The Erie Town Council this week discussed how members can address transportation concerns as the town continues to grow toward its planned build-out.

The Erie government has a transportation plan that includes future pedestrian and bicycle corridor improvements, roadway improvements and transit improvements. The plan also offers analysis of currently unfunded transportation projects. Future transportation projects would be funded by town tax revenues, developer fees, grants and state and federal funding. The transportation plan was last updated in 2018.

Having a discussion now gives the council a chance to manage future expected traffic growth, John Firouzi, Erie’s transportation and mobility manager, said during a Tuesday meeting about the plan. Firouzi said town staffers want to update the transportation plan and its Comprehensive Plan to help manage growth.

“Erie is just under 50% build-out, and we knew there’s going to be another 50% that will be coming. So we just want to make sure that we are ahead and proactively address some of the transportation issues that we’ve been hearing about,” Firouzi said.

The transportation plan focuses on improving future roadways and funding for roadways, said Miguel Aguilar, senior transportation planner. It also identifies proposed intersection improvements, roadway improvements and new roadways. In addition, the plan shows deficient and missing sidewalks, underpasses, pedestrian crossing signals and bike lanes, and identifies current and future bus stops and other public transportation options, Aguilar said. Some of the roadway improvements in the plan also serve as guidelines for future developers, showing developers where roads should be and how to connect to other roads, he said.Councilmember Brandon Bell asked how the plan addresses avoiding causing new problems for existing residents, such as drivers using neighborhood streets to cut through traffic.

Councilmember Dan Hoback asked how town staffers took residents’ feedback in account. He said that most of the funding is going toward roadway improvements while residents voiced concerns about pedestrian and cyclist safety. While Hoback acknowledged roadway projects are more expensive, he saod he wants the town to focus on multi-modal transportation.

“I do just want to keep the pressure on being less traffic-centric,” Hoback said.

Aguilar said the plan considers multi-modal transportation options, with an emphasis on improving pedestrian and biking networks.

Councilmember Emily Baer asked if the plan allowed for enough flexibility to address specific neighborhood issues as they come up. She stated as an example that in certain parts of the Vista Ridge neighborhood, kids do not have access to bus rides because they live close to the school but they still do not have a safe, walkable route to school.

Aguilar said the council will have a chance to vote to approve an updated transportation plan at a later meeting.