By Jen Schumann | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice
The 4th/5th Street Pilot Project in Grand Junction has sparked a public outcry. City officials call the project a step toward a friendlier downtown for pedestrians and cyclists, but many residents feel it has done more harm than good.
The city of Grand Junction launched Engage GJ for community input on projects. As of this article, 286 comments are on the 4th and 5th Street Pilot Project page. A majority, 205 comments are critical of the project on three fronts: access for the elderly and disabled, safety and impact on local businesses.
Many expressed concerns about the pilot project’s impact on their access to vital downtown services. They argue that the changes on 4th and 5th streets are confusing. They make it harder to navigate the area, especially for those with mobility challenges.
One resident said, “As a senior citizen, I feel the design in front of the post office is dangerous. I’d be concerned about being hit by a scooter rider as I am trying to cross the bike lane.”
Greg Haitz, on the Mesa County planning commission, posted a poll on Nextdoor. It showed that 77% of respondents opposed the changes. Many cited accessibility as a major issue. One commenter noted, “These new bike lanes and parking restrictions are making it almost impossible for me to get downtown safely.”
City Council Member Jason Nguyen and Mayor Abe Herman argue that the project improves safety.
“The point of the project was to slow traffic and increase safety on 4th and 5th streets,” Nguyen said. “When you reduce it to a single lane, you free up a lot of extra space that can be used in different ways, including adding bike lanes.”
Herman also noted that the reconfiguration aims to cut accidents. It seeks to create safer conditions for all road users.
Yet, not everyone agrees. Many residents feel the changes have made the streets more dangerous. Haitz, who walked and drove the 4th Street corridor, shared his concerns.
“I got stuck behind a Grand Valley Transit bus that made two stops in the middle of the road. If it was busy, I can’t imagine stopping and trying to parallel park.”
Another commented, “Today (Sept. 23, 2024) when I went to the post office, traffic in the single lane on 4th waiting for the light at White was backed up all the way to Grand. One lane on Grand was being blocked; and I heard someone honking their horn. 2. No competent traffic engineer would set up a ‘bike lane’ that guides straight-through bike traffic into the path of right-turning cars. This looks like a death trap for any cyclists who aren’t smart enough to avoid this street. This is equivalent to the dangerous (and normally illegal) practice of cycling on a sidewalk and then sailing into a crosswalk (taking motorists by surprise). 3. When parking in the parallel spaces on 4th, there isn’t enough room to open the driver’s side door if any traffic is present. Summary: This is a big step backward — for both cars and bikes. Please reverse and discontinue these experiments.”
Another argued that at the other end of 4th Street at Colorado, in order to cross that intersection you nearly need to be in the middle of the intersection because your view is obstructed.
Cody Kennedy, a City Councilmember, proposed a solution inspired by his law enforcement background. He suggests diverting bike traffic to 3rd and 6th streets. He argues these streets are better for such changes, as they won’t disrupt the main downtown routes. “It’s a safer option that doesn’t make driving downtown such a hassle,” Kennedy explained. In his blog, Kennedy argues the pilot project is less about cyclist safety and more about making it harder for drivers downtown.
Frustration among local business owners surrounds the 4th/5th Street Pilot Project. They worry about reduced access and lower customer traffic. Pastor Paul Watson of the downtown Vineyard Church spoke at a City Council meeting. He highlighted the challenges businesses face. He said, “All of this will be for naught if you disenfranchise the very businesses you fought so hard to get downtown.”
Former Grand Junction Mayor Greg Palmer echoed these concerns. He warned, “Restricting traffic flow will cripple downtown.”
Kennedy spent a day walking Main Street and visiting downtown business owners. He shared that only 2-3 of the 60 he spoke to supported the project. He shared, “The overwhelming feedback I’ve gotten from business owners is that they’re not happy with it.”
Some public commentary revealed concerns that the pilot project is part of a plan to reduce car-based mobility.
Herman addressed these concerns.
“This project wasn’t about reducing car access,” he said. “It’s about providing safe, effective options for all forms of transportation.”
Herman stressed that the city’s goal is not to banish cars. It’s to create a balanced, safe infrastructure for all users: drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.
“To suggest that we’re trying to eliminate cars or move people away from cars, why would we be planning $300 million of road expansion projects, if that was our intent?”
When asked about the opposition on the EngageGJ website, Herman said, “We’ve actually gotten more [overall] positive public comment than negative. I’ve tallied it because it’s a hot issue.”
He added, “We have a Main Street that’s like a model across the U.S. And if we want to have a vibrant downtown, if we want to support those businesses, I would argue it’s much more effective to make a place people drive to rather than through.”
As the 4th/5th Street Pilot Project continues, city officials ask residents for specific and actionable feedback. Herman urged the community to share their views: “If you just say ‘I hate it,’ that doesn’t tell us anything. But when you say, ‘I’m concerned about this safety issue,’ that gives us something to respond to.”
Nguyen echoed this. He stressed the need for feedback: “This is a pilot, so we have flexibility. We need actionable points to make improvements.”
Kennedy urged, “The most helpful input we can get is actionable feedback. We need to hear specific concerns about what’s working and what’s not.”
Residents can submit feedback at EngageGJ. They can also contact their City Council representatives. This will ensure their voices shape the future of downtown Grand Junction.
The 4th/5th Street Pilot Project is underway. Many oppose the current design. They worry about access, safety and the economic impact. City officials, however, are open to feedback. They encourage residents to stay engaged as the project evolves.