Skagway advisory board unanimously sends Broadway pedestrian-management recommendation to assembly, urges SmartBus trial

The Skagway Visitor Advisory Board unanimously approved an amended recommendation April 13 to send to the assembly asking city staff and the tourism director to study Broadway pedestrian-management changes and to work with the SmartBus contractor to explore alternate routing and stops during the 2026 season.

The board’s action responds to public comments and operator input that identified safety and congestion problems at several downtown pickup points. Citizen commenter Brooke Sturgis, a former SmartBus driver, urged removing the so-called “mascot” stop and the Golden North stop, saying “Those steps are treacherous. People fall almost weekly,” and recommended replacing them with locations that keep passengers off the boardwalk and away from business doorways.

SmartBus operator Greg Clem told the board he supports changes in two phases: limited operational adjustments this year where possible, and larger contract or route changes for 2027. Clem recommended consolidating downtown stops to the west side and running the SmartBus southbound through 7th–2nd–Broadway to avoid the densest pedestrian areas, saying the route “makes so much more sense” and that stops should offer at least 80 feet of space to accommodate two vehicles and ADA loading.

Jamie Bricker, Skagway’s tourism director and manager of the SmartBus contract, answered operational and contractual questions and cautioned that significant changes may require contract amendments or code updates. Bricker said a trial run — proposed for September — could provide real-time data before any permanent contract or code changes.

Chair Jackie Taylor Rose presented a draft “Broadway Pedestrian Management” recommendation and proposed an amendment to direct staff, including the city manager and the visitor department director, to study the board’s suggestions and to work with the SmartBus contractor on alternate routing and stops during the 2026 season. After discussion about timing, public-safety involvement and the process for code changes, the board voted with no objections to adopt the amended draft and submit it to the assembly.

Members emphasized the need to coordinate with Public Safety and Public Works, to quantify congestion using the study’s measures (people per area) and to prefer a pilot or temporary signage/test changes before committing to permanent infrastructure or code amendments. Jamie Bricker noted code changes would require assembly consideration and likely two readings, and that any infrastructure changes (signage, stanchions, boardwalk work) may carry budget implications.

Next steps: the advisory board’s adopted recommendation will be forwarded to the assembly for consideration; staff were asked to meet with the city manager and the tourism director to scope pilot testing, public-safety implications, and any necessary contract or code actions. The board also identified follow-up agenda items — including a downtown map update and broader tourism-related topics such as housing — for future meetings.