hillis said the package should include the comparative posters and survey results that informed the concepts. The next steps are increased community outreach and, depending on funding availability, possible phasing strategies to limit upfront costs while keeping a full project design ready for implementation.