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Sherwood officials debate replacing outdated half-signal as consultants recommend RRFBs and raised crosswalks at three schools
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Summary
City staff and consultants reviewed recommended pedestrian safety upgrades at three elementary schools—Archer Glen, Hawkesview and Ridges—recommending RRFBs, refuge islands and raised crosswalks; council asked for cost and operational analysis and signaled preference to keep the existing district-office signal while adding a hybrid signal at Hawkesview.
Consultants and school-district representatives presented the second part of an elementary-school crossing assessment at the Sherwood City Council work session on Oct. 21, outlining site-specific recommendations and prompting debate over whether to remove an aging pedestrian half-signal near the district office.
Nick Gross, the Kittelson consultant who led the presentation, said the study recommends pedestrian refuge islands and rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs) at Archer Glen and at mid-block and corridor crossings near Hawkesview. For the Ridges site on Edie Road he described the improvements as contingent on a planned county-led widening: "when that happens, there's an opportunity to install a refuge island and further enhancements, rectangular rapid flashing beacons there," Gross said. In the near term he suggested temporary curb extensions or signing and striping improvements.
Why it matters: Council members pressed the team on two trade-offs—motorist compliance and proximity of enhanced crossings. Gross cited research on RRFBs and compliance, saying they show "an increase around 70 to 80% of motorists actually yielding to people crossing the street." He contrasted that with a pedestrian hybrid beacon (PHB) that "rests in a red phase," which he said should achieve near-100% compliance when active. Several council members said replacing an existing device that produces near-100% compliance with a different device that yields less often would be a concern unless the new location better serves where students actually cross.
School-district official Brady Strats told the council the district's priority is the crossing directly in front of the school building where most students cross: "our number 1 priority is that main crossing in front of Foxview on this road," he said, and added the district supports "anything else that will make the highest safety impact for our students."
Council guidance and next steps: After debate about the three nearby crossings council members signaled a preference to retain the existing half-signal near the district office while pursuing a PHB/stoplight at Hawkesview and improving ADA elements (curb ramps and tactile warning pads) at all sites. Staff said they will return with cost, operational analysis and refined recommendations and will explore formalizing school-crossing standards through the Transportation System Plan update or a policy so future development must meet consistent standards.
Budget and jurisdiction notes: Gross noted the Edie Road improvements involve Washington County (Edie is a county facility) and that Sherwood has approximately $15 million-plus identified for a complete Edie Road project in future capital programming, but that the full county-led widening could be years away. The council asked staff to provide the cost estimates and operational analysis before making final site decisions.
The council did not take a formal vote on the recommendations at the work session; staff will bring the refined assessment and cost data back at a later meeting.
