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.
ADA access very important!
It is not the students despite what the article said. Drivers (of all ages) frequently run the red lights especially at Franklin and Villiard near the arena. The intersection is poorly designed and very long. So many crashes and near misses.
Franklin Blvd is congested and road surface is poor, I think round about would be a good option as well as resurfacing.
Round-abouts would be very detrimental to smoothing out traffic. They make access points for businesses more challenging and foster agitated motorists.
Poor planned area for businesses
Intersection Walnut/Franklin dangerous for drivers if turning left from either north or south. Safety relies on trust and eye contact between drivers. Kids crossing street at same intersection often oblivious to drivers waiting to turn.
Honestly, it’s not bad for the volume of people/cars that move through the area. From a safety standpoint, pedestrian awareness is the greatest challenge in my opinion. I personally almost hit several pedestrians who simply disobeyed all traffic guidance. That planning cannot fix.
Bikes/scooters should NOT be on the same travel path (bike lane) as vehicle traffic.
I deliver the mail for USPS most days at the UO and the 959 Franklin apartment complex. To deliver to 959 Franklin, I must walk from an auxiliary parking lot a few hundred feet north of 959. The short walk south along that sidewalk is genuinely terrifying each day. Overgrown bushes block half the sidewalk, so i am forced to walk right next to the curb, as cars fly past me at 50+ mph literally 18-24 inches away. Zero barrier or space separating me from instant death if one of those cars hopped the curb. The ground is uneven and I am usually pushing a handcart stacked high with packages. All it would take is one misstep, a slip or slight fall to my right, and I could be dead. I call it “the scariest part of my day”.
Please keep the trees and grow them, keep Eugene a tree city and a bee city.
I lived in the immediate area for years and never felt safe crossing streets on foot or biking, especially into downtown, no easy access and traffic is treacherous.
Its important to me to be able to use Franklin as my primary access to downtown. I would hate to see driving made more time consuming and static then it is.
I see Franklin Blvd mainly from an EMX bus, and it mostly looks pretty bleak.
With the continued growth of off campus housing occurring we have the opportunity to really create safe and accessible routes through town. Let’s use this opportunity to really grow our town in a safe way that promotes multiple forms of transportation.
The road needs to be re-paved. Too many potholes. I find walking on Franklin easy and safe. Driving and parking in the area is also easy. The EmX is easily accessible and frequent. I don’t believe roundabouts will help anything. They would make travel worse by changing the flow of traffic. I see students and staff commute along Franklin daily with no complaints or issues.
I would like to see more safety. As a college age woman, I find myself scared and sometimes in uncomfortable situations at the bus stop at walnut station on Franklin Blvd at night. I also find myself scared walking down Franklin Blvd by myself at night from dad’s gate station area to walnut station area.
I know you are trying to make safe but it is still a major road through town and traffic is already crazy especially when students back or sporting events. Cutting down on car lanes seems like it will make traffic worse.
No roundabouts!!! They will make it worse for everyone. Impose a lower speed limit, make safer bike lanes, install actual traffic lights at crosswalks instead of the flashing red light, but no roundabouts!!!
It is very wide and difficult to cross on foot currently
Speeding is the biggest issue. Making if more friendly for walking, biking, etc for students would be beneficial . Maybe more sky crossings for pedestrians… wider bike lanes. I think the bus lane is good.
I enjoy driving past the university and the landscape there.
Too many stop lights and odd intersections. Sidewalks could be wider for pedestrians as well as more prominent pedestrian crossings. There are many “turn lanes” that seem to not be ready correctly as I have witnessed many “almost collisions” between city buses and cars, or cars and pedestrians.
I have always felt that Franklin needs to be updated and improved. The signage is confusing, the speed of traffic dangerous and the walking ability questionable.
Too many people walking or biking crossing the street wherever they want to. The EMX makes things worse
Needs things to bring people there. Needs shade, slower traffic. dicey turn at Patterson and Franklin.