City of Bend plans Oct. 21 open house on NE Neff Road pedestrian, bicycle safety improvements project

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The City of Bend is inviting the community to an open house for the NE Neff Road Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements project, less than a year after a major reconstruction of the corridor was completed.

You're invited to come meet the project team and share what you care about in terms of safety before the project design begins.

• Where: Deschutes Children’s Foundation, East Bend Campus, 2125 NE Daggett Lane.
• When: Monday, Oct. 21, 4 to 6 p.m.
• Website link with more information: bendoregon.gov/neffpedbike

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

The City is designing safer and more accessible bike and pedestrian routes throughout the community – including the Neff Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements Project, aimed at improving east/west connectivity in a vital area of Bend.

This project combines three Transportation System Plan ‘key routes’ projects along NE Neff Road and NE Norton Avenue. A ‘key route’ means that the route is designed to be low stress (easier and safer) for pedestrians and bicycles to provide connections to schools, parks, and cross-town travel.

The Neff Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements Project is funded by the voter-approved 2020 Transportation GO Bond, and officials said the project budget is limited. Your input at the Open House will help prioritize the improvements and make travel along the corridor safer for all users.