Residents raise safety and outreach concerns over Fulton Street sidewalk and bike‑lane project; city staff says outreach occurred

A Fulton Street resident and business owner told the Everett City Council that staff outreach was insufficient ahead of an upcoming $1.35 million Fulton Street project that will add sidewalks and bicycle lanes on both sides of the street.

“Last month I haven't heard anything — not by phone, email. No one's knocked on my door. I only just found out by a letter that was sent out just last week that the project's starting next month,” said Evan Bingaman, who identified himself as a Fulton Street resident and showed photographs to council illustrating daily delivery truck activity and tight curbspace. Bingaman warned that running bicycle lanes through a nearby intersection with a history of collisions would “endanger people” and said Pine Street two blocks away already has sidewalks and would be a safer, lower‑cost alternative.

Jennifer Gregory of administration responded to the council and Mr. Bingaman, saying the city conducted community outreach through the planning and design phases including field meetings with stakeholders, mailed notices and on‑site signs, and direct consultation with adjacent businesses including Lowe's, Central Welding Supply and DMH Industrial Electric. “We did conduct direct consultation with adjacent businesses,” Gregory said, and staff had been asked to evaluate Pine Street and other alignments after Mr. Bingaman's earlier comments. She said traffic staff concluded the Fulton alignment best balanced safety and parking impacts.

Council members and staff emphasized outreach and offered to follow up with Mr. Bingaman. Council members also pointed to the city's subscription services and social media as channels to receive project updates.

No council action on the project was taken at the meeting; the public comment and staff reply occurred during the public comment and administration sections of the agenda. The city did state a construction start in the coming days in Mr. Bingaman's remarks and staff confirmed the project timeline in their reply.