At Monday’s City Council meeting, council members reviewed an update on the Market Boulevard Improvement Project, continuing its discussion from the August 11 work session where staff was directed to prepare a scaled-down version of the project.

At the September 22 work session, staff presented an updated layout and provided details on the project schedule and budget. The discussion was intended to guide next steps, including preparation of a feasibility study and ordering the project to remain on track for construction in 2026. 

While staff outlined potential layouts and funding options at the Sept. 22 meeting, council members did not reach consensus on how best to move forward. Members weighed the competing goals of easing traffic flow, improving pedestrian safety and leveraging TIF funding, but several noted that the timing may not be right for a major project. With ongoing construction already affecting downtown, some council members expressed concern that residents may be weary of roadwork and that it could be better to revisit a larger reconstruction when traffic impacts from future downtown development are clearer. In the end, the Council opted against pursuing a full-scale overhaul of Market Boulevard at this time and instead directed staff to plan a more modest set of improvements. These targeted upgrades would focus on adding an enhanced pedestrian/bicycle path on the east side, repaving the street, traffic signal replacement at 78th Street and Market Boulevard, extending street repaving north of 78th Street (including Chan View) and making improvements at the railroad crossing.