15. Res. 2020-079 Consider Resolution Amending Budget for Purchase of Barriers and closing Water Street for the benefit of pedestrian enhancements and physical distancing accommodation improvements in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
We oppose the resolution for barriers on the 4th St. Bridge. Reducing the bridge span with barriers is unnecessary, an eyesore, and a danger to motorists and pedestrians. Closing off a main artery to the downtown area causes a string of negative effects: reduced flow of traffic, less desire to drive into town, fewer patrons, and potential financial loss to the business owners who support the city with their tax dollars! The 'No fishing from bridge' signs should be enforced; those wanting to fish can use many other, safer areas along the river. It is a sad attempt to use the Covid crisis as an excuse to promote the needless barriers that would narrow the historic bridge.The Covid did Not suddenly cause fewer places for people to roam downtown and leisurely sit; there are plenty of spaces for people to visit, to distance and to wear masks, near or away from the bridge! It is a glaring waste of funds to alter the beauty of the downtown with barriers and changes to the iconic bridge.
No one has mentioned traffic flow. If water street is closed, it forces all traffic from the west side of the bridge who need to travel south, to go to division or Washington. This is due to restrictions on turning south bound on hwy 3. This increased traffic through the downtown including full size 52' semi trucks. Increasing the size of the park is not warranted when so much of the river walk is under utilized. Plus, there is a large city park two block east that is hardly used at all. I vote to NOT close the road, or narrow the bridge. It simply hurts local commerce too much.
Water Street along Bridge Square should be kept open to keep the flow of motor vehicle traffic flowing smoothly, It is used to access the Post Office and the much needed parking spaces located in the Water Street "Lot" and the businesses located on Fourth Street along the Square. Not having it open has created difficulties reaching the Post Office and the outdoor boxes. Entering and exiting the Water Street Parking lot was difficult when it was closed as the traffic entering and exiting the lot and the Muni were all using the Water Street and Fifth street intersection causing backups. Pedestrian use is important for that area, but the use for motor vehicle will serve a greater number of residents and visitors.
There’s plenty of time ahead of plow season to accommodate those who enjoy downtown with closing this small section of water street (but keep bridge as is) and add seating. Set criteria/timeline to transition for plowing season. No need to keep it open into winter.
As a resident who frequents the downtown area and has looked for opportunities to sit and enjoy take away items from a variety of businesses, I express my support for the seasonal closure of Water Street as well as the enhanced walking width for the south side of the 4th St bridge. As I look at the various options, I am accessing functionality and aesthetics with ease of deployment and reuse. While I would love the concrete planters, I think the more mindful and practical costs are to use the plastic barriers in the brown color way. These should be easier to store and reuse than concrete planters, especially if there are other opportunities for use on future areas in the city should a more permanent solution be found for water street.
Disagree with any changes to the Water street bridge at this time.
I see adequate tables on bridge square grassy areas for people to gather.
Winter is around the corner.
Look at something more permanent in the future. A walkway on one side of the bridge only, and ban fishing from the bridge.
At this point in time there is no point in pursuing this...Wait until Spring and see if it might make some sense then...Winter is coming and people need to be able to get to the Post Office and other businesses without having to circle around through Division Street. We don't need to spend any more money on this.
Closing Water Street through Bridge Square provided a significant benefit to the downtown when it was first tried earlier this year. The additional benches and tables were almost always occupied and gave people plenty of space to spread out and enjoy the park, whether they were eating food from a local restaurant or just spending quality time outside. Although it creates a minor inconvenience for vehicles who have to be rerouted to Division or Hwy 3, everything remains accessible by alternate routes and we should absolutely prioritize the needs of pedestrians and other non-motorized traffic so that they spend more time downtown, rather than using the most attractive public space in our community as a cut-through for cars.
Let it go. It didn’t work well the first time. Use CARES money for a better project ie supporting downtown businesses. Has anyone talked to the plow drivers because eventually, it’s going to snow and the bridge works best plowed curb to curb and no one will be sitting at the picnic tables on Bridge Square. Give it up.
Since third street turn onto Hwy 3 is one way, closing or reducing traffic on water street would make traffic flows more difficult and inconvenient for many people who frequently work or travel in the downtown area. Water street is a convenient route to avoid downtown traffic, and a common through fare. Closing that road will have no affect on covid. There are many other parks and areas available in and around the downtown area. Spend some extra money on our current park system, all the parks. And make them more user friendly to allow “social distancing” . If the businesses want additional seating areas within the community, let them come up with the money rather than using tax payer money.
I feel that if this were to pass, it would not be temporary and be reopened after covid ends. And that is simply not a good idea.
Using COVID spread as an excuse to close roads and bridges is a poor reason and waste of taxpayer money. Please stop. Emergency services will be affected by the closures. What happens with the case of a fire? How do the trucks and crews get through/ into the closed areas if needed?
We oppose the resolution for barriers on the 4th St. Bridge. Reducing the bridge span with barriers is unnecessary, an eyesore, and a danger to motorists and pedestrians. Closing off a main artery to the downtown area causes a string of negative effects: reduced flow of traffic, less desire to drive into town, fewer patrons, and potential financial loss to the business owners who support the city with their tax dollars! The 'No fishing from bridge' signs should be enforced; those wanting to fish can use many other, safer areas along the river. It is a sad attempt to use the Covid crisis as an excuse to promote the needless barriers that would narrow the historic bridge.The Covid did Not suddenly cause fewer places for people to roam downtown and leisurely sit; there are plenty of spaces for people to visit, to distance and to wear masks, near or away from the bridge! It is a glaring waste of funds to alter the beauty of the downtown with barriers and changes to the iconic bridge.
No one has mentioned traffic flow. If water street is closed, it forces all traffic from the west side of the bridge who need to travel south, to go to division or Washington. This is due to restrictions on turning south bound on hwy 3. This increased traffic through the downtown including full size 52' semi trucks. Increasing the size of the park is not warranted when so much of the river walk is under utilized. Plus, there is a large city park two block east that is hardly used at all. I vote to NOT close the road, or narrow the bridge. It simply hurts local commerce too much.
Water Street along Bridge Square should be kept open to keep the flow of motor vehicle traffic flowing smoothly, It is used to access the Post Office and the much needed parking spaces located in the Water Street "Lot" and the businesses located on Fourth Street along the Square. Not having it open has created difficulties reaching the Post Office and the outdoor boxes. Entering and exiting the Water Street Parking lot was difficult when it was closed as the traffic entering and exiting the lot and the Muni were all using the Water Street and Fifth street intersection causing backups. Pedestrian use is important for that area, but the use for motor vehicle will serve a greater number of residents and visitors.
There’s plenty of time ahead of plow season to accommodate those who enjoy downtown with closing this small section of water street (but keep bridge as is) and add seating. Set criteria/timeline to transition for plowing season. No need to keep it open into winter.
As a resident who frequents the downtown area and has looked for opportunities to sit and enjoy take away items from a variety of businesses, I express my support for the seasonal closure of Water Street as well as the enhanced walking width for the south side of the 4th St bridge. As I look at the various options, I am accessing functionality and aesthetics with ease of deployment and reuse. While I would love the concrete planters, I think the more mindful and practical costs are to use the plastic barriers in the brown color way. These should be easier to store and reuse than concrete planters, especially if there are other opportunities for use on future areas in the city should a more permanent solution be found for water street.
Disagree with any changes to the Water street bridge at this time.
I see adequate tables on bridge square grassy areas for people to gather.
Winter is around the corner.
Look at something more permanent in the future. A walkway on one side of the bridge only, and ban fishing from the bridge.
At this point in time there is no point in pursuing this...Wait until Spring and see if it might make some sense then...Winter is coming and people need to be able to get to the Post Office and other businesses without having to circle around through Division Street. We don't need to spend any more money on this.
Closing Water Street through Bridge Square provided a significant benefit to the downtown when it was first tried earlier this year. The additional benches and tables were almost always occupied and gave people plenty of space to spread out and enjoy the park, whether they were eating food from a local restaurant or just spending quality time outside. Although it creates a minor inconvenience for vehicles who have to be rerouted to Division or Hwy 3, everything remains accessible by alternate routes and we should absolutely prioritize the needs of pedestrians and other non-motorized traffic so that they spend more time downtown, rather than using the most attractive public space in our community as a cut-through for cars.
Let it go. It didn’t work well the first time. Use CARES money for a better project ie supporting downtown businesses. Has anyone talked to the plow drivers because eventually, it’s going to snow and the bridge works best plowed curb to curb and no one will be sitting at the picnic tables on Bridge Square. Give it up.
Since third street turn onto Hwy 3 is one way, closing or reducing traffic on water street would make traffic flows more difficult and inconvenient for many people who frequently work or travel in the downtown area. Water street is a convenient route to avoid downtown traffic, and a common through fare. Closing that road will have no affect on covid. There are many other parks and areas available in and around the downtown area. Spend some extra money on our current park system, all the parks. And make them more user friendly to allow “social distancing” . If the businesses want additional seating areas within the community, let them come up with the money rather than using tax payer money.
I feel that if this were to pass, it would not be temporary and be reopened after covid ends. And that is simply not a good idea.
Using COVID spread as an excuse to close roads and bridges is a poor reason and waste of taxpayer money. Please stop. Emergency services will be affected by the closures. What happens with the case of a fire? How do the trucks and crews get through/ into the closed areas if needed?