Curve plan moves ahead

SANDPOINT — The Curve project is moving full speed ahead with the council’s approval of a memorandum of understanding between the city and Idaho Transportation Department.

The document delegates responsibility for the U.S. 2 extension between Cedar and Lake Streets, commonly known as the Curve. As key puzzle piece in the goal toward regaining control of downtown streets, the extension will divert traffic onto Fifth Avenue.

Although some council members weren’t entirely happy with the document worried about issues the city’s responsibility to fund and maintain landscape, the presence of paths and sidewalks in the construction and language guaranteeing the city’s involvement in design, they unanimously approved the memorandum to keep the project moving.

“The decision tonight rests on whether any of these or other issues with the MOU are significant enough to chance the project getting put back on the ITD shelf until it comes up on their list of priorities,” Councilwoman Jamie Brunner said.

Brunner’s particularly concern centered around the cost of landscaping and the city’s ability to choose the vegetation planted. Public Works Director Kody Van Dyk said city involvement in the design process would likely be the biggest factor in that decision.

However, city staff also suggested that the memorandum wasn’t necessarily the place to specify those issues.

According to the memorandum, ITD will be responsible for pursuing funding for the design and construction of the Curve, perform traffic signal analysis, enter into a road closure and maintenance agreement with the city, allow the city to maintain its utility maintenance during construction and advertise and award the labor contract. In addition, the department will furnish and install the appropriate signs, signals, street lighting and streetscape installations like curbs, gutters, walls, crosswalks or striping. Finally, it will agree to relinquish downtown streets and provide materials for their conversion into two-way roads.

Sandpoint’s responsibilities will include a similar compliance with a road closure and maintenance agreement. The city will pay for any traffic light utility fees and landscaping necessary along the Curve. Upon accepting control of downtown streets, Sandpoint government will be responsible for their maintenance and utility costs. Finally the city will cover the costs of the engineering design, intersection reconstruction, and roadway improvements necessary for the downtown streets.

Despite the city’s approval of the memorandum, it offers no guarantees that any of the the included terms will come to pass. It is a legally non-binding agreement meant to eliminate confusion between the two parties and keep the project at the forefront of discussion. Either the city or ITD can back out of the memorandum at any time.

“In spite of my concerns, it’s probably not as significant as my desire to see the Curve go through so we can get our downtown streets back,” Brunner said.