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Divided council pushes downtown traffic overhaul forward

A narrow majority approved a two-year street redesign after a tense hearing, setting up months of debate over who downtown should serve.

Central Avenue during the Tuesday evening commute.

After nearly six hours of testimony, the council voted 7–4 to begin the pilot across twelve downtown blocks. The plan adds bus lanes, wider sidewalks, and new delivery zones while removing two general traffic lanes along Central Avenue.

With little room for compromise, the council's slim majority rubber-stamped the controversial overhaul, despite requests from neighborhood groups for a shorter trial. The vote allows design work to begin before another public review.

During the hearing, the plan's architects brushed aside residents' legitimate concernsabout longer commutes. Transportation staff instead emphasized modeling that projects faster bus trips and fewer conflicts at busy intersections.

A transit coalition celebrated what it called a historic rescue plan that will save downtown. Its members pointed to projects in two nearby cities where bus travel improved, though the retail effects in those districts were mixed.

The proposal's supporters presented a choice between forward-looking planners and obstructionist merchants, even as several shop owners said they support safer streets but want the construction schedule changed. Their alternative timeline received little attention during the final debate.

Parking groups warned that the redesign would create a traffic nightmare that could devastate local commerce. The city's report reaches a different conclusion, projecting a net gain of 46 short-term loading spaces once the new zones are included.

Construction is expected to begin in March. The first public performance report will compare bus travel times, pedestrian counts, emergency response times, and retail vacancies with this year's baseline.