COEUR d'ALENE — A traditional, on-street bike lane was unanimously approved Tuesday night by the Coeur d'Alene City Council as part of the revitalization of Seltice Way.

But the council also expressed it is open to the idea of exploring ways to make the bike lanes on each side of Seltice more distinct as a way to increase the safety of the cycling public.

The $4.5 million revitalization project, which is primarily funded by the city of Coeur d'Alene's urban renewal agency, calls for a new asphalt road surface, reconfigurations of Seltice at the intersections of Atlas Road and Grand Mill Lane, and the inclusion of pedestrian and bicycle access. Matt Gillis, senior project manager at Welch Comer Engineers, presented the council with an update on the project as a whole during Tuesday's regular meeting and asked for a formal decision as to which of the two options for bike lanes on the road should be pursued as planning nears completion.

"The city of Coeur d'Alene is way out ahead of other communities that we work in with respect to outreach to the public. You and your staff have allowed us to reach out to groups we normally wouldn't, in ways we normally wouldn't," Gillis said. "Regardless of the option (for bike lane design), there is an overwhelming number of people that want some type of off-street bike facility and feel more comfortable off of the street — both of these options provide that."

One plan for bike lanes, according to Gillis, involved a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians, as well as a traditional bike lane for more experienced cyclists on each side of the four-lane road. The other option, he added, would have separated the on-road bike lane from motorists through the use of concrete curbs.

Gillis said input was provided by hundreds of Coeur d'Alene residents as to which plan to pursue, but added there is more than one issue to consider when making a decision including safety, cost, maintenance, emergency access and snow plowing. During a meeting with management of multiple departments within the city, including the police and fire department, Gillis said there was unanimous support for the traditional bike lane option.

Instead of presenting their opinions during a time frame reserved at the beginning of the regular meeting of the council, members of the public were allowed to share their thoughts on the two bike lane options after Gillis' update. Teresa Moran, a teacher in Coeur d'Alene who is also an avid cyclist, told members of the council she would prefer the safety of cycling off the road, without interfering with pedestrians or slower cyclists, while training for events like Ironman.

Moran added that, while cycling on roads such as the Centennial Trail, cyclists are restricted to speeds under 15 mph, which she said is not conducive to training for races.

"But I am happy you guys are talking about it, and I look forward to seeing Seltice when it's all finished," she added.

Following public comment, Councilwoman Kiki Miller suggested to city staff that they look into something that can be added to the asphalt in the traditional bike lane that would make it more distinct and safer for cyclists. Councilman Woody McEvers asked both Gillis and Street Department Superintendent Tim Martin if lessening the width of lanes for motorists would allow for more room to better demarcate the bike lane with additional striping, rumble strip, or some sort of removable barrier.

"If we go wider than that (with the buffer), we could have the two stripes to separate it along with diagonal hatching up and down that whole thing," Gillis said. "Absolutely, it's on the table."

Prior to the vote on the on-street bike lanes, Mayor Steve Widmyer told the council a decision — as to whether a traditional, signaled intersection or a two-lane roundabout will be constructed at the intersection of Atlas Road and Seltice Way — will be made when the council is presented with, and votes on, final plans for the revitalization project.