Speed, Not Parking, Biggest Concern Among Neighbors After First Street Bikeway Open House

Major changes look to be in the works for First Street in Wenatchee after the city hosted an open house last week that was well received.

The event was to introduce the public to the First Street Bikeway project, which would see traffic circles and bike lanes added between Millet Street and Wenatchee. The open house style also provided city staff with plenty of feedback.

4th District Council Member Travis Hornby said he thinks the concept is 90% there. He thought that the consensus among neighbors was that speeding was the biggest issue.

Parking appeared to be the biggest concern regarding the project itself. Some members of the public were especially uneasy regarding parking and striping changes downtown, which is where Hornby's focus will be moving forward.

"I myself and a few of the business owners in downtown are going to sit down with Public Works and try to work out different striping alternatives that would at least address some of the concerns of the Chelan Avenue to Wenatchee Avenue section," Hornby said.

The six streets that could see traffic circles added to their intersections with First are Garfield, Franklin, Emerson, Delaware, Cleveland, Buchanan.

The city is looking to begin construction in the summer of this year.