Skagway committee debates Resolution 26 19 R to alter SmartBus stops; no vote taken

The Skagway Municipality Public Safety Committee spent its meeting on a proposed change to SmartBus pickup locations and parking zones under Resolution 26 19 R but did not take a final vote, instead sending the topic on to the full assembly for further consideration.

Jamie Bricker, Skagway tourism director, summarized the plan developed with the Skagway Visitor Advisory Board: routing shuttle traffic north from the docks up State Street, turning on 7th Avenue to a stop at City Hall, then looping to run southbound on Broadway, with “smart” pickup stops placed where lifts can safely deploy. Bricker said the board and staff favor testing a change that is non‑permanent. "It's our understanding that this does have to be changed in order for us to institute a test because right now, it's these parking areas are part of code," she said.

SmartBus owner Greg Clem told the committee rerouting could shorten the operator's loop times and increase frequency, a claim staff used to justify a test. "The loop from the railroad dock at this point takes 30 minutes," Clem said; moving the route to the other side of town would reduce that to about 20 minutes, he added. Committee members pressed for clear, comparable ridership numbers, noting some figures represent total rides rather than unique passengers.

Residents and business owners urged caution, saying concentrating loading on one side could harm north‑end merchants and create pedestrian safety problems where people cross mid‑block. Because the committee did not adopt a test plan or amend the code at the meeting, the assembly will take up Resolution 26 19 R at its next scheduled meeting.