The Policy Committee for our Metropolitan Planning Organization meets on Tuesday the 26th, and the agenda is full of small disappointments. It's like the unThanksgiving.
A revised description of
the reduction on the Union Street Bikeway makes more sense, but it's still a diminishment.
 |
| This makes more sense |
There's also news on a new reduction, on the Commercial-Vista Corridor projects. Flashing beacons near Triangle Drive and Waldo Ave appear to be removed. I don't think that the City has publicly or formally addressed this reduction. It's not clear if the crosswalks remain, or if they are also deleted. Almost two years ago
the Feds had issued a ruling on the flashing beacons saying they were no longer permitted. Since then they've allowed them again, and we saw them
listed in a recommendation matrix for safety countermeasures and
in fact installed at Royvonne on Commercial. So that doesn't seem to be in play. More likely is budget overruns. Still, it would be good for the City to give a public clarification, not merely bury it in a TIP adjustment.
 |
| Eliminating flashing beacons on Commercial Street |
 |
From the final recommendations - did we lose these?
(Not in the agenda packet) |
In comments last month on the letter from Governor Brown about the STS and carbon pollution, committee members leaned into autoism and EV tech utopianism, rather than into policies for "driving less."
 |
| EV Mania rather than "drive less" |
Finally, in a report on the state consortium of MPOs, OMPOC, there was a concerning note about Eugene potentially undermining HB 2001. Eugene is sometimes progressive, but often enough it works against more inclusionary zoning and housing to prop up autoist land use and transportation. They are funny about that. ODOT also appears to be using "parking problems" to undermine it. This may be something to watch.
 |
| This looks like static on HB 2001 |
 |
Look for the historic sign
next to the entry |
The
agenda and meeting packet can be downloaded here.
SKATS Policy Committee Committee meets Tuesday the 26th, at noon. SKATS is at
100 High St. SE, Suite 200, above Table Five 08 and Epilogue Kitchen.
5 comments:
There was some confusion on the changes to the Commercial Street project. Only the Waldo Avenue Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) is being removed from the project. The one on Triangle Drive will still be constructed as part of the project. I will be clarifying that today at the Policy Committee meeting. Karen Odenthal
thanks for the clarification.
(Transferring a comment from a different post)
A reader wrote yesterday:
Not sure if you've seen this already, but the contract plans for the Commercial St buffered bike lanes have been published.
https://oregonbuys.gov/bso/external/bidDetail.sdo?docId=S-KS0043-00008199&external=true&parentUrl=close
The signal setup at Commercial and Liberty seems sketchy to say the least. There is seemingly nowhere to wait to cross the street when the signal is red. A lack of protection for this queue is nerve-wracking. Also seems it might be getting split in two phases. This contract award is only from Oxford to Madrona, not Winding Way as stated in the STIP.
(And the response)
Thanks. Here's some relevant previous posts, and the 2016 one has a drawing of the signal and green crossbike. Does that correspond at all to what is in the plans?
"New Treatment Proposed for Liberty-Commercial Y Junction" (2015)
"Buffered Bike Lanes on Commercial, Other Green Lanes Lead ARTS Funding" (2016)
The problem with chemeketa street is the lack of 4 way stops on 13th, 14th, and no light/ crossing beacons on 17th.
It also terminates on 24th so doesn't provide access to Lancaster like center street does.
I would love to see a double contractor bike lanes like they have in Vancouver along center street, or at least better connectivity to Lancaster
Post a Comment