Redmond plans for future transportation needs

The city of Redmond wants community input on plans that will affect virtually every person living in or passing through the area.

City officials are talking transportation, but not just driving. They’re looking at every mode and every street.

On Wednesday, Redmond and ODOT officials are hosting an open house focusing on two things: the Highway 97 South Redmond Corridor Improvement Project and the city’s Transportation System Plan.

Oregon cities are required to update TSPs every 10 years. Redmond’s was adopted in 2008.

“It’s citywide transportation. So it looks at all the roadways within town, but it’s more than that,” Cty Engineer Mike Caccavano said Tuesday. “We’ll be looking at freight, rail, as well as bicycle and pedestrian connections all throughout town.”

TSPs encompass a broad look at how people move through Redmond, and what can be done to make the experience better. Officials are looking for ideas to build on the existing infrastructure, as well as how to invest for the future. This time around, community feedback is going in a different direction than the last.

“The previous one focused a lot on motor vehicles, and we’ve gotten a lot of input on getting better bicycle and pedestrian connections, accessibility,” Caccavano said.

The city and ODOT have been discussing the Highway 97 South Redmond corridor for years. Representatives from both entities will be sharing ideas for improvements at the open house.

Proposals include signage and monuments signaling arrival to the city, improved connectivity, with potential frontage roads, a path along the canal and expanding on an already vibrant business district, making it more accessible and pedestrian-friendly.

Design concepts are being considered, but are still flexible.

“What we’re trying to do there in particular is connect people a little better so that we don’t have the conflicts that left turn motions bring and all the congestion,” said ODOT Region 4 spokesman Peter Murphy. “We want to make it aesthetically pleasing, make it commercially pleasing and have an environment that people want to go to, but be safe at the same time.”

The open house takes place from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Redmond City Hall.

You can learn more about the Redmond TSP update here and about both projects at the city’s Website here.