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Oak Harbor outlines steps to address rising pedestrian deaths, cites funding limits and state coordination
Summary
City engineers and councilors discussed pedestrian‑safety work including 15 RRFB crosswalks, 2,500 feet of shared paths, plans to use thermoplastic markings, and continued pursuit of a $5 million federal grant; staff said Highway 20 is the collision hotspot and coordination with WSDOT is required.
Oak Harbor city staff briefed the council on a range of pedestrian‑safety measures and funding challenges, saying pedestrian fatalities have risen sharply despite modest population growth.
City Engineer Alex Warner told the council the city adopted a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan last May with a goal to “reduce the number of traffic deaths and serious injuries to 0 by the year 2045,” and that staff will monitor progress. Warner said the city’s population has grown roughly 7% over the past decade while pedestrian fatalities and severe accidents have climbed by about 48%, depending on the baseline year used.
Warner summarized capital and operational work the city has completed or planned: since 2019 the city has installed 15 rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs), six in school areas; it has built more than 2,500 feet of…
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