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Planning commission recommends Midtown Carter Hill and College streetscape plan after residents cite dangerous crossings
Summary
The Montgomery City Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend a streetscape master plan for Carter Hill Road and College Street, following a presentation emphasizing safety, connectivity and economic revitalization and multiple public comments about dangerous pedestrian crossings.
The Montgomery City Planning Commission voted unanimously to forward a favorable recommendation to City Council for a Carter Hill Road and College Street streetscape master plan designed to improve pedestrian safety, connectivity and economic activity in Midtown Montgomery.
Lois Portell of the city’s Economic Development Department presented the plan and said the city approached the project as an economic and urban planning initiative grounded in public engagement. “Were requesting your approval of an infrastructure master plan in Midtown Montgomery,” Portell said, adding the work was developed over 12 months with public meetings, walks and stakeholder interviews.
Anthony Papus, senior project manager with the Foresight Group, said the technical work prioritized safety, traffic calming, sidewalks and bike facilities and that the plan is positioned to be grant‑ready for implementation. Public input from two major meetings in April and July 2025, he said, consistently named pedestrian and cyclist safety — missing crosswalks, incomplete sidewalks, poor lighting and high vehicle speeds — as a top concern.
Several neighborhood speakers urged approval. Scott Pierce, president of the Old Cloverdale Association, said his group submitted a letter of support and that neighborhood conversations showed overwhelming backing. Jared McKini, a College Street resident, said, “it isvery difficult to cross Carter Hill Road” and urged measures to create safe crossings. Deborah Hall described a 2024 crash in which a young woman was severely injured while using a nearby running trail and said narrowing the roadway, adding sidewalks and traffic calming would reduce speed and danger.
Commissioners thanked presenters for robust community outreach and noted the plans focus on connecting neighborhoods, institutions and business districts. With no substantive opposition at the hearing, a commissioner moved to approve the recommendation; the motion passed unanimously. The recommendation will go to City Council for final action.
