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Advisory board seeks records on Dye Road incidents as members debate tour-size limits and enforcement
Summary
At the April 8 meeting, the advisory board discussed motor-vehicle safety on the Dye Road after public comment and a FOIA request for 2024–2025 incident records; members proposed collecting SPD and clinic records, signage, limits on tour group sizes, and agreed to table the item pending the requested data.
The Skagway Municipality Advisory Board took up new business on motor-vehicle safety along the Dye Road at its April 8 meeting, prompted by earlier public comment and a member’s request for incident data. A committee member reported she submitted a records request for Spokane Police Department (SPD) incident reports covering the 2024 and 2025 seasons to identify trends, and the board agreed to wait for those records before advancing policy options.
Board discussion focused on practical safety measures and the limits of municipal authority. Members suggested approaches including increased police presence during summer months, additional signage (including low-cost visual deterrents such as a plywood replica patrol car), time-of-day restrictions or limits on tour group size, and outreach to DOT for signage on the state road. Several members noted the Dye Road is a state road and discussed whether state troopers or municipal officers would be responsible for enforcement; they also raised the possibility of collecting clinic records to capture unreported injuries.
Why it matters: Members described congestion and unsafe interactions between motor vehicles and tour groups, bicycles and scooters on a narrow, occasionally blind stretch of road. One member urged enforcement and vendor accountability, saying citations for rule violations would encourage compliance; another emphasized balancing safety with the economic importance of tour operators.
Board action: A motion to table the motor-vehicle safety item until the next meeting carried while the board awaits FOIA and other records. Members recommended collecting SPD incident reports and, if applicable, clinic injury records to establish a factual basis for any regulatory or enforcement proposals.
Exchange excerpt: A committee member summarized the dilemma: "The goal is to prevent something before it happens and not to wait till it happened and go, oh, we need safety." Members agreed to reconvene the discussion once records arrive.
Next step: The board will revisit the item at its next meeting if no records are received; possible follow-ups include outreach to DOT, targeted enforcement requests to SPD, and community-proposed measures such as signage or tour-size guidance.
