Residents press for faster 5th Street bike pilot as staff warns of constraints

City staff presented a conceptual pilot for 5th Street that would use temporary flex posts and pavement changes to create a southbound cycle facility and a two-way bike lane, with modular bus stops and a proposed southbound construction speed reduction. The presenter described the approach as a measured pilot rather than immediate full construction because of cost and implementation constraints: "The full conceptual design was priced out to us... $650,000," the presenter said.

Multiple residents and advocates pushed back on that timeline, calling for accelerated work on the segment between Harris and Elliot. Herb Levy, introduced earlier in the meeting as an online participant, urged immediate action: "Somebody's gonna die waiting for that sidewalk to get finished," he said, arguing the stretch is among the city's most dangerous for cyclists.

Staff stressed trade-offs between short-term and long-term options. The presentation noted engineering constraints at particular intersections (fire-truck turning radii and right-turn lane interactions) and recommended a temporary pilot to test operational changes without committing to full reconstruction. The presenter said many of the pilot's features could be implemented with temporary materials to limit upfront cost and to allow removal if changes must be reversed.

Advocates said temporary measures are acceptable only if they are implemented quickly and with sufficient physical protection to slow traffic. Staff suggested the pilot be coordinated with the mobility plan and budget processes so that successful elements can move into capital planning for FY34. No formal motion was made; staff said the pilot design and next steps would be carried forward for further community input and refinement.