What the public thinks of Franklin Boulevard today
BEST asked: How safe, practical, and attractive is Franklin Boulevard adjacent to the University of Oregon for everyone today?
Here is what they wrote. The comments have been categorized by some topics that were frequently raised.
congestion
Franklin is currently one of the most unfriendly & unsafe streets in Eugene in terms of pedestrian, biking or using businesses. And this is an area where there is a significant number of students walking and biking. I currently choose not to utilize businesses in this area because of the noise & lack of accessibility. Improvements would increase my interest in utilizing businesses in this part of town. Additionally it is important that access by pedestrians & alternative forms of transportation be improved, that the speed of traffic be reduced, access to transportation systems be improved upon. I believe the both the public process around re-development on Franklin and the recommendations/ outcomes are good ones. I’m also concerned that delays will result in the loss of federal funding.
Franklin Boulevard is a little unsafe for pedestrian walking or skating. I feel like there needs to be more of a buffer between the road and the sidewalk and have a designated bike lane going both ways like 13th street.
lazy firsties whould walk more
Speed and feeder streets make for a very unsafe experience for all. Drivers have become very aggressive and inpatient. The city has many car only thoroughfares.
There needs to be a better bike friendly transition from Walnut St. To Springfield
The current conditions are inadequate. If people would like the city to not do the roundabouts, then we need to be discussing what changes will happen. The status quo doesn’t serve anyone well.
The few times I’ve walked along this road, rather than take the bus and leave the area as soon as I could, it’s been anxiety-inducing. The cars travel at high speeds, small sidewalks place you right next to traffic, and frequent driveway cuts constantly direct automobiles over the top of what little pedestrian space there is. I feel perpetually on guard, and for good reason. As a result, the area is highly unpleasant, something not helped by excessive parking lots that break up pedestrian access to the buildings. Waiting for the bus next to all the noise and pollution is somewhat less unpleasant from the station, though being sandwiched in a median between 4-6 lanes of high speed traffic for sometimes as much as 15 minutes does little for my sanity. I would never bike here. We desperately need to change the area to accommodate people, rather than cars. I just heard of this project, and I want to do everything I can to see it through to the end.
Planned changes will enhance safety and comfort for all travelers.
Franklin is not a complete street. It lacks facilities for bicycling and dedicates too much space to travel lanes for automobiles.
I have had good experiences with roundabouts, I think they work to move traffic safely.
The bike lanes and sidewalks are very poor setup for mobility other than cars. This major street has potential to to be vital for multi-transit uses. I love the improvements to bus lines and stops, and me and my fellow students use it a ton because of these investments. Many times i have avoided biking back to campus on Franklin because it makes me feel unsafe.
Blood Alley
Add protected bike lanes! Like on 13th!!
The tall buildings are so ugly, too close to the sidewalk, block out the sun — eyesores — awful. Please stop green lighting absolutely horrendous, ugly, boring architecture. What used to make Eugene cute and appealing is dying. Please consider community revitalization!!!
Inconsistent / uneven lay-out: safety and bike lanes vary depending on location, and even the width of traffic lanes appears to change. Mixing bike/pedestrian crossings with an unregulated (no stoplights) traffic circle is dangerous.
Franklin Blvd needs to be redesigned! It is extremely dangerous for people walking and biking. It is also very unpleasant to be there outside of car — increased pleasantness would benefit the business greatly.
Drivers can go very fast and there isn’t always close walkways or paths for bikers, depending on which part of Franklin. I’ve been hit trying to cross the road on Franklin in 2009.
Too fast, narrow and winding.
too busy for pedestrians – a pleasant urban street would be awesome
Weird division of the street between Franklin and the other street which makes it hard to bike from one side to the other.
I feel like Franklin (specifically by the UO campus) primarily has problems with pedestrian traffic. Cars will run red lights at the Agate intersection even after the crosswalk light has turned on, or cars will turn onto Franklin without paying attention to pedestrians crossing the street. In contrast, I also see a lot of pedestrians jay-walking when there are cars or even busses coming. I think the timing of the lights on Franklin is generally very fair; it’s just that not everyone seems to care about them. Perhaps better signage would help? Or the presence of campus police with the intent to give tickets to those who do not adhere to lights.
Franklin boulevard does not feel safe crossing as a pedestrian, the width of the street combined with the time allotted for crossing and cars waiting to turn through cross walks. The road is very load, when waiting to cross the street having a conversation is difficult. Cars travel too fast and run the red light at Onyx frequently. Traveling west on franklin as a biker or pedestrian is challenging because the sidewalk width narrows at several locations which doesn’t accommodate both modes of transit.
Currently, Franklin Boulevard is build for cars and buses with pedestrians on foot, wheels, and mobility aids being an afterthought. Additionally, there is not great lighting on many stretches of side walk, which make it especially unsafe at night. Given the prevalence of nighttime walkers on/near college campuses, and the high incidence of those people being under the influence of substances, I think well-lit walkways are of paramount importance!
It’s an ugly welcome to the city/university district. vehicles drive way too fast despite there being pedestrians nearby/crossing it all the time. drivers treat it is an extension of the freeway and/or simply as a thoroughfare to get past as quickly as possible. it’s not a pleasant experience for those who are not in a vehicle…. and even when driving, it’s hard because of the confusing signage, awkward intersections and chaos of UO campus being on both sides of the roadway.