Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Astoria public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
8 issues in roads
Parking Master Plan Ad-Hoc Working Group
The city paused its plan to hire a consultant to update the 2019 downtown parking study, deciding instead to talk about a full citywide parking master plan first. It affects downtown businesses, shoppers and anyone who parks downtown.
Highway 30 Eastbound Merge Redesign at Columbia Street
ODOT redesigned the confusing eastbound merge near the Pig 'N Pancake after complaints, close calls, and queuing into the intersection. The new drop-lane design gives drivers 350 feet to merge instead of 170, with new signs and pavement markings. Councilors want bigger, clearer signage and asked how drivers who end up in the wrong lane will get back on track.
Cedar Creek Spur 1 Bridge in the Watershed
A failing culvert on Spur 1 Road near a critical water intake will be replaced with a fish-passable bridge, protecting watershed access and drinking water.
Crosswalk request at 20th Street between Aquatic Center and OSU Seafood Lab
A resident asked the city to paint a mid-block crosswalk on 20th Street between the Aquatic Center and the OSU Seafood Lab, citing fast-turning cars from Marine Drive and blocked sightlines. The city engineer agreed to review it, along with a second pedestrian connection near Exchange Street.
Highway 30 chair-wall system condition
The 100-plus-year-old wall holding up Highway 30 and downtown sidewalks has never been fully studied. The council agreed the first ask should be money for a comprehensive structural study — and some business owners have already spent $80,000+ shoring up their own sidewalks.
2026 Paving Project
Five street segments get repaved starting late July, including Irving Avenue and Halsey Road in Emerald Heights. Daytime full closures are expected on some streets, and residents will get door-hanger notices.
Irving Ave. at 27th St. emergency road repair
December's storm washed out a stretch of Irving Avenue, a key bypass when Marine Drive is blocked. The change order covers extra damage found before construction plus a prevailing-wage adjustment triggered when costs crossed $50,000.
ODOT ADA Curb Ramp Improvements
ODOT will replace about 125 curb ramps at 30 intersections across Astoria starting July 2026, at its expense. The City reviews plans and maintains improvements in its own rights-of-way; downtown's historic vaulted sidewalks will be preserved with surface-applied red domes rather than reconstruction.