Summary

Staff is updating the sidewalk and crosswalk design standards in the City Streetscape Design Standards for commercial streets. The current all-brick standards was found to be costly to maintain and tripping hazards over time.

The new sidewalk standards will be concrete with brick bands.

The new crosswalk standards will be high-visibility continental crosswalks (zebra crossing) and red stamped asphalt on less busy streets.

The new standards are expected to be approved at the May 27, 2025, City Council meeting and will apply to new contracts, the Maple and Annandale Roundabout, Founders Row II (Modera Founder Row), the Quinn project and all future work.

Background

The Streetscape Design Standards for Commercial Streets were adopted in 2017. They apply to all new developments and infrastructure projects along Broad Street, Washington Street, in West Falls, and on Park Avenue and S Maple Avenue.

streetscape map — Source: Streetscape Design Standards for Commercial Streets

Staff proposed changes to the sidewalk and crosswalk design at the City Council work session on May 19, 2025. The Planning Commission, Citizens Advisory Committee on Transportation (CACT), and Human Services Advisory Council (HSAC) were also in attendance to comment on the proposal. This proposal would change the design for future projects and when sidewalks and crosswalks are replaced.

City Manager Wyatt Shields would like to have the new streetscape standards adopted at the next City Council meeting on May 27, as the City is finalizing the contract for the construction of the Maple and Annandale roundabout and other infrastructure projects for FY2026. This change will apply to the Founders Row II streetscape now under construction as well as the approved Quinn project.

Sidewalks to be concrete with brick bands

Current streetscape design standards photo. — Current sidewalk standards – brick pavers with raised and flush planters. Source: Streetscape Design Standards for Commercial Streets

The current standards call for sidewalks to be entirely brick pavers to provide a sense of place and connect to the City’s historic character, but two decades of experience have shown brick pavers to be costly to maintain and potential safety hazards. [Read the Pulse Park Avenue Great Streets post, Arborist Says Brick Sidewalks Are Too Costly, High Maintenance, April 19, 2023.]

The new standard requires sidewalks to be concrete banded by bricks, as shown in the diagram below. The brick banding stops at driveways and curb ramps. This design would be less costly to construct and maintain.

New Sidewalk design standards diagram. — Proposed new sidewalk standard. Source: Rendering of sidewalk, May 19, 2025.

Council Member Erin Flynn raised the concern that a band of a single row of bricks may not be wide enough for a 20 foot-wide sidewalk. It would not look much different from a fully concrete sidewalk. The rendering above shows an 8-10 foot sidewalk. Council members and the CACT suggested additional brick bands for wide sidewalks. Staff said they did not include brick bands across the sidewalk because they are confusing to pedestrians who are sight impaired, but they would consider additional banding along the sidewalk, perhaps demarcating the building, pedestrian, and amenity zones.

Streetscape zones — Sidewalk zones. Source: Streetscape Design Standards for Commercial Streets

CACT Chair Arthur Agin suggested that the concrete could be colored “Yankee Hill” red to match the pavers. This would better match the existing sidewalks and retain the distinctiveness of the streetscape.

HSAC Member Jeff Person liked the change to concrete. He uses a mobility scooter and experiences considerable vibration when riding on uneven brick pavers.

Council Member Debora Schantz-Hiscott asked staff to look into the feasibility of using low emission concrete.

No more brick crosswalks, only asphalt

The design standards currently require brick pavers for crosswalks on these main streets” as a way to promote the City’s historic character and charm.” Again, because of maintenance cost and safety issues, the proposed crosswalk design will not use brick pavers. Staff recommend a Continental Crosswalk on busy streets and a stamped red asphalt crosswalk on quieter streets.

Streetscape crosswalk designs — Source: Staff report, May 19, 2025.

Council member Justine Underhill asked why stamped asphalt pavers were not recommended on all the streets. Staff replied that they felt the continental crosswalks were more visible to traffic, hence safer for pedestrians.

A request to relocate bus stops that are in front of planters

A CACT member asked staff to consider the location of bus stops in the City. Some stops are in front of planters. Also, the raised planters are hazardous to bus riders as they try to get around them to get on or off the bus. The placement of bus stops should consider both doors on the bus, the CACT member said.