The City of Canyon is inviting residents to help shape the future of local transportation safety through a pair of public input meetings focused on its Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Action Plan. Community members will have two opportunities this week to learn about the proposed projects, ask questions and share feedback before the plan advances to the next stage.
City staff have been working alongside Goodman Corporation since July to develop the action plan. The effort combines detailed crash data analysis with extensive community input to evaluate traffic safety concerns and recommend projects aimed at reducing roadway fatalities and serious injuries.
Dustin Meyer, Director of Planning and Development for the City of Canyon, said the City has already hosted three outreach events as part of the planning process. Those efforts generated more than 480 public comments, with residents identifying priority areas across the community where they believe safety improvements are most urgently needed.
According to Meyer, the process began with gathering and analyzing citywide crash data alongside feedback from residents. From that information, City staff identified between eight and ten potential project areas. Those projects were then ranked internally by staff before being presented to the Vision Zero Advisory Board for further review.
The Vision Zero Advisory Board, which is tasked with drafting the city’s Safety Action Plan, conducted its own prioritization of the proposed projects. Meyer noted that the board’s rankings closely mirrored those of City staff. From that combined effort, five major areas for improvement emerged as top priorities.
At this week’s meeting, City officials will outline a five-part plan that includes two short-term projects, two medium-term initiatives and one long-term effort. Four of the top priorities focus on infrastructure improvements near Canyon schools, including the installation of traffic signals, crosswalks, bike lanes and Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible sidewalks. Each of the locations selected for improvement had previously received community comments requesting changes.
One of the most discussed areas involves pedestrian access and traffic control around Crestview Elementary School. According to project documents, 61 public comments requested new sidewalks along Country Club Drive to better connect to the school. An additional 11 comments called for intersection and crosswalk improvements at Hunsley Road and Country Club Drive.
City planners are now considering specific improvements at that intersection, including enhanced crossings and expanded sidewalks. For the Crestview project overall, the City is evaluating two primary design options: installing a new traffic signal at an estimated cost of approximately $2.89 million or constructing a roundabout projected at about $3.28 million.
Crash data also highlighted safety concerns at the intersection of Interstate 27 and State Highway 217. While this location generated significant public feedback and ranked high in crash analysis results, the project falls outside the City’s jurisdiction and would require coordination with the Texas Department of Transportation. Because of that, it does not qualify for SS4A grant funding under the City’s current application.
Meyer said the City has shared its findings with the state transportation agency, which has acknowledged the area and indicated it is working toward a solution.
Beyond the Crestview project, the remaining priority initiatives vary widely in scope and cost. A Citywide Traffic Calming and Signage Improvement Project is projected at $734,000. The 2nd Avenue Multimodal Enhancement Project carries an estimated cost of $3.15 million. The Four School Area Sidewalks Improvement Project is expected to total roughly $14.32 million, while the 6th and 7th Avenue Roadway Reconstruction Project is projected at nearly $18.92 million.
Following the public input meeting, City staff plan to present the finalized information to the Canyon City Commissioners during their Tuesday meeting. Another community meeting will be held Wednesday to gather additional feedback before the plan moves toward formal approval.
Once approved, the City will begin applying for SS4A grant funding. Each project will require its own application, and implementation will depend on funding availability. Meyer estimates that completing all five major projects could take between 10 and 20 years, with construction likely occurring in phases as grants are awarded.
Residents can attend public feedback sessions on March 2 and March 4 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Canyon Area Library, located at 1501 3rd Ave. The City of Canyon Commissioners meeting is scheduled for Tuesday from 4:30 to 5 p.m. on the second floor of Canyon City Hall. Community participation is encouraged as the City works to shape a long-term vision for safer streets.l be held on Tuesday from 4:30 to 5 p.m. on the second floor of Canyon’s City Hall.
