HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpringfield Main Street Misconceptions Fact Sheet Final_RevisedMAIN STREET SAFETY PROJECT |20th Street to 72nd Street
open
Clearing Up Misconceptions
About the Project
During the third round of community engagement,
we heard some misconceptions about what the
Main Street Safety Project is or is not. We want to
clear up those misconceptions.
There is a long history of planning projects on
Main Street, and the current Main Street Safety
project has evolved based on feedback and input
received throughout all of our rounds of community
engagement, recommendations from the Planning
Commission, and direction received from the
Governance Team and the City Council.
Here is what the Main Street Safety Project is not:
• It’s not just about pedestrian safety
• LTD is involved, but it is not a
Lane Transit District project
• It’s not about adding new EmX service
• It would not prevent all left turns on Main Street
• It would not need extensive new right-of-way
• It’s not a one size fits all design concept
• It would not be built all at once
Next, is more detail about each misconception.
It’s not just about pedestrian safety
• 93% of crashes on Main Street do not involve people
walking or biking.
• All crashes on Main Street result in some level of
property damage from minor to major.
However -
• Pedestrian-involved crashes are more likely to result
in a severe injury or fatality.
• About 75% of fatal crashes involve people walking.
Project Misconceptions Fact Sheet, Revised 12/2/21
LTD is involved, but it is not a
Lane Transit District project
• ODOT and Springfield are leading the Main Street
Safety Project.
• Main Street Safety Project is coordinating with Main-
McVay Transit Study (LTD/City/ODOT project) to plan
for transit elements.
• LTD is an interested party and is providing input in
order to continue providing transit service along Main
Street, now and into the future.
It’s not about adding new EmX
service to Main Street
• Main-McVay Transit Study had considered EmX, which
could have included dedicated, bus-only lanes on
Main Street.
• Main Street Governance Team formally removed EmX
from consideration in July 2019. EmX is not part of
this project.
• Enhanced Corridor transit, which would consist of
buses running along the current Route #11 and could
include upgrades at bus stops to provide a more
welcoming and safer environment for people on
foot/bike, and street improvements to provide more
reliable, consistent bus service, will integrate into the
Main Street Facility Plan.
Project contact: Molly Markarian, City of Springfield,
541.726.4611, info@ourmainstreetspringfield.org
www.mainstreetsafety.org
In Summary:
As shared through e-updates, on the website, and in presentations, based on feedback received during the third round
of community engagement, the community continues to want to address safety on Main Street, but the implementation
of infrastructure elements needs to reflect a balanced approach to improve safety and support business/economic
development on the corridor. And, that the recommended toolbox approach responds to this with simplicity, flexibility,
and phase ability.
In summary, the community has reiterated that:
• There really is a serious safety problem on corridor;
• It’s ODOT’s and the City’s duty to tackle problem;
• Our approach is sensible and responsible; and
• We do listen and we do care…and we will make adjustments in design phases.
It’s not a one size fits all
design concept
• The project would not involve the same street design
and mix of elements throughout. For example:
• 69th – 72nd Streets: consider three-lane cross-
section to help reduce speeds and serve as gateway
treatment between rural and urban areas
• 52nd Street – Bob Straub Parkway: Active
Transportation Enhanced cross-section with raised
cycle track and landscaped buffer
• Toolbox also includes flexibility to modify each street
segment during the design phase.
It would not be built all at once
• Design and construction would occur in phases over the
next 5 to 20 years, as funding becomes available.
• Phases are prioritized based on the project’s Goals and
Objectives, including addressing the highest safety
needs first.
• Phasing enables people to see and experience results in
early phases.
• Phasing also allows community members to adjust to
new street design gradually.
Project Misconceptions Fact Sheet, Revised 12/2/21
It would not prevent all left turns on
Main Street
• Main Street would have raised medians, but not
continuously throughout the corridor. There would be
gaps.
• Some intersections would have left-turn/ U-turn
pockets.
• Other intersections would have roundabouts that
allow for all turning movements.
• What’s more, raised medians would have mountable
curbs so emergency vehicles could drive over them
when needed, and there would be no medians directly
in front of fire stations.
It would not need extensive
new right-of-way
• In the short term, we would focus construction primarily
within the existing curbs.
• Along most of Main Street, the proposed future street
design would need four more feet on each side.
• Toolbox includes cross-section variations for location-
specific constraints and property impacts.
• Narrowing the street in physically constrained locations
will happen during the design phase.