Committee urges targeted patrols and explores fixes for troubled Buxton/Columbia River Highway intersection

Troutdale Public Safety committee members asked sheriff's staff to accept community-submitted locations for extra patrols and raised long-running safety concerns at the Buxton and Columbia River Highway intersection during the meeting. Committee members discussed both near-term enforcement and longer-term engineering options. Nick, a sheriff's office representative, said the intersection is dangerous and urged an engineering change: "That intersection needs to be a 3 way stop. 100% of 3 way stop and preferably with a light." He described frequent near-miss vehicle collisions and said patrol officers have repeatedly observed drivers missing the current signage. Members explored alternatives that could reduce crashes without creating long backups on Highway 257, including a signal with a directional green arrow or "smart" traffic-signal technology that adjusts phasing to keep traffic moving. Participants noted cost and jurisdictional hurdles: the intersection involves county and ODOT responsibility and would require coordination and funding to install a signal. For near-term action, the committee asked the sheriff's office to accept a short list of specific locations and issues for increased enforcement and night patrols. Twyla Harrington described the submission process: "We can submit to the sheriff location and an issue that we'd like to see them (address)." Nick described the enforcement tools the county uses, including temporary speed-measurement devices that capture vehicle speeds for a period of days and patrol deployments based on citizen complaints. The committee did not vote on any policy. Members agreed to collect specific locations and problems and forward them to sheriff's staff for targeted enforcement and to ask the city and county about signal or sign changes.