Estacada traffic committee approves prioritized school-crossing, lighting and safety plan and $15,000 operating budget

The Estacada Traffic & Public Safety Committee on Feb. 26 approved a prioritized set of safety projects focused on school crossings, pedestrian lighting, sidewalks and ADA access and voted to fund the committee's programs with a roughly $15,000 operating budget for the 2025—26 cycle.

Committee members said they plan to use a list developed from a 2017 Safe Routes to School assessment to guide work this year, with an initial emphasis on six priority intersections that committee members identified as having the greatest need: Sixth and Broadway; Tenth and Broadway; two crossings on Eagle Creek Highway (near Liberty Hill Way and the new apartment areas); Pierce and Shafford; and the skate-park/library corridor. The list also includes a series of additional crossings, lighting audits and sidewalk gaps noted by staff and residents.

The committee's chair told members the list will guide funding requests and engineering work: the city manager and budget staff previously toured local schools with Clackamas County to identify deficiencies in crosswalks, signage, sidewalks and lighting. Committee members agreed to ask the schools to prioritize the intersections on the committee's list, and they asked staff to pursue a lighting audit and coordination with the utility (PGE) to upgrade fixtures and convert failing lamps to LED where appropriate.

Committee discussion emphasized three near-term items: installing or upgrading pedestrian push-button crossings and flashing beacons at busy school-route intersections; filling sidewalk gaps where new housing developments are planned (including a 13-house infill on Fourth Avenue); and addressing dark stretches of Main and Broadway with a city-led lighting inventory. Committee members also discussed barriers and roadside protection on steep approaches where vehicles have left the roadway during inclement weather; staff said engineers will evaluate options, including cables and concrete barriers.

Members said they would continue to pursue alternatives to speed humps where appropriate, referencing a previously adopted speed-hump eligibility checklist and recent additions of speed cushions as an alternative. The committee also noted ongoing coordination with Clackamas County Sheriff's deputies for enforcement and traffic studies; seven traffic studies are pending, with one already completed at NE Broadway and NE Sixth.

On programming, the committee approved funding for neighborhood-watch outreach, school-safety events, mock-ups and safety demonstrations, CPR/AED and first-aid training, and the annual National Night Out community event (Aug. 5). After a discussion about attendance at recent CPR classes, members increased CPR funding to cover additional attendees. The committee approved the priorities list and the operating budget by voice vote.

Quotes from the meeting came from residents and presenters who highlighted community needs and partnership opportunities. "We're inviting people to come, learn about things that are affecting the youth here in Estacada," the prevention coordinator said while describing a community cafe and a bike-safety rodeo planned for spring and summer. Resident Larry Geier praised staff for quickly installing a dead-end sign near a new development, saying, "I just I think it's just awesome that it got done that quick."

The committee directed staff to publish the prioritized crossing list and to ask the school district for its own priorities so the committee can sequence projects against the city's budget and grant opportunities. Staff also will post a call for lighting concerns on the city's website and social media and continue coordination with Clackamas County and utility providers.

What happens next: staff will present the prioritized list and the budget recommendation to city council for final approval and will seek engineering studies, grant opportunities and utility coordination for lighting and crosswalk projects.