The Gibbons/High/Fernside Intersection Safety Updates project is considering design concept alternatives to improve safety at this intersection while balancing the needs of nearby local streets.
In fall 2024, the Fernside Boulevard Traffic Calming & Bikeways Project team identified safety and operational issues at the Gibbons/High/Fernside intersection(PDF, 1MB), which has lengthy pedestrian crossings, high-speed turning movements, and no signal phase for pedestrians crossing Gibbons Drive. In addition to safety issues, resolving the Gibbons/High/Fernside intersection layout is also essential for the future buildout of the two-way bikeway on Fernside, since it affects the traffic signal phases and overall operation of the larger intersection.
In November 2024, the City sought feedback on a proposed design to simplify the intersection by restricting northbound traffic on Gibbons Drive to right turns only. The design would shorten pedestrian crossings, reduce vehicle speeds, and reduce signal wait times. (A roundabout was considered but ruled out due to insufficient space.) Community feedback was mixed, with some residents urging immediate safety improvements and others concerned about spillover onto nearby streets.
In November 2024, the Transportation Commission endorsed the Fernside Project design with a request for staff to return with a concept for the Gibbons/High/Fernside intersection. In March 2025, City Council approved the Fernside Project design and directed staff to conduct a traffic study reviewing the safety, operational, and traffic distribution effects of the Gibbons/Fernside/High design concept with the turn restriction.
The approved near-term Fernside Project includes buffered bike lanes and quick-build pedestrian safety improvements on Fernside Boulevard west of High Street, to be implemented with the Annual Pavement Program in 2026. The long-term concept includes pedestrian median islands and a two-way separated bikeway on the north and east side of Fernside Boulevard, pending external funding availability.
In May 2025, the City contracted with Parametrix, Inc, to gather data and conduct the intersection analysis and traffic study. Traffic data collection took place while school was still in session, ensuring the traffic data reflects an accurate sample of typical traffic on local streets. In September 2025, the traffic study(PDF, 5MB) was released to the community and the City held two community workshops and an online survey to solicit public input.
In October 2025, the Transportation Commission recommended an updated approach that fast-tracked quick-build neighborhood traffic calming to 2026-2027, followed by returning to them to discuss updated data, then conducting a temporary pilot turn restriction at Gibbons/High/Fernside in 2028 as part of long-term planning for the Fernside Project. Staff will also seek funding for project design and construction during this time. The revised recommendation responds to community concerns about potential traffic diversion from a turn restriction at Gibbons and emphasizes the need for immediate safety improvements for the larger Fernside neighborhood. This recommendation prioritizes quick-build measures that can be delivered 2026-2027, followed by evaluation and phased implementation of additional changes in the future.
In November 2025, the City Council adopted the following motion: "Accept the staff recommendations for Gibbons Drive traffic calming Phase I quick build traffic calming and neighborhood improvements and Phase II collection of data after traffic calming and direct staff to return to the city council with data and present options for future traffic calming measures which may include making the roundabouts permanent, eliminating the left turn from Gibbons to High Street, or other options based on the data and staff recommendations."