Portage · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Portage public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Traffic safety on Osterhout Avenue
A resident reported three accidents in four months at Osterhout and South Sudan, including one in his own yard, and asked for a flashing light like the one at Osterhout and Oakland. The mayor said the city manager would follow up with him.
Church driveway defect on West Milham Avenue
A retired minister for the Apostolic Church says a road project left a major dip in the church driveway that the city hasn't fixed after a year of calls, including four visits to City Hall. With 750 funeral attendees hitting it in one day, the council promised a follow-up.
Blind-corner left turn at W. ON Avenue and 12th Street
A resident asked whether a three-way stop could ease a nerve-wracking blind-hill turn; the mayor noted the road is a county road and the county resists new three-way stops.
No traffic impact study required
Staff determined a traffic study wasn't needed for 49 new homes, but several residents strongly disagreed and asked for one anyway, citing Stryker shift traffic on Sprinkle Road and past accidents. The developer said he'd support the city investigating signal warrants.
East Shore Drive Trail — Traffic and Flooding Concerns
Nearly every speaker opposed higher-density zoning near Austin Lake, citing narrow, winding East Shore Drive, speeding, wetlands, and runoff into the lake. Several asked that the area be zoned RE (single-family estate) instead of RN.
Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant pursuit
The city committed a $92,000 local match (20%) to have Abonmarche manage a federal Safe Streets grant application — funding aimed at making Portage roads safer.
2026 Road Construction — Three Major North-south Corridors at Once
Council awarded contracts to rebuild Portage Road Phase 1, local streets citywide, and West Centre Avenue. Residents on the west side of Austin Lake will get safer routes and bike connections; a caller urged keeping safety features through the isthmus in Phase 2.