City of Bend seeks public input on Franklin Avenue Safety Project with in-person, online open houses
![Bend's Franklin Avenue underpass, looking east](https://ktvz.b-cdn.net/2024/08/Franklin-underpass-looking-east-city-of-Bend.jpg)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The city of Bend invites the community to learn more about the Franklin Avenue Safety Project at an open house on Thursday, Aug. 22, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Newberry Hotel, Mt. Bachelor Event Room, 300 NW Franklin Avenue in Bend.
The online open house is available at bendoregon.gov/midtowncrossings from Thursday, Aug. 22 through Thursday, Sept. 5.
The Franklin Avenue Safety Project aims to improve access for walking, biking, and rolling on Franklin Avenue between Harriman Street and Fifth Street. There will be an opportunity for community members to share your input on the project.
Project designers and City staff will be available to provide information, answer questions and listen to feedback.
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 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 (just completed) and long-term planning
- Franklin Avenue: Corridor and undercrossing improvements
- Second Street: Streetscape and stormwater improvements
- Hawthorne Overcrossing: Preliminary design for a new pedestrian and bicycle bridge
The August open house is focused on Franklin Avenue. Learn more at bendoregon.gov/midtowncrossings.