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Residents urge stepped-up enforcement on Oracle Road and better bike connections at Safeway
Summary
At an Oro Valley resident working group, residents pressed town staff and OVPD to address high-speed driving on Oracle Road, asked why there are no red-light or speed cameras, and sought fixes for a missing bike-lane segment near Safeway. OVPD said most collisions stem from driver inattention and that traffic stops rose in 2024.
Residents at a Feb. 13 Oro Valley working-group session pressed town staff and police to address aggressive driving on major corridors, particularly Oracle Road, and to improve bike connectivity near the Safeway shopping area.
The meeting was facilitated by Malini Sims, a town principal planner. Multiple participants described Oracle Road as a “free for all,” saying speeding, reckless lane changes and difficulty entering traffic make it the road that most concerns them. "If I were the police department and I was gonna focus on a place, I would focus on that road," resident Rosa Daly said.
Residents also asked whether the town uses automated enforcement. Sgt. Marshall Morris of the Oro Valley Police Department said the town has no red-light or speed cameras and that "all of our traffic enforcement is done by officers on the ground." He added that automated systems are "extremely hard to enforce" because of evidence and identification challenges and that the public often opposes them.
Several long-time residents said visible motor-unit enforcement has declined from earlier years, and asked whether the department has the budget or staffing it needs. Sgt. Morris and Commander Mike Gracie said staffing and officer interest in motorcycle duty have fallen, but the department is shifting tactics: more enforcement has occurred from unmarked vehicles and traffic contacts increased by roughly 6,000 in 2024 compared with 2023.
Residents raised safety concerns about the Rancho Vistoso/Safeway/Tangerine area and the lack of a continuous bike lane from Tangerine up to the Safeway entrance. Maureen Savigny and other cyclists asked why a short segment was omitted; staff said the transportation working group has noted the connectivity gap and that it could be included in the general plan for study.
Staff also announced a forthcoming OV Trails Connect initiative to improve trails and multi-use paths and encouraged resident participation.
The town agreed to record comments for the plan and to follow up on requests for intersection studies and specific bike-lane connectivity. The working group will reconvene Feb. 27 to review draft goals, policies and actions.
The meeting was a listening session; there were no motions or votes.
