Reconstructing Riverside

Public Works is planning to reconstruct Riverside Avenue starting in 2011 and continuing until 2012. They have presented their initial plans at a meeting with the Seward and West Bank neighborhoods.


The plans include several positive changes: bike lanes from Franklin to 20th Ave S, bump outs in numerous locations, the capacity to make a left from eastbound Franklin onto Riverside and more.


However, there are also some aspects of the plans that I am concerned about, including a gap in the bike facility from 20th Ave to Cedar and a reduction of on-street parking. There are also some locations in which midblock refuge islands would help people, especially people with disabilities, cross the street safely. I am interested in exploring a “cycle track” model of bike facility, which creates a protected bike lane between the parking lane and the sidewalk. I have heard that the business community has concerns about the two-year construction timeline and about the loss of some on-street parking, and I am raising these concerns with staff.