COLFAX, Wash. — The City of Colfax is weighing a major change to its downtown corridor, sparking mixed reactions from people who live in and visit the area.
Main Street could be reduced from two lanes in each direction to one each way. The plan would also include a center turn lane, bike lanes on both sides of the street and updates to intersections to make them ADA compliant.
Mayor Jim Retzer said it will improve the road for both drivers and pedestrians.
“That is one of the big points of this project — the safety of pedestrians and the safety of pedestrian traffic, motoring traffic combined into our city, because it is a traffic way,” Retzer said. “It’s State Route 195 — goes right through the middle of our city.”
Retzer said the plan would make crossing the street safer for pedestrians. He also argues adding bike lanes would make street parking safer by creating buffer space between parked cars and oncoming traffic.
Jeannine Henley, who visits Colfax regularly, said she supports the changes.
“The main issue I have is when I get out of my car, trying not to get run over by a truck going by, or parallel parking on Main Street is very difficult and time-consuming,” Henley said.
Not everyone agrees. Some residents worry the lane reduction would slow traffic too much and make conditions more dangerous.
“That’s a terrible idea,” said Kelsey McCandless, who lives in Colfax. “And there’s going to be a lot of frustrated drivers, there’s going to be a lot more backups, there’s going to be a lot more passing on either side of Colfax — specifically around semi trucks and whatnot.”
McCandless also said she doesn’t think the changes are a good use of money.
The city has secured a $4.6 million state grant to pay for the project, but Retzer said the city would still need to contribute about $230,000 from its general fund.
Retzer emphasized that the project remains in a preliminary stage. The city plans to collect community feedback before moving forward.
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