Chico city staff have identified severe safety issues on the Esplanade roadway, which they have studied and brought to the attention of city council members.

The Esplanade is one of the most recognizable and historic roadways in Chico, where travelers experience free-flow conditions most hours of the day. Critical issues and recommendations for safety in the area were presented in a study by the Esplanade Corridor Improvement Team to city council Tuesday night.

The goal of the study is to improve the safety and accessibility of the Esplanade for all modes of transportation, while maintaining the tree-lined “boulevard” design. Traffic, pedestrian and bike safety, as well as congestion outside of Chico High School at peak hours are a few main concerns.

The council members decided to postpone a decision recommendation in order to have time for public comment and subsequently make the best recommendations.

The study’s cost is estimated at $143,623 for the contract with W-Trans, which includes data collection, traffic analysis, public outreach and drafting the study.

Michelle Zhu can be reached at [email protected] or @mmichellezhuu on Twitter.