City of Bend unveils chosen design for Franklin Avenue, kicks off online open house to gather public feedback

(Update: Adding video)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The city of Bend is inviting the community to an informational, online open house at bendoregon.gov/midtowncrossings, available now through Jan. 7, to view the selected design for Franklin Avenue between Harriman and Fifth streets, including intersection, bike lane and undercrossing improvements.

This online open house provides the last public review before the city’s project team finalizes the designs and initiates construction next year.

In August, the City of Bend collected community input on how to make walking, biking and rolling safer and more comfortable along Franklin Avenue between Harriman and Fifth streets.

Considering the community input and other factors such as maintenance, safety and emergency service needs, the city is moving forward with a preferred design, which it says will add more separation between lanes of travel and includes new landscaping areas in the public right of way.

Improving the transportation system by focusing on safety is a City Council goal. Creating safer connections between neighborhoods, places of work, schools, parks and businesses, for people who ride bikes, walk or roll is a city priority.

The city says it is designing a variety of safer and more accessible bike and pedestrian routes throughout the community, including the Midtown Crossings project, aimed at linking the Central District to Downtown Bend.

The Midtown Crossings Project includes improvements to four key connectors in the area for people who ride bikes, walk and roll:

• Greenwood Avenue: Corridor and undercrossing quick-build improvements and long-term planning.
• Franklin Avenue: Corridor and under-crossing improvements.
• Second Street: Streetscape improvements, stormwater, and water lines.
• Hawthorne Overcrossing: Preliminary design for a new pedestrian and bicycle bridge.

The December open house is focused on the final design of Franklin Avenue. Learn more at bendoregon.gov/midtowncrossings.