Councilman Brent Sheldon, R-Ward I, expressed concerns Monday over a proposal to eliminate parking on East Second Street to make way for a dedicated bicycle lane. P-J photo by Eric Tichy

A proposal to eliminate parking on a portion of East Second Street to make way for a dedicated bicycle lane received a lukewarm response from City Council members this week.

A resolution for the state Department of Transportation to reconfigure East Second Street, from East Fourth Street to Tiffany Avenue, was discussed Monday. Under the proposal, a dedicated bike lane would be added to the eastbound lane while the westbound lane would be widened to accommodate both vehicles and bikes.

The reconfiguration, if recommended to the state, would take place during planned work for East Second Street in 2025.

However, Councilman Brent Sheldon, R-Ward I, said he had “several concerns” with the plan.

“I feel that residents, especially in the area between Winsor and Weeks streets, are going to be impacted by this because a lot of multi-family houses do not have off-street parking,” he said during the council’s work session.

A review by city staff found that 90% of properties have access to off-street parking.

While on his way to Monday’s meeting, Sheldon said he saw 13 vehicles parked along both sides of East Second Street between Winsor and Weeks streets.

“My biggest concern is the safety of the residents who are going to have to be parking on the opposite side of the street that they live on; bringing children across the street; carrying groceries … from shopping,” Sheldon said. “I think it’s going to be a very big safety issue.”

He also noted that there are several businesses along East Second that might be impacted if on-street parking is eliminated.

“People wouldn’t be able to park in front of the businesses,” he said.

Councilman Jeff Russell, R-At-Large, said he too found it “hard to believe” that there is enough off-street parking for residents, noting the number of apartments on East Second.

“I think it’s going to be a major inconvenience to the public,” he said.

The resolution also was discussed by the council’s Finance and Public Works committees.

Councilman Randy Daversa, R-At-Large, who chairs the Public Works Committee, brought up the city’s Safer Streets Initiative.

“I don’t know if we’re going to be able to avoid not doing some of these thoroughfares because we’ve said that a lot of people are using pedal bikes and e-bikes going to (Jamestown Community College),” he said. “They may very well utilize Second Street if they’ve got a bike lane, so it would help in a way for the college.”

Mark Roetzer, acting Department of Public Works director, said the state will follow the recommendation of the city. He said the plan calls for the addition of striping to the eastbound lane of East Second for a bike lane. The westbound lane, he said, would go from 11 feet wide — the normal width of a travel lane — to 13 feet wide to act as a shared lane for both vehicles and bikes.

Daversa said the bike lane recently established on Washington Street appears to be working well.

Russell, however, noted that there is more commercial use along Washington while there’s more residential housing on East Second.

The council plans to review the resolution further.