South Boulevard paving to start Saturday

The city of Idaho Falls’ contractors will begin seal-coating South Boulevard north of 17th Street to the Northgate Mile Saturday.

But, people who live along the street are not happy with existing plans for striping the street once that seal-coat is complete.

As planned, the striping will change to allow for a center turn lane throughout the section. Lanes will also be reduced to one in each direction north of 15th Street. The addition of the center turn lane is expected to improve the efficiency of traffic flow and improve pedestrian crossing safety by requiring pedestrians to cross only three lanes of traffic, rather than four.

People from the area appeared before the Idaho Falls City Council Thursday night to protest those decisions and, especially, its impact on off-street residential parking restrictions.

Councilman Jim Francis said the city’s Public Works Division would send out a public letter next week detailing why it made the striping decisions it made.

He said those decisions fell into one of five categories including traffic counts, national guidelines and safety standards, public comments, the arterial function of South Boulevard, and its compliance with the city’s comprehensive bike and pedestrian plans.

Councilmen had little problem with the decisions, but expressed some conflict over the public decision-making process.

Councilman John Radford believes the city council broke the public trust by not bringing the issues to public meetings for discussion earlier in the process.

Councilman Jim Francis defended the public process. He said the public works department has responded to all of the 31 comments it has received. The department plans to conduct an impact study over the next year and present its findings and recommendations for any adjustments late next summer.

The roundabout at South Boulevard and Elm Street is also nearing completion. Crews are working on curbing, gutter, sidewalks, and pavers.