Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Pedestrian Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council considers $1M-per-year pedestrian safety program; crosswalks cost more than expected
Summary
Staff proposed a dedicated $1 million annual source to fund sidewalks, flashing crosswalks and other pedestrian improvements; engineering warned single flashing crossings can cost $250,000–$300,000 including design and ADA work.
Staff told council that a recurring $1,000,000 annual fund could make measurable progress on the city’s backlog of pedestrian-safety and bicycle projects; as an example an engineering staffer said a typical flashing-crosswalk project (RRFB) is "in the neighborhood of with design and construction, 250 to 300,000." Councilors discussed pursuing a small bond for immediate injections or a recurring fee (or a combination of the two) and suggested piloting projects and bundling smaller items to increase public buy-in.
Several councilors said pedestrian safety projects frequently appear in resident requests and would be politically palatable if packaged with visible results (e.g., crosswalks near schools). Staff recommended a project prioritization and community engagement plan to test appetite for a recurring funding source or a targeted bond.
