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Commission signs off on near‑term Grand Avenue calming and signal reactivation
Summary
The commission approved turning the downtown Grand Avenue signal at Juniper back on, adding angled parking to slow traffic and relocating APS push buttons; longer‑term roundabout plans remain in design and depend on funding.
The commission approved staff’s proposal to reactivate the Grand Avenue traffic signal at Juniper, add diagonal parking east of Juniper to slow traffic, and realign pedestrian push buttons as a near‑term step while a larger roundabout project moves through design.
Staff said the near‑term package includes angle parking on Grand, retaining a small number of parallel spaces near the park, relocating APS pedestrian push buttons, and restoring pedestrian crosswalk timings when the signal is reactivated. Staff also described drainage design work required east of Juniper and a future phase that would include a roundabout at Juniper.
A downtown business representative and a local designer spoke in favor of the angle parking as a calming measure but cautioned staff to consider conflicts between signal coordination and traffic calmed by diagonal parking.
"I think it's going to be really helpful and also help with...walkability and safety in our downtown corridors," a local business owner said, endorsing the diagonal parking concept while flagging concerns about signal reactivation and vehicle platooning.
Staff said the signal master plan and planned upgrades (new controllers and cellular interconnect) will allow coordination by year‑end; the commission approved the near‑term measures 5-0.
Next steps: staff will proceed with work orders to install angle parking, relocate APS equipment, and reactivate the signal; they will also coordinate the signal master plan and longer‑term roundabout design and funding.
