Residents gathered in downtown Raleigh for a city committee meeting Wednesday night to discuss restructuring Hillsborough Street past Pullen Road.

Though a final plan was not officially decided, residents and city workers gave testimony to the city committee and prepared their case for a renovation plan that suited their wants.

Eric Lamb, city planning and development manager, spoke first and had sorted through eight different plans that aided the road’s use for bikers, pedestrians and patrons of local businesses.

“One thing that we all were able to agree on is that we want to change it from a five-lane to a three-lane road,” Lamb said.

Lamb said the road had too many lanes for cars and not enough space for bicyclists on the road. As a direct route from campus to downtown, it could prove advantageous for students who choose not to drive.

“There is actually a fair amount of pedestrian activity in this area,” Lamb said. “I was out [on Hillsborough] for a half an hour and there were a half a dozen cyclists.”

Lamb proposed repaving roads and making them into three lanes with additional bike lanes, while other plans played off of a similar scheme. All plans also included new street-parking spaces.

Some plans involved bike lanes and some plans with sharrows , directed pathways that don’t give bikers exclusive access to a lane.

The bike lanes are larger than sharrows , but allow for more safety, and nearly every speaker encouraged the use of lanes. Unfortunately, Hillsborough St. is not large enough to accommodate to every vehicle.

“If we want to add bike lanes, we are going to have to widen the street by about two to three feet. That is just the reality of it,” Lamb said.

Committee members were kind to the idea of two lanes, but held concern that buses may slow operation on single lane roads.

“The goals are to reduce the [automobile] speeds and increase on-street parking,” Lamb said.

Other propositions including the relocation of several crosswalks, particularly in moving the crosswalk across from The Velvet Cloak Inn to in front of the local YMCA. Lamb said all of the changes are aimed at helping travelers in the University area.

City Council member of Southwest Raleigh, Thomas Crowder, said the problem has persisted for years, and it is time for a change.

“[Pedestrian accommodation] has been a major concern of the stake-holders upon the street,” Crowder said.

Crowder said in front of traffic flow and residential issues, safety came first.

“The number one [issue is] pedestrian safety, because if you don’t slow down, the chicken won’t make it to the other side of the road,” Crowder said.

As Southwest Raleigh and the University become more intertwined with downtown, and less residents depend on cars, Crowder explains that accommodations to pedestrians are necessary.

“We’re turning Hillsborough Street away from being a major thoroughfare,” Crowder said. “Slowing down traffic, making bike accommodations.”

Dick Van Dyke, who owns an office on Hillsborough Street, said aside from biker safety, the visual aspect was of great concern.

“None of us are interested in a turf war with the bike community,” Van Dyke said.

He explained the two-lane cut down would be ideal, with a median in the middle as it would be symmetrical and visually appealing.

“Part of the slimming down process is going to make Hillsborough Street tighter,” Van Dyke said.

Raleigh bicyclist George Strong said he wanted better treatment of bikers on the road and the project would be a great start.

“Let’s stop looking at roads as a way to move as many cars as possible,” Strong said.

The meeting will continue Monday at 3 p.m . at the municipal building downtown where a final decision will likely be made.