Two traffic circles will be added this summer to a planned east-west “bike boulevard” from Lake Phalen to the Bruce Vento Regional Trail, after all.

In mid-April, the St. Paul City Council voted 4-2 to remove traffic circles from planned improvements to Idaho Avenue on the city’s East Side. Responding to concerns from homeowners in his ward, council member Dan Bostrom noted at the time that Idaho draws an estimated 150 vehicles a day and isn’t in need of traffic calming.

Over his strong objection, as well as that of fellow East Side council member Jane Prince, the city council reversed course on Wednesday and voted 4-2 to add two circles back to the plan.

Bostrom said he was taken aback being overruled on a project in his own ward, and he said circles should be reserved for dangerous, higher-volume intersections.

“We’re screwing around with roundabouts,” said Bostrom, who said the council should focus instead on crime and public safety. “I think our priorities are screwed up.”

Bostrom appears outnumbered in his opposition against Idaho/Atlantic and Idaho/Chambers circles; Prince supports him pic.twitter.com/JdyKKGfLYs — FredMelo, Reporter (@FrederickMelo) June 14, 2017

Council president Russ Stark said he wanted to stay true to the St. Paul Bicycle Plan, which calls for a network of connected bikeways, instead of creating the negative precedent of watering it down with last-minute changes.

“I thought it really important that we stay consistent with the plan … even though this is one neighborhood and one part of the street,” Stark said.

The traffic circles — at Idaho and Atlantic Street and Idaho and Chambers Street — will be part of a series of pedestrian-friendly and bike-friendly improvements stretching four blocks from East Shore Drive to English Street, the first stage of a shared bikeway that may someday reach to Furness Parkway. The Bruce Vento trail crosses Idaho near English.

Dan Bostrom says there have been zero bike deaths this year, 11 homicides, 600+ shots fired. pic.twitter.com/NEyr0PJjkE — FredMelo, Reporter (@FrederickMelo) June 14, 2017

The latest decision was sponsored by four council members: the two members who had opposed removing the circles in the first place — Stark and Amy Brendmoen — as well as Rebecca Noecker and Dai Thao.

Related Articles Minneapolis man pleads guilty to torching University Avenue business during May unrest

Charges: 17-year-old shot 15-year-old in face during marijuana deal in St. Paul

Man, 38, dies of apparent natural causes at Ramsey County jail

St. Paul district to wait on reopening schools, citing lack of staff

Sept. 30 is last day for public comment on Pigs Eye Lake makeover Chris Tolbert was absent Wednesday, and Noecker had been absent for the original vote on April 12. Thao, who had voted to remove the circles in April, changed course on Wednesday and voted with the majority.

Thao had expressed concern in April that the two circles would cost too much money for modest result, but city engineers have said the costs — between $4,000 and $12,000 apiece — are negligible in light of $4.5 million in planned roadwork in the area.

Prince, who represents a large swath of the East Side, said she had received little support from fellow council members in trying to fix a broken bike trail along U.S. 61 in her ward, and she felt insulted to be second-guessed on a neighborhood issue.

“I’m really offended that this is coming back,” she said.