City staff gets go-ahead to begin viaduct improvement project

A presentation at a recent work session followed by further discussion after the regular meeting of the Whitefish City Council resulted in councilors giving the go-ahead to staff for initiating the first two phases of the viaduct improvement project.

The council authorized Public Works to proceed with the project and encouraged the city staff to continue to look for ways to fund the railway improvements. The motion carried on a 3-1 vote with Councilor Giuseppe Caltabiano voting in opposition.

The project will provide wider shared-use paths on each side of the viaduct along with lighting, a new guardrail, a new fence, landscaping and improvements to the Railway Street area including a parking area to the east.

The plan states that the main goals of the project are to provide safety with separated shared-use paths for bikes and pedestrians across the viaduct, to provide connectivity between downtown parks, commercial areas and residential neighborhoods, and to allow wayfinding elements to signal a transition between downtown and the north district.

Steven McDaniel from WGM Group, an engineering, planning and design firm based in Kalispell, presented the phased approach to the viaduct improvement project along with other projects and improvements to be completed at any time along the way.

Phase One is to install shared-use paths and relocate and upgrade the guardrail. The rail is an open steel barrier in Whitefish green. This phase includes installing irrigation lines, conduit and power lines with the guardrail in preparation for upcoming lights and flower baskets. The estimated cost for phase one is $425,000 up to $630,000.

The narrower vehicular travel lanes are expected to help slow traffic speeds on the viaduct.

Phase Two will see the ornamental lighting installed along with hanging flower baskets. Since the conduit and power had been installed with the guardrail, the estimated cost for this part of the project is $130,000.

The third phase involves a green, wrought iron ornamental fence that aims to beautify the viaduct. The estimate for the fence is between $110,000 and $150,000.

“I would really urge you to fund all three pieces at once. It’s only going to get more expensive and harder to do and it’s pretty integral to the overall success of (the plan),” said Whitefish resident Rhonda Fitzgerald during the public comment period at the work session. “We passed this master plan with this (the viaduct project) in it in 2005… I think it’s time to just do it.”

The city currently has $300,000 budgeted for this project and Whitefish City Manager Dana Smith told the council the city is able to budget more through the Street Fund.

“When I look at the Capital Improvement Plan for Streets, I would comfortably be able to tell you we could spend down reserves in that fund to at least address items one and two,” said Smith. “So that would be my recommendation. I understand the fence isn’t significantly more but I would prefer to wait on that until we get into the budget for Fiscal Year 24.”

Other related projects include Railway Street pedestrian safety projects that would eliminate the slip lanes on both sides of Baker Avenue, making the area more pedestrian friendly.

Additionally, angled parking on Railway Street to the west of Baker Avenue is proposed, along with landscaping on the north and south ends, such as trees on the northwest corner of the viaduct and grassy areas where trees would limit a driver’s line of sight.

Some discussion centered on funding opportunities including some grants specifically for improving safety. There is also some discretionary funding from the federal government that may be available.

Smith shared her opinion on the city’s ability to garner the Safe Streets For All grant or other funding based on safety factors.

“We already have a bike path there… just expanding it to allow two-way traffic on both sides, I don’t think will actually rise to the level of ‘safety’ when you’re looking at other communities that don’t have any path,” Smith said. “I, personally, don’t know we’d have success with the safety grants.”

Although the viaduct may not qualify for safety grants, Smith said some of the other improvements would.

“I think maybe the one where we’re tightening up the crosswalk at Railway, that could be a safety concern,” she added.

The part that Councilor Andy Feury finds most favorable about the plan is the elimination of the slip lanes at the intersection of Railway Street and Baker Avenue.

“They’re super confusing to pedestrians, especially southbound on the viaduct, coming by the O’Shaughnessy. People stop and there’s no efficiency when there’s pedestrians because nobody knows what to do. Dana (Smith), you are right on with that. I think that’s a good safety thing that we could look at a grant opportunity for. Other than that, I think the bike path is important to get started.”