Kalispell residents can weigh in on City Hall’s plan to slim down Main Street on Monday night.  

City Council will hold a public hearing on the revitalization project at 7 p.m., May 19 in City Hall.  

The Main Street Safety Action Plan, adopted by Council last summer, identified high-risk intersections and streets downtown.  Main Street, First Avenue East and First Avenue West were prioritized by Council to receive an array of traffic safety upgrades. The three thoroughfares saw a combined 379 crashes between 2018 and 2022.  

But a proposal to slim down Main Street, reducing it to one lane in either direction along with a dedicated left turn lane, has drawn criticism. The change would see the thoroughfare fitted with sidewalks up to 10 feet wide to accommodate benches and restaurant furniture. 

Parallel parking would remain available on both sides of the street. 

While some downtown business owners invited the changes believing they will bring more commerce to an area lacking foot traffic, others worry shops won’t survive the shuttering of Main Street for construction.  

Residents have also expressed concern over traffic delays that could come with shedding a lane on either side, but city planners have said congestion will not be an issue. Development Services Director Jarod Nygren said traffic is projected to be delayed an extra minute and a half by 2045.   

Lane reduction, also known as a road diet, is a widely used, low-cost practice meant to enhance safety for road users, according to the Federal Highway Administration. Road diets have been found to reduce crashes up to 47%. 

The city is looking to tap into a federal grant program to fund the $27 million project, but language in the program’s notice for funding opportunity issued under President Donald Trump’s administration says lane reductions would be “viewed less favorably” by the U.S. Department of Transportation.   

Council is looking to tap into the Safe Streets for All Implementation Grant program, which historically doles out $25 million, requiring a 20% match. The program was established under former President Joe Biden and the deadline to apply is June 26.  

First Avenue East and First Avenue West would be equipped with pedestrian safety measures including flashing beacons, high visibility crosswalks and sidewalk-level bike lanes between Fifth Street and Center Street.  

St. Matthew’s Catholic School would get a designated parking area along the school’s frontage for pick-ups and drop-offs along with flashing crosswalks.  

Roundabouts would be installed on Main Street’s intersection with 11th Street West and its intersection with 13th Street East and Airport Road. 

Reporter Jack Underhill may be reached at 758-4407 and [email protected].