Council backs shared-lane option and continuous south-side sidewalk for East State Street

The Montpelier City Council voted May 21 to direct public works staff to proceed with final design on an East State Street streetscape that provides a continuous sidewalk on the south side from Main Street to College Street and a shared bike lane (vehicles and bicycles sharing the travel lane) rather than a widened, separated uphill bike lane.

Kurt Monica, the city’s director of public works, reopened options the council had asked staff to study after earlier debate. The staff presented three options with cost estimates: a north-side sidewalk plus restored sidewalks (approximately $7.7 million), the staff-recommended separated uphill bike lane with additional sidewalk work (about $8.2 million), and a straight restoration to existing layout (about $7.0 million). Monica described maintenance and construction logistics, retaining-wall needs in steep sections and the timing advantages of advancing final design this year.

Public comment at City Hall was extensive: residents and property owners said widening the road to add a separated bike lane would reduce front-yard setbacks, bring traffic closer to homes, and likely increase vehicle speeds. Property owners asked how much right-of-way would be taken and where retaining walls would sit. Several residents urged repairing and maintaining existing sidewalks rather than expanding sidewalk mileage.

Supporters of safer cycling infrastructure — including a Complete Streets committee member — argued that Montpelier should invest in bike and pedestrian facilities to encourage active transportation and lower vehicle miles traveled.

After discussion, Council directed staff to advance the alternative that the council majority favored: replace the sidewalk gap on the south side and provide a shared-lane approach for bikes (not a separated uphill lane), while avoiding significant widening of the roadway. The motion authorized public works to proceed with final design and to return with bid-ready documents; the council indicated the selected approach would preserve more private front-yard space and reduce the need for retaining-wall construction.

Monica said the project remains sensitive to cost; staff warned the construction estimate could change at final design. The estimated cost for the council-preferred alternative presented to the council was about $7.7 million. If bids return higher than the available budget, staff said they would return with alternatives or request additional funding before construction.