Tonight is the last opportunity to influence the streetscape design project of the two-block area on Third Street, between A and B Street.
The city’s Third Street Improvements team will host the last of three workshops in which all members of the Davis community, including students, are invited to voice their opinion on the layout of the project. The meeting will be held at the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame on 303 B St. from 6 to 8 p.m.
“Third Street is a primary entrance to the university and a connection between downtown and the university,” said project manager Brian Abbanat. “Roughly 4,000 bikes pass through that intersection per day. Lots of students patronize the businesses and this is the last community workshop to provide input.”
The main agenda item for the meeting will involve choosing a concept for the layout of the street. A potential layout theme, such as bicycles or agriculture, will also be discussed.
Consultants for the project have narrowed the layout possibilities down to two, based on input from the previous workshops, online surveys and community outreach.
The first of the two alternatives is based on a “shared space street” concept, to make the street feel like a plaza and to accommodate bikes and vehicles. The second incorporates a pedestrian-only street.
Another goal of the project is to improve the current storm water drainage system.
“What we hope to pursue is to implement green street applications, filtering pollutants out of the water before it reaches upstream,” Abbanat said.
The improved drainage system will increase sustainability. The plan also involves using more energy-efficient lighting in conjunction with the California Lighting Technology Center.
Plans are slated to be presented to the Davis City Council on May 3 and construction is expected to begin in summer 2012.
— Max Rosenblum
