Benton County plans street lighting, bump-outs and hardwired crossing beacons in LC Safe Routes to School project

Benton County plans to install street lighting, curb bulb-outs and pedestrian crossing beacons on two blocks in LC as part of a Safe Routes to School project, county staff and local residents said at a Citizens Advisory Committee meeting.

The county’s civil engineer, Owen Miller, told residents by email that “the street lights and crossing beacons had to be hardwired to power, not solar,” and that the project will require a power connection to CPI power in the alley on Third Street. Miller also noted that the raised curb islands will not be plain concrete and that the design calls for routed cobblestones, according to the email read aloud at the meeting.

Mimi (surname not specified), a committee member, said the county had reduced the size of the bulb-outs to preserve a minimum four-foot shoulder and to ease turning for larger vehicles, including log trucks. “I did reduce the size of the bulb-outs, especially at the Department of the Mercantile and shifted them to maintain a minimum of a 4 foot shoulder,” she said while describing the emailed schematics.

County staff told the committee they are still working to secure final design approval from the Oregon Department of Transportation and to obtain CPI’s approval for the power connection. Once approvals are in hand, the county intends to advertise the project, select a contractor and share a tentative construction schedule with the public. Staff said they expect all work to be completed by October.

Local resident and property owner Misty Muncy, who said she and her brother purchased the town’s old bank building and have been restoring it, said she does not believe the project will alter the building’s frontage. “Is it gonna affect your bank building? No. I don't believe so,” Muncy said during the meeting, adding the improvements were intended to slow traffic and improve access for people using wheelchairs.

Committee members asked about parking and truck access; county staff said the design changes were intended to maintain curb access while improving pedestrian safety. Staff also said the county conducted an April media outreach and encouraged residents with concerns to contact the project team; they said it will be difficult to change the design once it is advertised but that they remained open to discussion.

The committee heard that the school had requested safer crossings for years and that lighting and crossing beacons would help students crossing at dusk and during winter months. County staff said they would provide a construction timeline and further details once a contractor is selected.

No formal vote or final construction contract was recorded on the transcript. Committee members asked that project materials and schematics be posted to local community pages and the county’s CAC page so residents can review them.

Short-term next steps noted at the meeting: secure CPI approval for power, finalize ODOT design approval, advertise the contract, and publish a tentative construction schedule to the community once a contractor is selected.