Why is the City installing a Class IV protected cycle track + sidewalk versus a Class I multi-use path all the way through?

The City has chosen to install a separate 5-6 foot wide sidewalk and 8 foot Class IV protected cycle track between Shaver Street and West Street in order to increase the useable area for the public. A Class I multi-use path along a roadway has larger buffer requirements. The City would have to install a larger retaining wall to just create the 10 foot minimum paved area. Within the same available space, the separate facilities provide a 14 to 15 foot useable paved surface for both modes (bicyclists and pedestrians), where the Class I multi-use would only provide 10 to 11.5 foot paved area. See “Class IV and Class I Comparison“