Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Active Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council authorizes ATP grant application for Zion–Sacramento pedestrian and bicycle improvements
Summary
The council authorized the city manager to submit an Active Transportation Program (ATP) Cycle 8 application for improvements on Zion and Sacramento streets, including wider sidewalks, raised bikeways and options to preserve parking near businesses and Forest Hills Charter School.
The Nevada City Council on May 13 authorized staff to apply for Active Transportation Program (ATP) Cycle 8 funding for the Zion–Sacramento corridor and adopted Resolution 2026‑10 to allow the city manager or designee to submit the application.
Consultants from the Nevada County Transportation Commission and GHD Consulting presented a preferred concept that would widen sidewalks, add raised bikeways on both sides of the corridor, and install raised intersections and crosswalks at key locations to improve safety and calm traffic. The draft plan includes alternate cross-section options to preserve on‑street parking near clustered food businesses and explores an easement near Forest Hills Charter School as a way to maintain parking while widening the corridor.
Emily Shandy of GHD said the concept was shaped by multiple public workshops and is available for public review through May 27. Mike Woodman, Executive Director of the Nevada County Transportation Commission, described the April 2 public workshop and noted staff received feedback that led to alternative cross sections in the draft plan.
Council members and residents pressed staff on details: whether homeowners would face reconnection costs if utilities were moved and how collision-history scoring might affect the ATP application. Project staff clarified there is no plan to underground utilities as part of this application, and that typical reconnection costs for meter moves would be paid as part of the project, not by homeowners. ATP applications are competitive; staff proposed submitting in June (deadline noted as June 22), with awards announced in December and a multi‑year design and construction time frame if funded.
Members of the public recommended specific adjustments including considering 10‑foot lanes to reduce speeds, adding stop signs or raised crosswalks by schools, slowing the process to improve community access to plans, and further exploring alternate bike routes such as Searls. Council emphasized that the action before them was to apply for funding for further design and environmental work, not to approve a final design.
Council voted to adopt the resolution authorizing the application and directed staff to continue public engagement and design refinement if the grant is awarded.
