Fairfax council directs staff to apply for funding for traffic signal at 80th Street and Highway 151

Fairfax — The City Council voted tonight to pursue funding and a traffic‑signal design for the intersection of 80th Street and Highway 151, after a presentation from a state Department of Transportation representative outlining safety and cost tradeoffs.

Sam Shay, a DOT district representative, told the council the agency had several grant programs and technical resources available and reviewed comparative safety research. "Roundabouts end up being significantly safer than signalized intersections," Shay said, noting some studies show large reductions in severe‑injury crashes. He also told the council that signalized intersections are generally quicker and less expensive to construct, and that municipalities typically absorb long‑term energy and maintenance costs for signals.

Councilors asked about freight movements, peak‑hour queuing and staging during construction — including whether the DOT would allow a temporary closure while building a roundabout — and Shay urged the city to commission engineering concept work to firm up cost estimates and traffic modeling. Council members said a signal would be less complex and could be delivered sooner.

On a motion made during the meeting the council authorized staff to pursue a traffic‑signal design and to apply for available funding for that option. The motion was seconded and approved by roll call.

Why it matters: The intersection has been identified as a safety and congestion concern by residents and in past city studies. Councilors emphasized balancing near‑term deliverability, long‑term safety, and the city’s ability to provide the customary 20% local match sometimes required by federal aid programs.

Next steps: City staff will work with the city engineer to produce a concept plan and ballpark estimate for the Jan/next application window and will coordinate required DOT review once a concept is ready.