The project is currently in the alternatives development and screening phase. This phase of the project is described below.
What does alternatives development mean?
The alternatives development phase is a time when ideas gathered from the community, ODOT and ideas coming out of the US 97 and US 20 Refinement Plan are considered. ODOT engineers and transportation analysts study the alternatives and refine them to avoid duplicate ideas and to ensure the ideas are feasible from an engineering and traffic operations standpoint. The result is a preliminary range of alternatives, including a do nothing option (No Build Alternative) that can move into the alternatives screening phase.
What does alternatives screening mean?
During the alternatives screening phase (now to fall 2008), the preliminary range of alternatives (or transportation solutions) – including a do nothing option (No Build Alternative) – will be compared against screening criteria. The goal is to narrow down the preliminary range of alternatives to a smaller set that are the most promising solutions for the project. The smaller set of most promising alternatives, including the No Build Alternative, will undergo detailed study in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS).
This has been a busy summer for ODOT and the US 97 Bend North Corridor project team. Since the June open house, we have:
Recommended dropping West B from further study. West B can be considered an early construction phase of West A.
Worked to develop north end interchange and Empire Avenue solutions for the remaining alternatives.
Conducted a survey of businesses in the study area.
Worked toward a smaller set of alternatives for detailed study in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS).
This summer ODOT has been doing additional study and design on the three remaining alternatives – West A, Existing A, and East A – and discussing the trade-offs of these alternatives with a wide range of community groups, including businesses, emergency service providers, and neighborhoods.
Although all three alternatives are feasible, would satisfy the project’s purpose and need, and would improve traffic operations on US 97, there are key differences between them with varying degrees of community impact (70 kb). On September 10th the Citizen Advisory Committee recommended dropping Existing A and advancing West A and East A. On September 23rd, the project Steering Team of elected and appointed officials agreed with this recommendation. ODOT is doing additional study on West A as recommended by the CAC and Steering Team. The results were presented at the October 14th Steering Team meeting and at the October 22nd open house.
Why eliminate Existing A?
Existing A performs poorly in a number of important respects:
Most changes to commercial/industrial access (driveways), including the mall and Nels Anderson businesses
Traffic impacts to the Hunnell neighborhood
Extensive grade changes for US 97 and US 20 local street connections
Highest amount of traffic impact to 3rd Street south of Empire Avenue
Traffic impacts on Robal Road and O.B. Riley Road
The trade-offs of East A and West A
Both East A and West A appear to solve the traffic and safety problems on the US 97 corridor with fewer impacts to the community; however, they both have different trade-offs.
East A
West A
+
Adds no new barriers to local travel
-
Adds one new barrier to local travel
-
Highest number of business relocations
+
Fewest number of business relocations
+
Most flexible option to phase over time as funds become available
-
Very limited opportunity to phase – requires more funds up front
-
Complex interchange ramp connections in the US 97/20/Empire area
+
Most potential to handle growth on US 97 and US 20
+
Less challenging to obtain statewide planning goal exceptions
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Most challenging to obtain statewide planning goal exceptions
How does ODOT get input from the public during the alternatives development and screening phase?
ODOT has reached out and will continue to reach out to the public in a variety of ways to ensure the public has the opportunity to comment during the alternatives development and screening phase. This outreach has included open houses, a project website, postcards and newsletters, media releases, regular meetings with the project’s committees (Steering Team, Citizen Advisory Committee and Agency Coordination Committee), and a number of focus group meetings. Focus groups have included: neighborhood associations, area mobile home parks, business groups, and emergency service providers.
You can find open house summaries, focus group meeting notes and project committee meetings notes in the document library.
This is a key time to provide your comments on the alternatives being considered.
An Open House was held on October 22nd, 2008 for the public to comment on the alternatives, and to help ODOT prioritize the trade-offs of these alternatives.
In addition to any of the public involvement activities above, you may also contact ODOT directly by email or phone.
