Upcoming Puyallup City Council Hearing on PHS Road Closure Pilot and Traffic Safety

Families and community members are invited to learn more about efforts to improve traffic safety at Puyallup High School during an upcoming presentation to the Puyallup City Council on September 15, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. 

At the center of the discussion is the 7th Street NW Closure Pilot Project, a safety-focused effort designed to reduce risks for students traveling between the main campus and additional portable classroom spaces. Puyallup High School, founded in 1890, operates on a 15-acre campus and has expanded in recent years to include portable classrooms west of 7th Street NW. This growth has led to hundreds of students crossing the street during passing periods and before and after school each day. 

The closure pilot was introduced to reduce vehicle and pedestrian conflicts and create a more connected and secure campus environment. Since the start of the pilot period, the district has monitored traffic patterns and safety conditions in the surrounding area. 

The project builds on several milestones over the past three years, including the closure of the Library Science Arts Building, which necessitated the approval of a Conditional Use Permit to add portable classrooms, and ongoing traffic and safety analysis. New portable classrooms opened in early 2025, and a petition to formally vacate a portion of 7th Street NW was submitted in March 2026. 

Community input has played an important role throughout the process. The district has hosted multiple community meetings and open houses, presented to the City Council several times, and maintained an online project webpage. District staff have also met directly with neighbors to hear feedback and answer questions. 

Current traffic and parking strategies aim to reduce impacts on nearby neighborhoods while improving safety. These include increasing use of on-campus parking, providing families with guidance for drop-off and pick-up, and monitoring of curb parking use. Additional recommended changes include adjustments to parking time limits and modifications to better support special education transportation and athletic bus staging. 

Safety remains the primary focus of the project. Early findings show that the street closure has reduced potential conflicts between vehicles and students, with no adverse safety impacts identified in surrounding areas. Additional improvements are planned as part of a long-term street improvement plan. 

Students are also part of the effort. The school will continue to reinforce expectations around being respectful to neighbors through assemblies, daily announcements, and school media, with reminders about safe driving, appropriate parking, and keeping the neighborhood clean. 

Traffic Study Notice 

As part of the ongoing evaluation of the 7th Street closure pilot near Puyallup High School, temporary traffic study cameras will be placed in the area to observe vehicle and pedestrian movement patterns.  

These cameras are not Flock cameras and do not collect license plate information, personal information, or identify data. Additionally, on September 4, Puyallup Police Department and district staff will be photographing traffic patterns in addition to the study cameras. All images are being used solely to document how traffic and pedestrian circulation function following the street closure and support the traffic study being presented to the Puyallup City Council on September 15.  
 
For more information about the 7th Street NW closure pilot and the September 15 City Council presentation, visit: https://www.puyallupwa.gov/827/Agendas-Minutes-and-Videos. 

How to Attend 

Community members who are interested in learning more or sharing input are encouraged to attend the upcoming Puyallup City Council meeting where this project will be presented. 

This City Council meeting will be held in person at the Council Chambers on the 5th floor of City Hall, 333 S. Meridian.  
September 15, 2026, 6:30 PM 
To watch the City Council meetings - click for YouTube. 
Comments can be submitted by email at  https://www.puyallupwa.gov/827/Agendas-Minutes-and-Videos  

Residents may attend in person or watch online, depending on the meeting format.