City staff seek council feedback on sidewalks, refuge islands and flashing beacons for downtown safety project

Staff presented conceptual measures for downtown pedestrian-safety Phase 2 on Jan. 28, asking council for feedback on a package of ADA ramps, crosswalk upgrades and two larger footprint items: a sidewalk extension on South Main Street and a refuge-island crosswalk at Colony Drive with a rectangular rapid‑flashing beacon (RRFB).

The proposed sidewalk on the east side of South Main between Colony Drive and Nantucket would add roughly ten property frontages and require temporary right‑of‑way acquisitions for six parcels, staff said, and the Colony Drive crossing concept includes a refuge island and an RRFB to improve visibility for pedestrians.

Staff also highlighted a separate improvement at North Main and Owen Brown: enlarging the existing bump-out to shorten the pedestrian crossing and improve sight lines where parked vehicles block visibility. Council discussion focused on the RRFB and whether a crosswalk is necessary if continuous sidewalk is provided on both sides of the corridor. Some council members expressed reservations about an RRFB’s utility at that location; others supported the beacon because the corridor is 35 mph and the device raises driver awareness.

What happens next: staff will use the feedback in detailed design and pursue necessary approvals through ODOT and funding programs; the Colony Drive sidewalk and crosswalk concepts can be scaled or deferred in final design based on council direction and property‑access considerations.