SANDPOINT — The council weighed in Wednesday on design options for phase three of the city’s downtown revitalization project, reviewing proposed changes to the First Avenue and Superior Street and Pine Street and First Avenue intersections, along with a newly scoped section of the project between Lake Street and Superior Street. 

The third phase, which was originally set to improve First Avenue from Pine Street to Lake Street, was expanded last month to extend to Superior Street. 

The project expansion comes after the council accepted a $1.8 million Local Highway Technical Assistance Council grant, which will improve the First Avenue and Bridge Street intersection. 

The city entered into a contract with local firm Welch Comer to design the phase last December, and construction is slated to begin in fall 2027. 

Among the council's highest priorities for the First Avenue and Superior Street intersection were accessibility on the south leg of First Avenue and the west leg of Superior Street and a friendly, safe environment for pedestrians and bikers. Most councilors said that system traffic performance and an entry monument and landscaping were their lowest priorities. 

For the intersection design, the council opted for concept two, the closest design option compared to the existing intersection. The most significant change would see First Avenue move east into Superior Street instead of moving south. 

Welch Comer Vice President Matt Gillis said that reducing the size of the intersection would mean that larger vehicles, like SPOT buses or RV trailers pulling boats, would have to encroach into the northbound lanes before returning to its original lane. 

"That's the cost, I guess, of the tight intersection," said Gillis. 

Councilor Kyle Schreiber said that prior to truck routes being removed in town, tractor-trailers had navigated turning in tight corners. 

"Trucks have been doing this in even worse intersections than this for quite a while," said Schreiber. 

Public Works Director Holly Ellis addressed Schrieber's comment, saying that although food delivery trucks manage to navigate through tight corners, they often mount armored curbs. 

"It's unsafe, you can see tire marks and stuff like that," said Ellis. "What we're hoping to do in a design is provide a scenario where you can have trucks making safe turning movements where they're not having to hop a curb and go onto the sidewalk." 

The council requested that the team move the crosswalk on Pine Street further east toward First Avenue and leave the stop bar in its original place to accommodate vehicles while ensuring safety for pedestrians. 

Gillis proposed three enhancement options for the space between Lake Street and Superior Street. 

The first option would extend that same theme to Superior Street, while the second option would introduce a completely different design. The third option would reduce the number of enhancements, creating a transition between the areas. 

Gillis said the primary portion of the project from Pine Street to Bridge Street is "fairly intense from a revitalization standpoint." 

"There's color, there's brick pavers, there's street trees, there's pedestrian lighting, benches, bike racks, garbage cans, all that," said Gillis. 

The council favored the third option, with Mayor Jeremy Grimm suggesting more on street parking in front of the Sandpoint Community Hall. 

Councilor Pam Duquette said that instead of more on-street parking, she would like to see the extra space dedicated to bikers. 

"I think it's a whole different fabric and texture as you get down here. It's not retail shops and restaurants. It could be in the future, but it's not so I think a transition is appropriate," said Grimm. 

Project manager Eric Bush said that the council can revisit and further discuss the project section after the team creates refined concepts to present at a later date.