The temporary traffic circle demonstration was removed on October 3rd as outlined int he project schedule. Staff is anticipating to return to the Eastside Neighborhood Association (ENA) meeting in May 2024 to provide an update prior to the commencement of construction. Design and preparation of the construction plans for the remainder of the safe routes improvements planned in the neighborhood are on-going.

At this month’s Eastside Neighborhood Association (ENA) meeting, staff provided the community with a project update and collected feedback on the temporary traffic circle demonstration project. Overall, the feedback was positive and supportive of the project. The traffic circle will continue to be in place at the intersection of Laurel Street and Holly Street through the end of September. Staff anticipates attending the September 28 ENA meeting to collect additional feedback. Design and preparation of the construction plans for the remainder of the safe routes to school improvements planned in the neighborhood are on-going.

At previous Eastside Neighborhood Association (ENA) monthly meetings, City staff presented the scope of the upcoming Laurel Elementary Safe Routes to School project and a collective decision was made to proceed with a temporary traffic circle demonstration at the Laurel/Holly Street intersection in order to gauge its effectiveness prior to proceeding with the final design. CIP Engineering and Public Works staff executed the implementation of the temporary traffic circle on August 7. To provide community members a way to share their thoughts, a sidewalk decal with a QR code was installed at each of the four corners of the intersection. City staff will be attending the August 31 ENA meeting to provide the community a project update and collect additional feedback. Design and preparation of the construction plans for the remainder of the project are on-going.

Staff attended the Eastside Neighborhood Association (ENA) monthly meeting on April 27 to present the conceptual scope of the upcoming Laurel Elementary Safe Routes to School project. Community members voiced their desire to have a temporary traffic circle prior to the construction of the proposed traffic circle at the Laurel Street/Holly Street intersection. Following the meeting, staff worked with the City’s engineering consulting firm, Alta Planning + Design, Inc., to focus on the traffic circle design and prepare a preliminary plan of the traffic circle. The plan would be presented at the May 25 ENA meeting.