The Improvement and Services Committee on Oct. 1 voted to refer a resident request to install rapidly flashing beacons at a crosswalk on Bay Highlands Drive and Bay Settlement Road back to staff for a traffic/pedestrian study and return to the committee.

The move follows discussion that the crosswalks were repainted last spring and that “yield to pedestrian” signs and field flags have already been added. Elder Grant, who raised the neighborhood concern, told the committee the roadway is a four-lane street close to a highway ramp and “that area is growing and developing,” and said residents have continued to report drivers not stopping.

Committee members and staff discussed cost estimates and precedent. A staff speaker said a single beacon installation could cost roughly $15,000 to $20,000 if additional median work or center devices are needed; another attendee recalled an $8,000 figure for a simpler installation. Committee members also noted an existing flashing beacon on the same arterial near Sitka and asked why that location was prioritized while Bay Highlands was not.

Staff described the existing process: the Traffic, Bike and Pedestrian Committee evaluates requests, a traffic engineer checks warrants, collects vehicle and pedestrian counts and then recommends whether an enhancement is warranted. Committee members asked staff to confirm whether the Traffic, Bike and Pedestrian Committee had completed those counts and to return with any supporting materials in advance of council consideration.

Elder Dewey moved to refer the request back to staff for study and to return the item to the Improvement and Services Committee; Elder Eck seconded. The committee voted in favor and the matter was referred to staff.

The referral does not commit the city to installation or to specific funding. The committee’s action was a procedural referral for additional study; final funding and any construction authorization will require later committee or council approval.