Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parking Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Traffic panel agrees to monitor parking lot at 173 Columbia Avenue
Summary
After reviewing a city engineer memo, the Astoria Traffic Safety Advisory Committee agreed to monitor incidents at the triangular 173 Columbia Avenue parking lot rather than install physical improvements immediately; commissioners noted lighting and overgrown vegetation as conditions to watch.
The Astoria Traffic Safety Advisory Committee reviewed a memo from the city engineer about recurring safety concerns at the triangular parking lot at 173 Columbia Avenue and agreed to monitor the site rather than implement immediate physical changes.
The Chair praised the engineer's memo as “very thorough” and commissioners said the report’s recommendation to monitor made sense given the limited number of reported incidents. As one commissioner put it during the meeting, “Looks like the recommendation is to monitor.”
Commissioners discussed possible remedies, including physical bumpers, additional lighting, or vegetation trimming. The Chair noted the estimate attached to staff materials — roughly $7,500 to place six physical bumpers in the steep spots — and said a physical bumper would likely be preferable to markings or signage if the committee later chooses to act. The committee also flagged overgrown blackberry bushes that could obscure the lot and make backing maneuvers more hazardous as the season progresses.
No formal motion was taken to implement improvements; the panel’s direction was to watch for additional incidents and revisit if problems persist. The engineer previously circulated several options at varying cost levels and staff will keep the committee informed if new data or complaints justify further action.
