Committee debates street design tradeoffs to improve pedestrian, bicycle safety in Keizer

Keizer’s Multimodal Safety Committee spent its work session outlining how to balance streets’ dual roles as routes for travel and as neighborhood places, with members urging the city to prioritize pedestrian and bicycle safety while recognizing cost and engineering constraints.

“Streets have two roles,” said a committee member, arguing that focusing only on vehicle throughput harms livability and pedestrian safety. Traffic engineer Scott Anser of DKS Associates told the group that design choices — not just signage — drive safety outcomes and that some mid‑block marked crossings can create a false sense of security unless paired with engineering treatments such as rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RFBs). “A poorly placed marked crosswalk can make a situation more dangerous,” Anser said.

Members highlighted recent pedestrian fatalities and debated responsibility and prevention strategies. A police officer recalled three notable incidents and said several involved pedestrians crossing against signals or mid‑block; one recent hit‑and‑run remained under investigation. Committee members pressed staff to pair engineering with education and enforcement and to bring forward prioritized, data‑driven recommendations rather than ad hoc proposals.

The committee asked staff to identify low‑cost, pilotable measures (portable speed devices, temporary signage, and targeted RFBs where warranted) and to coordinate with public works and police to produce an engineering-backed package of recommendations for council consideration. The meeting closed with a direction for staff to return with draft language and for the committee to form a working group to refine the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program.