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Mayor urges ODOT for a full stoplight on Highway 69 after deadly crash
Summary
Mayor reported a recent serious crash on Highway 69 and said he is pressing ODOT and state lawmakers for a full traffic signal at the Highway 69/5th Street intersection, noting traffic counts and engineer plans are underway.
Mayor delivered a lengthy report on public safety concerns at the Highway 69/5th Street corridor, saying a recent crash reinforced the need for a full traffic signal and safer pedestrian connections. He said he has engaged ODOT staff and Senator McIntosh on the issue and has asked the city's accident reconstructionist to compile crash data.
An ODOT update read to the council indicated engineers are preparing drawings and specifications and will run traffic counts when school resumes; the design is approaching completion and will be submitted for Federal Highway Administration funding. The staff reading the update said ODOT "is going to start doing traffic counts over there when school starts, and, they're gonna report justifying the need for for a full traffic signal." The mayor said that if the signal and associated pedestrian improvements are approved and funded, the change would include sidewalks and a crosswalk to provide safer access to nearby commercial areas.
Council members discussed the safety and congestion trade-offs at length. The mayor emphasized public-safety rationale, saying, "If it saves 1 life, it's worth all that congestion." Council directed staff to continue coordination with ODOT and to report back as traffic counts and design milestones are reached.
The item connects to a separate funding authorization on the agenda where the council authorized a local match (up to $345,000 upon FHWA award) that staff said was already budgeted as part of a larger $500,000 local match allocation in the fiscal year plan.
