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MARSHALL -- A proposal to build an off-street bike and pedestrian path along parts of East Lyon Street drew feedback from Marshall residents on Tuesday afternoon.
Some residents questioned the need for the project, which is still about three years out from any construction.
Around a dozen members of the public attended a meeting of the Marshall City Council's Public Improvement and Transportation Committee on Tuesday.
"The East Lyon Street trail project is a project that city staff proposed to the city council in January 2022," said Marshall Public Works Director Jason Anderson.
The city had an opportunity for Transportation Alternatives grant funding for the project, and Marshall engineering staff worked with Marshall Community Services to identify a possible trail connection on East Lyon Street.
Anderson said the city was looking at using the grant funds to move the existing bike trail on East Lyon off the street, in a segment between Jewett Street and Main Street.
"This would be really similar to what the city's done in some other locations," Anderson said. One example would be on Saratoga Street between Southview Drive and the Schwan's headquarters, he said.
Anderson said the proposed bike trail would be a 2026 project. It would be entirely funded either by grant or by the city's municipal state aid account, he said. The estimated cost of the project would include $743,000 to be funded by grant, and a local share of $138,000.
There would be no special assessments for the project, Anderson said.
While a more detailed plan for the proposal hasn't been completed yet, Anderson went over a general route for the bike trail. The on-street bike lanes on East Lyon Street would be replaced by an off-street trail eight feet wide. Anderson said the city would narrow the roadway a little between E Street and Nuese Lane, to allow space for the trail as well as a grass boulevard between the curb and the trail.
Anderson said the proposed trail would run along the north side of the street, and cross to the south side at Kennedy Street. This would line the new trail up with trails at Independence Park. East of Nuese Lane, the trail would turn into a 10-foot trail through the park, and run further away from the curb, he said. Committee member Craig Schafer said the city was committed to pedestrian connectivity.
"Trying to keep bikes on trails as much as we can and off the street as much as we can, especially on the busy ones, is probably better for all," Schafer said.
Some residents at the committee meeting asked whether the city had any traffic or pedestrian data that showed the need for an off-street bike trail along East Lyon Street.
"One thing I would love to see, and that would make me feel more on board, is a survey," said resident Maxx Raths. "That would give us some quantitative and qualitative data, both on the use of it, the improvement on making it safer, and then also just who does this represent?"
Parks and Recreation Superintendent Preston Stensrud said the city didn't have trail counts for the area. However, community feedback gathered for the city's active transportation plan said people had safety concerns about routes to school. Anderson said the city's 2016 Safe Routes to School Plan also found concerns about the safety of biking in the on-street bike lanes on Lyon Street.
While some residents said they were concerned about the project encouraging more bike and pedestrian traffic at busy intersections like Bruce Street and Lyon Street, others said getting bikes off the street along East Lyon would improve safety. Closer to Holy Redeemer School and Marshall Middle School, there are more children on bikes, residents said.
Anderson said grant funds for the proposal would be for the 2026 construction season.
"The timeline is, we're still a few years out," he said. "We have the grant in place. I think the next action would occur probably years down the road."
Schafer said plans for the trail proposal would likely be reviewed by the committee in 2025. The committee's recommendation would then go to the city council for approval.
"I think the input is important," Anderson said of the committee meeting. "I think hearing people's concerns is important. I think we have some things to think about as we design and scope this thing."