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Carbondale commission backs targeted traffic‑calming pilot, eyes raised crosswalks and restriping this summer
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Summary
The Carbondale Bike & Pedestrian Commission reviewed a pilot program of temporary raised crosswalks, chicanes and targeted bollards, agreed to restripe bike lanes on West Main and Hendrick this year, and plans to present prioritized projects to trustees on April 28.
The Carbondale Bike & Pedestrian Commission on Tuesday discussed a series of near‑term traffic‑calming and bike‑pedestrian improvements, including testing temporary raised crosswalks, adding chicanes and installing a small number of bollards at critical curves.
The commission’s chair opened the meeting by presenting a short memo and a recommended project list that staff and commissioners had reviewed. Kevin, the town staff member helping with design and implementation, told the group that four‑way stops are not appropriate for speed control and can be unsafe when not warranted: “4‑way stops are not supposed to be used for speed control,” he said, urging alternatives such as bulb outs and chicanes at Sopris and 8th.
Why it matters: Commissioners said residents have been waiting to see visible changes and stressed the value of pairing low‑cost, high‑visibility measures with a public relations push. The group wants some pilot installations this summer so the commission can gather before‑and‑after traffic counts and then present prioritized projects and a finalized corridor map to the trustees on April 28.
Most members supported testing a temporary raised crosswalk at Sopris and 8th and trying a second temporary location at West Main by Crystal to compare results. Kevin recommended following the same test sequence used last year: collect baseline data with counters before school ends, install a pilot during summer, and collect follow‑up counts with schools back in session.
Commissioners also discussed the Hendrick corridor, where prior changes showed bike lanes alone did not sufficiently slow vehicular traffic. The group agreed to restripe bike lanes on West Main and Hendrick this year and to consider more durable solutions — narrow medians, center‑line devices or raised crossings — when larger pavement work is scheduled.
Members proposed placing a few bollards at specific problem curves where drivers were observed cutting into bike lanes, and adding small center‑line features near senior housing to narrow travel lanes and slow vehicles. The chair said the commission will try to identify low‑cost, high‑value items that can be completed this season while advancing longer‑term capital priorities.
The commission also discussed a prominent stretch of Main Street near the promenade and Pinot’s restaurant. Options ranged from a curb cut and painted crosswalk this year to a fully engineered raised crossing — which Kevin said would require design work and accessible ramps and is unlikely to be finished this year without further engineering.
On outreach and programming, members reported progress on Two Rivers Connect, seeking small business prize donations and clarifying partnership questions with a nonprofit partner (CLEAR) before soliciting widespread business support. The group discussed modest branding changes (using a “Bike Walk Connect” slogan) and asked staff to request additional PR funds tied to visible summer projects.
Action taken: The commission moved and seconded approval of the previous meeting minutes. Members agreed to pursue restriping this season and to pilot temporary raised crosswalks and other test features; the group will present the corridor map, project list and PR request to the trustees on April 28.
Next steps: Staff will coordinate design details with Kevin, refine locations for the pilots, gather baseline traffic counts, and finalize materials for the trustees meeting.
