ODOT holds Open House for Madras community to learn about safety & transportation improvements to US 97
MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) -- ODOT is working to make US Highway 97 safer for all travelers, and has been studying the cause of crashes.
The Highway 97 stretch north of Redmond is one of the most dangerous corridors in Oregon.
The focus is improvements from the High Bridge to Madras in Jefferson County.
US 97 is an important route serving both regional and local traffic, and many feel it is in need of safety improvements.
Madras resident Mike Price says they’re not seeing enough action.
“Over the last maybe 15, 20 years, we have more meetings, we have more studies, we spend way more money talking about problems than actually solving any. There's some simple solutions that really don't cost that much, giving massive tickets for people that overspeed.”
But ODOT’s Kenneth Shonkwiler believes getting law enforcement involved isn’t as simple as one might think.
“When we do a safety study, we not only work with law enforcement, so that both the Oregon State Police and Jefferson County Sheriff are on our advisory committee. We also work with fire and EMS, and so by working with all of the agencies in the group, there's a consistent theme of a lack of funding for either patrolling or lack of equipment for response times.”
Because of the lack of funding from law enforcement, Shonkwiler says, ODOT relies on non-engineering recommendations.
From this Open House, they learned of a number of concerns, like getting onto the highway.
Madras resident, Patty Lieuallen said, “We also have places where you’re trying to turn off the highway when it's only two lanes and the person turning off slows down. The people that are behind them don't necessarily slow. We've had a number of deaths occur because somebody has rear-ended a vehicle and killed the people in the vehicle ahead of them.”
Traffic safety can be a complex issue. Citizens here have been asked to write their safety and traffic concerns down on index cards, which are taken in and reviewed by ODOT.
At the end of this process, ODOT will select the preferred projects for US 97, pursue adoption with the Oregon Transportation Commission, and work to fund improvements.
