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Commission approves Portage Street ‘road diet’ with bike lanes and pedestrian refuges
Summary
The commission approved a $1,039,402 MDOT contract (city share $289,402) to convert Portage Street from four lanes to three with bicycle lanes and pedestrian refuge islands; staff said similar conversions cut total crashes by 42% in local data. The vote passed 6–1, with Vice Mayor Duncan opposed.
The Kalamazoo City Commission voted to approve a Michigan Department of Transportation contract to convert a segment of Portage Street from four lanes to three, add dedicated turn lanes, and install bike lanes and pedestrian refuge islands.
City Director James J. Baker described the design and the safety rationale: “This project… has resulted in a 42% reduction in total crashes and a 24% reduction in fatal and serious injury crashes,” he said, citing results from comparable city projects. Baker said the cross section reduces conflict points, improves sight…
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