Commission approves Portage Street ‘road diet’ with bike lanes and pedestrian refuges

The Kalamazoo City Commission voted to approve a Michigan Department of Transportation contract to convert a segment of Portage Street from four lanes to three, add dedicated turn lanes, and install bike lanes and pedestrian refuge islands.

City Director James J. Baker described the design and the safety rationale: “This project… has resulted in a 42% reduction in total crashes and a 24% reduction in fatal and serious injury crashes,” he said, citing results from comparable city projects. Baker said the cross section reduces conflict points, improves sight distance and will include rapid-flashing beacons and improved lighting at crosswalks.

Project financing and scope: The MDOT contract totals $1,039,402, which includes about $75,000 in federal grants and a city share of $289,402. Staff described the construction program as a pavement-preservation process (crack-seal, fog seal and restriping) rather than deep utility excavation; the city plans to maintain access to businesses and to use cones and staged traffic shifts to preserve property access during construction.

Baker said the project is already designed and bid-ready; staff emphasized that this lane diet is a safety-driven strategy rather than a primary bike-infrastructure push, though the design provides connectivity to the existing bike network north of Stockbridge. Commissioners and residents asked about business impacts and whether an off-street bike corridor would be developed later; Baker said off-street options are being explored but the contract before the commission proceeds with on-street bike lanes.

Public comment in favor included a representative of Heritage Community, who asked where pedestrian refuges would be placed to help many older residents cross safely. Several commissioners praised the project’s expected safety benefits; Vice Mayor Duncan said he remained concerned about on-street bike lanes and voted against the measure. Commissioner Slaby made the motion and the measure passed with a 6–1 tally.

What’s next: Staff will coordinate final construction scheduling and direct outreach to affected businesses and bus routes during the work period; painting, refuge islands and lighting are included in the planned work.

Vote: Approved, 6–1 (Vice Mayor Duncan opposed).