In its final report, DLZ Michigan estimated the cost for option A at $238,000 and the cost for option B at $156,000. If the council approves the conversion, work could not begin until July 1, 2008, at the earliest, as outgoing Mayor Sam Singh said there are no funds in the current budget for the work.

According to the report, the estimate for option A would not include the tab for purchasing a three-foot easement "from a significant number of property owners," director of public works Todd Sneathen said.

With the exception of Tuesday's meeting, which was almost evenly divided between those in favor and those against, public comment has been strongly opposed to the proposal.

Woodside Drive resident Larry Cross, a member of the stakeholders' committee, is opposed to changing the road configuration. He pointed out the status of Hagadorn as a heavily-traveled north-south road.

"If there are 15,000 or 16,000 cars traveling on that road in a day, I would be willing to bet that there's not one percent (of bicyclists) traveling up and down there," Cross said.

"I'm wondering why we're putting so much onto a very small minority. Let's put them on a safer street where we can handle it better."

Others, like Foxcroft Road resident Mathew Reeves, said a lane-reduction would inspire a change in attitudes. Reeves is an Michigan State University professor who, by his own count, bikes to his office 10 to 11 months of the year.

"Whether this great state was founded on the automobile or not, we need to start thinking about alternative models," Reeves told council members.

With potential effects of a change on the traffic to and from Marble Elementary School and McDonald Middle School at stake, council member Diane Goddeeris asked East Lansing Public Schools Board member Chris Ambrose whether the school board has taken an official position on the proposal.

Ambrose answered that, to his knowledge, Marble Principal Jo Preston — like himself, a member of the stakeholder committee — is opposed to the change.

However, Ambrose said the school board does not have an official position.

Council members discussed one alternative: The installation of a traffic light at Hagadorn and Albert. Such a light, DLZ Michigan representative Wes Butch said, would foster larger traffic buildups on Hagadorn but would improve access to the road for residential traffic exiting nearby side streets.

The cost of installating a light would run between $60,000 and $80,000, including installation and maintenance.

City manager Ted Staton said that work is commonly contracted out to the Board of Water and Light in Lansing.

Tuesday's meeting will start at 7:30 p.m. in the council chambers, and will be televised.

Contact Dawn Parker at dlparker@gannett.com or (800) 543-9913, ext. 506.