Residents press Highland council for safety fixes at Canal Boulevard/6180 West crossing

Multiple residents told Highland City Council on March 24 they are worried about children crossing Canal Boulevard at 6180 West and urged near‑term traffic‑calming measures.

"This intersection is really unsafe," said Alexandra Grunald, who lives on the corner and said her children and neighborhood children cross the road multiple times per day. Other residents at public comment said they had near‑misses and asked the council to consider a flashing pedestrian crossing, a four‑way stop, bulbouts or a stop sign.

Staff presented the city’s traffic‑calming toolbox and a prioritized scoring of east–west corridors that considered 85th‑percentile speed, percentage of vehicles traveling more than 10 mph over the limit, five‑year accident history, daily traffic volume, roadway context and proximity to schools and trails. Staff said 11800 North and Canal Boulevard had the highest combined priority scores; 10400 North and 9600 North also ranked high.

For Canal Boulevard west at 6180 West staff recommended lower‑cost, paint‑based bulbouts and a rapid flashing beacon at the pedestrian crossing as feasible early steps, with the possibility of hard curb work later if warranted. Staff installed pedestrian counts and driver feedback signs and noted some existing measures (bike lane paint, a refuge median) already reduce crossing distance in places.

Council members and staff agreed to move forward with a set of near‑term steps: chicanes plus a rapid‑flashing beacon at the high‑priority 11800 North school crossing, painted bulbouts and beacon options for Canal Boulevard’s western crossing, and further engineering to verify warrant criteria for any four‑way stop. Staff will return with cost estimates and scheduling.