Letter: Broadway Bridge Reconfiguration Support

Letter sent to City Council on 8/31/2026

Hello,

I've received several emails and observed multiple social media conversations about the proposed Broadway Bridge and adjacent roadway reconfiguration. As a frequent user of this bridge as a pedestrian, cyclist, and driver, I strongly support the proposed changes.

With the opening of Broadway Park West, the entrance currently used as the Amtrak station overflow parking lot will see significantly more traffic. A left-turn lane will streamline traffic flow without encouraging dangerous lane changes. I very rarely see traffic backed up onto the bridge, so the impact to drivers will be minimal while making the entire area much safer. Adding a cycle track separate from the sidewalks is a bonus.

The proposed change to Carey St will be inconvenient to me as a driver (I frequently use Carey to get up to the bridge), but that intersection at the bridge is extremely dangerous, with challenging visibility for both turning drivers and those heading up Division. Sacrificing the southbound, uphill lane for cars is worth the trade-offs for safety.

Lastly, the abrupt end of the Division bike lane and the extremely challenging maneuvering to get off the street and onto the side path on a bicycle is absolutely essential to improve, and this proposal does a good job of making that much less harrowing.

Thank everyone who worked hard on this. The concerns raised by others opposed to these changes reflect a willingness to sacrifice our own safety for dubious-to-minimal benefits when traveling in a car.

Scott Trudeau
Ward 1

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