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Design team outlines alternates for Innovation District connectivity — pedestrian, bike and streetscape tradeoffs
Summary
Designers presented 30% plans for the Innovation District phase 2, focusing on ADA sidewalk and transit stop improvements, an enhanced Fourth Street streetscape, a proposed tier‑one bike lane with alternates for decorative lighting, on‑street parking, wiring upgrades, and a safer crossing at 14th and Lincoln.
Luke Schmidt and Christina Sto presented the 30% preliminary engineering report for the Innovation District Neighborhood Connectivity Phase 2, describing corridors prioritized for sidewalk, intersection and bus‑stop improvements (Lincoln, Northeast Fourth, 6th, Stonewall, Kelly) and a higher investment on Northeast Fourth Street that includes pavers, landscaping and a tier‑one bike lane.
The design team emphasized stakeholder engagement undertaken since late 2025, explained their fieldwalk assessing ADA compliance and utilities, and described six alternates: an enhanced gateway intersection on Fourth at Lincoln, decorative pedestrian and roadway lighting on Fourth Street, inset on‑street parking in two locations to support park access and future development, rewiring of older Lincoln intersections to improve maintainability, and an upgraded crossing (Rapid Flashing Beacons, HAWK or full signal) at 14th and Lincoln.
The nut graf: the design team recommended carrying decorative lighting and rewiring alternates forward into full design because those items ranked high among stakeholders and are feasible to include while construction crews are in the corridor. The base construction budget targeted a $5.303 million construction cap for the base bid with alternates priced for potential inclusion if bids allow.
Board discussion focused on parking vs. bike‑lane tradeoffs on Fourth Street. Members asked whether shifting bike facilities to parallel streets might preserve parking; the team said parallel routes and tier adjustments (tier one → tier two) are being evaluated and will be flushed out during 60% design.
Next steps: staff will advance 65% design this summer, finalize plans by year‑end and anticipate a ~240‑day construction duration with a goal to complete Phase 2 before 2028. The board received the preliminary report and asked for continued outreach to stakeholders on bike/parking tradeoffs.
No formal votes on scope or budget were taken at this presentation; alternates were discussed for possible future inclusion on bid day as contractor pricing allows.
