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Coeur d'Alene council seeks traffic solutions for housing development

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  Published in House and Home on Monday, November 3rd 2025 at 8:32 GMT by KHQ
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Coeur d’Alene City Council Pursues Traffic Solutions for New Housing Development

The City of Coeur d’Alene’s council met this week to address mounting concerns over traffic congestion linked to a proposed large‑scale residential project in the downtown area. City officials, council members, developers, and community residents gathered at the council chambers on March 9 to discuss how best to manage the anticipated increase in vehicle volume that the new development would generate.

The development, named “Riverfront Residences,” is slated to include 212 single‑family homes and 48 townhomes on a 15‑acre parcel that sits just north of the main commercial corridor along 4th Street. According to the developer’s preliminary plan, construction will begin in the summer of 2024, with occupancy expected to begin in late 2025. The project is the largest residential addition to the city in more than a decade and represents a significant investment in the region’s housing market.

Traffic Impact Concerns

The council’s chief concern is that the new homes will add approximately 1,200 daily vehicle trips during peak commute times, potentially overwhelming the current capacity of 4th Street and the adjoining arterial roads. 4th Street is a two‑way, four‑lane roadway that presently handles around 25,000 vehicles per day. Adding the projected traffic would push the roadway well beyond its designed capacity, increasing the risk of congestion, accidents, and extended travel times for commuters and residents alike.

Councilmember Melissa M. Johnson, chair of the Transportation Committee, said, “We’ve seen how a single new development can alter the flow of traffic in a downtown corridor. We want to make sure that the growth we’re encouraging also brings safety and convenience for our existing residents.”

Councilmember Jim Bender, who represented the area most directly affected by the project, highlighted the need for “a comprehensive traffic study that considers not only the current traffic patterns but also the long‑term effects of the new development on surrounding streets.” He cited a previous study completed by the Idaho Transportation Department for the city’s 2018 downtown revitalization plan, which demonstrated that strategic intersection improvements could significantly reduce congestion.

Proposed Traffic Mitigation Measures

During the hearing, the council reviewed several mitigation proposals submitted by the developer and the city’s transportation team:

1. Installation of a Roundabout at the 4th/State Street Intersection
   A roundabout could reduce the conflict points at this busy intersection, lowering the probability of crashes while improving traffic flow. The council noted that a study conducted by the Idaho Transportation Department in 2022 had shown a 30% reduction in intersection crashes when a roundabout was installed on comparable streets.

2. Addition of Dedicated Turning Lanes on 4th Street
   Expanding the street to include dedicated left‑turn lanes for southbound traffic would ease the bottleneck caused by vehicles making left turns onto the business district’s frontage roads. A traffic model presented by the city’s engineering team projected a 25% reduction in delay times during peak hours if the lanes were added.

3. Enhanced Pedestrian and Bicycle Infrastructure
   The council also discussed the addition of a protected bike lane along 4th Street and the installation of new crosswalk signals. These measures were aimed at encouraging non‑motorized travel and improving safety for pedestrians, particularly in a downtown area that has seen increased foot traffic due to the new housing.

4. Phased Construction Schedule
   The developer proposed a phased construction schedule that would spread the major roadwork over several years. By limiting the intensity of construction traffic at any one time, the developer hoped to mitigate short‑term congestion.

5. Community Shuttle Service
   In a proposal submitted by a local transportation advocacy group, a free shuttle service would run along the main corridors, connecting residents with key destinations such as the downtown business district, the local high school, and the public library. The shuttle would operate on a schedule that coincides with school and work hours, potentially reducing the number of private vehicles on the road.

Councilmembers weighed each proposal, citing the need to balance development goals with the community’s quality of life. While the council agreed that some form of traffic mitigation was necessary, they emphasized that any solution would have to be fully approved by the city’s Planning and Building Department and align with the county’s transportation planning guidelines.

Regulatory and Procedural Next Steps

The city council’s resolution to address the traffic issue will require a formal adoption of a Traffic Mitigation Plan (TMP). The TMP must be developed in accordance with the Idaho State Code’s requirements for municipal transportation projects and must be submitted to the Idaho Transportation Department for review. Once approved, the TMP will be incorporated into the city’s Comprehensive Plan amendment for the development.

Councilmember M. Johnson outlined the timeline: a public hearing on the TMP will be held on March 25, followed by a vote on the city’s adoption of the plan. If the TMP is approved, the council will forward it to the county for final approval before the developer can submit its final construction permit.

The council also announced the formation of a Transportation Advisory Committee, consisting of city planners, traffic engineers, and community volunteers, to oversee the implementation of the TMP and to ensure that any changes to traffic control devices or roadway configurations are executed in a coordinated manner.

Community Reactions

The hearing was attended by a cross‑section of the community, including residents who live within a quarter‑mile of the proposed site, local business owners, and a representative from the Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce. While many residents expressed concerns about potential congestion, several voiced support for the new development, citing the need for additional housing options and the economic benefits it could bring.

Business owner Karen Lee noted, “We’re excited about the new residents, but we also want to ensure that traffic flows smoothly. The proposed roundabout and turning lanes would help keep the street safe for both cars and pedestrians.” Meanwhile, longtime resident Thomas Harris, who lives at the corner of 4th and State, said, “I understand the need for growth, but I worry about the impact on our neighborhood. I appreciate the council taking our concerns seriously.”

Broader Context

The issues discussed at the city council meeting echo broader concerns across Idaho’s growing urban centers. According to a recent KHQ article linked to in the council’s meeting minutes, many municipalities are grappling with similar challenges as they try to accommodate new housing while maintaining safe and efficient transportation networks. The city’s approach, which incorporates a mix of engineering solutions and community input, aligns with best practices recommended by the Idaho Transportation Department for sustainable urban development.

The city’s next steps will be closely watched by residents and developers alike, as they will set a precedent for how Coeur d’Alene manages the delicate balance between growth and livability in its downtown area.