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Council hears proposal to replace signal and add protected intersection at Highland and Circle; design may require corner easements
Summary
Public works staff recommended designing a protected intersection as part of a planned signal replacement at Highland and Circle Boulevard, estimating roughly $300,000 in additional cost and warning that the design will likely require right-of-way negotiations with four corner property owners.
City public works staff described a plan to replace an aging traffic signal at the Highland and Circle Boulevard intersection and use the project to install a protected-intersection treatment intended to improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Greg Getcher, assistant public works director, said the signal needs replacement and that recent lane reconfigurations on Circle Boulevard created an opportunity to repurpose travel lanes and provide space for protected corner islands and other pedestrian/bicycle enhancements. "The consultant is thinking it's about a $300,000 cost to provide the protective design," Getcher said in the work session.
Staff said the protected-intersection concept would improve visibility and create refuge areas for bicyclists and pedestrians, fitting Corvallis’ Transportation System Plan goals for a lower-stress bike network on Circle Boulevard. Because the intersection sits near schools and the Boys & Girls Club, staff described it as a location with higher pedestrian and bicycle activity.
The design would be more expensive than a standard signal replacement and — importantly — would likely require acquisition of right-of-way or easements from the four corner properties. Staff reported having preliminary, cordial conversations with corner property owners and said owners reserved final judgement until they see detailed plans. If negotiations are unsuccessful, staff said the city could return to council seeking authority for acquisitions; staff also noted that eminent domain is a legal option but emphasized that it would be a last resort.
Council members raised operational concerns including potential backups from lane reductions, conflict points from driveways and retail access, impacts on emergency response, and the potential for unintended safety consequences. Staff said traffic analysis and signal timing will be part of detailed design work, and that the signal replacement is the logical time to pair lane changes with intersection redesign. Several councilors expressed support for the concept but asked staff to evaluate lane operations, bus-stop locations and emergency access as the design proceeds.
On schedule, staff said design can move forward immediately under existing consultant contract; construction would be budgeted in the next fiscal year (likely FY 2026), with the added cost funded through the budget process. Staff said they believe the city can advance the project without displacing other planned projects but could not guarantee that until the budget is finalized. No formal vote was taken at the meeting.
Ending: Staff will advance design if council is comfortable with the concept and will return with refined cost estimates, a final design, and a plan for any required property negotiations.
