SPRINGDALE -- Residents upset by bike lanes running along their streets may see some changes, but not for a few months.
The City Council discussed the possibilities during the street and capital improvement committee meeting Monday night.
Bicycle lanes marked by bollards -- also called zebras for their appearance -- were recently installed along both sides of Dick Smith Street and West Maple Avenue. Residents have complained the traffic lanes are now too narrow. And residents along Dick Smith Street feel they were left without parking spaces if they want to invite guests to their homes.
Mayor Doug Sprouse said the city probably could make some changes in May to Dick Smith Street and the neighboring Zared Avenue. Both lie along Dean's Trail, which runs through the eastern part of the city and connects to the Razorback Greenway.
The city's contract with the construction division of Garver runs through April. The city will take control of the completed project May 2, reported Ryan Carr, an engineer for the city.
The city probably would make changes to the Maple Avenue bike lanes at the same time, Sprouse said.
To make changes to Dick Smith Street now would leave the city with additional charges as the project's engineering and construction companies would have to redesign and rebuild that part of the project, Sprouse said.
"We should still let it be finished as it was designed, and then make adjustments after it's turned over to the city," Sprouse said. "The cost for possible changes we talked about tonight will be minimal, and hopefully, can be done in-house."
Possibilities thrown out during the meeting included moving both bike lanes to one side of the street and using different kinds of barriers.
During a recent trip to Washington, Sprouse noted bike lanes protected by the curb-like structures or wheel stops placed between parking spaces in many parking lots. These ran parallel with the bike lanes, rather than at an angle, freeing about 2 feet of space, he said.
Residents living near downtown Springdale have been disappointed since similar bike lanes and bollards were installed in November along Maple Avenue and Holcomb Street. They said drivers have no room to pull aside when emergency vehicles come down the street. Fire Station No. 1 sits at the intersection of Holcomb and Maple, and vehicles often use Maple as a route to access Thompson Street.
The Maple Avenue project serves as a yearlong pilot for BikeNWA, which collects survey information from the public on its website.
Sprouse said the city already has made some changes to this project, and resident complaints have dropped.
Sprouse also said the city opened a public comment period and held meetings on the project along Dick Smith Street. The city typically receives minimal public input despite using various forms of media to advertise the meetings.
"But in fairness, some projects are difficult to visualize until you actually see them on the ground," he said.
NW News on 03/19/2019