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.
Better bike pathways, easier for cars to see signage
More trees, slower traffic, a small trolly bus (not a tram) for visitors and students. It would be a magnet to get people away from their cars. Give it a cute name, like “Rolli” or “Dolly”.
A few of my neighbors are adamantly against the plan. I am not. I think it looks wonderful. The Walnut intersection is not safe for bicyclists. To go straight across Franklin at Walnut, 1/3 go to the left lane (marked for going straight), 1/3 go to the right turn only and 1/3 only feel safe by going onto the sidewalk and using the crosswalk. It is a very poor design and it is surprising that more people aren’t hurt there.
This is the first impression that the UO and the city gives to anyone first coming into town and it is not a good one. In fact, it is very unattractive. The lack of trees, the overly wide roads with multiple lanes of traffic encourages fast driving…the city can do better. I worry about students the safety of students who have to cross this street regularly.
I am excited to see Franklin Blvd transform into a safe multi-modal corridor!
Safer bike lanes would be wonderful. A pedestrian bridge from the UO riverfront to the main campus could benefit a lot of pedestrians.
Where will all the traffic go? How to make pedestrians safe with hiway traffic? Roundabouts must have stops or they are dangerous for pedestrians. Current traffic lights seem best for pedestrians.
Franklin is terrible for cyclists & pedestrians. Probably terrible for anything other than an automobile. The intersection of Franklin & Villard is truly dangerous. I cannot believe the city & state signed off on that intersection after Knight Arena was built.
I wouldn’t currently bike in the Franklin Boulevard area, except maybe to cross it, although I’d like to. I’d never choose to walk there. Driving there is easy and feels safer, which is why I do it.
I support the installation of roundabouts
Congested, easy to get in wrong lane. I avoid if possible.
Primary safety concern today is merging from I-5 north bound exit onto Franklin, especially if needing to get into the left turn lane.
The UO campus and downtown Eugene are pedestrian friendly, human-scaled environments. Franklin should emulate this. Less traffic lanes, protected bike lanes, more trees.
The biggest issue with Franklin Boulevard today is the lack of safe pedestrian crossings. Pedestrians are often lulled into a sense of safety, due to the bus route buffer that runs down the middle, or pedestrians are desperate, since the signalized crossings are few and far between. Having roundabouts instead of intersections (and more of them) will help pedestrians feel less impatient and be more willing to wait to cross.
I ride my bike to work almost daily in the spring, summer, and fall. I almost always move my bike up onto the sidewalk when I am crossing Franklin Boulevard, because I am concerned about being hit by the cars that are coming from behind me or turning right. I also use a great deal of caution when I am returning from work, crossing Franklin Boulevard again. I am always concerned that a driver will not see me and could hit me. As a pedestrian, I also frequently cross Franklin Boulevard. I also worry about my safety as I cross because of the fast-moving cars. I have not been hit here, but I am very cautious because I have been hit by a car and hospitalized in the past. In the winter, I now drive to work, because now that I am older, I do not wish to ride back-and-forth on my bicycle when it is dark. I have been so impressed by the change in Glenwood Franklin Boulevard. I was delighted to learn that there might be a similar traffic circle in Eugene on the Franklin Boulevard near my house. I think this would be more beautiful and would be safer, both when I ride my bicycle, and when I walk. I am disappointed by my neighbors’s strong opposition to this plan. Unfortunately, I have been unable to attend the meetings. I did respond in an email to my neighbors about my support of the plan. I also watched the strong opposition to the changes on Willamette Street in the last couple of years, and how this opposition melted after the changes were made. The changes make Willamette Street so much better. I am thinking that this might happen with the Fairmount neighborhood opposition.
Intersection of Franklin and Villard is a problem especially during activities at Matt court. As well walk signal by the apartments can be a problem.
Move forward with the proposed changes – it will make it safer fro all involved as well as making it a more welcoming and business/university friendly welcoming from the 1-5 to our downtown core in Eugene
not sure about the round about idea
As primarily a driver, I find it frustrating that most of Franklin Blvd does not accommodate left turns. Looking forward to roundabouts and the ability to access businesses on the other side of the corridor from the side I’m driving on.
Well, it works, though it’s pretty ugly and not all that safe.
Designated turn signals needed at Walnut NOT a roundabout. Drainage issues westbound in particular -approximately Orchard to Riverfront Pkwy and near 959 building and eastbound near Agate
It is a major thoroughfare, so i realize it cannot be all things to all styles of transport — but take Foster-Powell as an example (in PDX) as a way to make it holistically designed.
the intersection near Dutch Bros. is unsafe for all types of transportation methods – have seen reports from students, UOPD, etc. about vehicle vs. pedestrian accidents, some resulting in major medical issues. If there is a place to prioritize or start it would be this intersection and almost all of Patterson and Hilyard Streets for pedestrians to cross.
Pedestrian safety
I bike across Franklin everyday and consistently see people speed and run red lights. There needs to be better pedestrian and bike crossings and overall accommodation for car alternative transportation. Also it is the Main Street of Fairmount and should aesthetically reflect the neighborhood identity.