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Parametrix proposes curb tightening and mountable bumps for West End intersections; neighbors express safety worries
Summary
Parametrix presented draft intersection concepts for Second & West and Fourth & Greenfield to manage rerouted traffic, including painted bulbouts, strip medians and short mountable bumps to slow turning cars; several neighbors urged alternative designs and questioned traffic counts.
Consultants from Parametrix presented draft recommendations to address circulation and safety in the West End after a nearby project will reroute some left‑turn traffic. The study focused on two intersections with the most substantial recommended physical changes: Fourth & Greenfield and Second & West.
At Fourth & Greenfield, the consultants proposed narrowing travel space with painted medians, added curb extensions and marked bulbouts to shorten pedestrian crossings and clarify vehicle movements; the concept assumes removal of two parking spaces in one corner to improve sightlines. The team said turning templates and fire apparatus templates were used to verify feasibility.
At Second & West, Parametrix proposed a hardened center line with curb/delineators and a short array of mountable bumps on both inbound and outbound approaches to slow uncontrolled left turns across a cycle track and crosswalk. The design also included added signage, removal of one parking space to improve sightlines, and clearer striping to denote no‑parking hatched areas.
Neighbors at the meeting raised strong objections to mountable bumps on uphill West Street, saying the location already requires drivers to monitor traffic, bikes and pedestrians and that bumps could create a hazardous maneuver on a slope. One resident also noted a steep hairpin at Marquard/Fremont and argued that re‑routing left turns could push unsafe turning movements onto constrained local streets.
Parametrix clarified that their analysis focused on AM/PM peak‑hour volumes (the consultant used counts from a night in September 2024 for peak‑hour modeling) and that earlier Kimley‑Horn full‑day counts reported larger total daily volumes; the consultants said the presentation used peak‑hour modeling to show the worst‑case hour for delay and safety analysis. Parametrix committed to reviewing public comments and traffic‑count discrepancies and to refine concepts before returning to staff.
The committee voted to accept the consultant memo and asked staff to follow up on count differences, alternative design options (including left‑turn restrictions), and community outreach before finalizing any physical installations.
