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Carbondale commissioners greenlight summer tests of chicanes, raised crossings and bike striping
Summary
The commission approved summer pilot tests of temporary chicanes, bulbouts and raised crosswalks on Sopris/8th Street and Snow Mass Drive, with staff to monitor impacts on bikes, trucks and neighbors and to run outreach materials before and during the trial.
The commission approved a summer pilot that will place temporary traffic-calming treatments — including chicanes, bulbouts and at least one raised crosswalk — on Sopris (8th to 4th) and at a midblock crossing on Snow Mass Drive, with tests running through October to gather user feedback and safety data.
Staff presented detailed plans for the chicanes, describing alternating parking, temporary raised crosswalks and the use of tubular markers or cones to create 12-foot lateral shifts that force drivers to cross the center line periodically to slow speeds. Kevin, the project lead, described the temporary kit as a way to test geometry before committing to a permanent hardscape: "This is us using the tubular markers to create some sort of an island that has some geometry to it to force traffic where we want to." The commission asked staff to produce visuals showing what a permanent treatment could look like to reduce public confusion.
Commission members raised safety questions about cyclist interactions and driver predictability. Andy and Ross said the zig-zag lane geometry could confuse drivers and create merge conflicts with cyclists unless reinforced by pavement markings or small center medians; staff said options include using "sherrows" (shared-lane markings), painted center lines, or short raised islands if confusion appears. The commission emphasized monitoring and an incremental approach: staff will install temporary markers, sweep and adjust geometry based on observed behavior, and consider concrete bulbouts or curb work only after favorable test results.
The panel also discussed where to test raised crosswalks. Snow Mass Drive was favored for a midblock raised crossing near school access points to observe pedestrian and school-time interactions; the commission noted truck-route noise and drainage constraints at some curb-and-gutter locations and asked staff to prioritize sites where temporary installations are feasible. Staff recommended implementing public outreach and explanatory materials after July 4 so residents understand the temporary nature of the treatments and why they look different from a finished permanent installation.
The commission confirmed the pilot schedule and asked staff to report findings and community feedback at future meetings. The next procedural step is installation and outreach work coordinated by the department, with data collection through the summer and a follow-up report to the commission in the fall.
