Resident urges bulb-outs and daylighting during neighborhood repaving to improve pedestrian safety

Colby Hatten, president of Stronger Idaho Falls, urged the City Council during public comment to incorporate low-cost curb extensions and daylighting into neighborhood repaving projects to make crossings shorter and pedestrians more visible. "I am referring to a concept known as bulb-outs and daylighting," Hatten said, and he cited Idaho Falls City Code 941F on parking near crosswalks to argue the city can convert that restricted space to wider sidewalks.

Hatten described a near-miss while cycling and said tighter intersections cause drivers to slow. He asked staff and council to consider multimodal safety improvements when projects already require full reconstruction of streets and water lines. The comment drew no formal action but the mayor acknowledged the suggestion during the transition to the consent agenda.