In an effort to get more people involved in transportation planning in St. Paul, the City Council on Wednesday approved the creation of a new committee to look at projects and policies across the city.

The group would be part of the Planning Commission and would have discussions, hold public hearings and keep minutes of what happens.

Council Member Russ Stark sponsored the idea and said it should ease frustrations people have had with the way projects tend to "come out of nowhere for folks in the community."

"It's an opportunity to have the conversation early," Stark said. "It won't avoid conflict, but hopefully we'll have deeper conversations."

He envisions a 12-person group, and four people would be Planning Commission members. The other eight would represent various interests, such as cycling, freight and trucking, transit, disability access or walking.

Last March, the city adopted a "complete streets" policy, a national movement to design and build streets for all users from motorists to pedestrians to freight haulers.

That, Stark said, means there's more competition for roadway, sidewalks and landscaping in the city's old street system. And that means more voices need to be heard earlier in the process.

City Engineer John Maczko said his department supports the new committee.

"We'd like a more comprehensive approach to transportation planning," he said.

The creation of the new committee means the Bicycle Advisory Board, which had been around for 18 years, will be put on indefinite hiatus.

CHRIS HAVENS