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.
crossing Franklin at Onyx Bridge and – to a less extent – Agate is plainly dangerous. I worry that the planned round-abouts will continue to be dangerous for pedestrians crossing Franklin at these locations.
Better to find alternative bike routes than to make Franklin bike safe.
I think Franklin boulevard has issues regarding accessibility for disabilities and other non car related ways of travel.
Traffic circles will make things much worse for all people!
We shop almost exclusively at Market of Choice and Hiron’s Pharmacy. PLEASE do not make it inconvenient to get access to these two entities.
Interested in what is planned. I drive Uber/Lyft
The intersection at Villard is a challenge esp. when Matt Knight has events.
Improvements to provide better bike and walking use AND that allow at least as good access to Hirons and Market of Choice as there is now would be good. The tentative plan I have seen will destroy both of those vital businesses because of reduced ways to access them. The entire East Eugene neighborhood will be poorer and have to travel much further for services and sales now provided by those two businesses.
Leave it alone! It works fine just the way it is, and the plans I have seen for changing it do NOT make sense. I believe the proposed changes will cause MORE congestion, not less – especially on days when there are special events at Matthew Knight Arena, Hayward Field, the University (i.e., Move In Day)… even home football games. (And there are, at my count, almost 90 such days a year – one in four!) A total waste of millions of dollars!
The crosswalk with the red light that changes to a blinking red light by Broadway and Franklin is not safe. I see people try to cross without the light, I see one lane stop and the other not stop. People, often students whip down from Ferry St. bridge and drive to fast or try to merge around that light. Now with the new apartments there will be more congestion without parking. I try to avoid that area at all costs. Clearly the apartment buildings success is the main priority and not safe travel along Franklin.
Looking forward to a transformed Franklin that is safer and more attractive.
Improvements are vitally needed
Don’t add so many traffic circles
I think Franklin Blvd. is currently in good condition and is a safe travel route with almost zero traffic congestion. I can think of MUCH better used for public works/transportation funds than revamping Franklin Blvd.
Franklin Blvd is very busy and often I’ve seen drivers run red lights when pedestrians are crossing the street. There are potholes in the crosswalk which makes it very dangerous for pedestrians, especially folks with any type of physical disability. The crosswalk time isn’t long enough for anyone with a disability or alter-ability to cross in a timely way.
I avoid this area because it is hostile to me.
Synchronize the traffic lights. The light at Agate interferes with the flow of traffic.Too many drivers speed to “make the light” Scares / harms pedestrians, bike riders, other non-drivers.
tripichick
From attending 5 city open houses and neighborhood presentations I have questioned and learned a lot about the Franklin Boulevard Project. It is excellent. Finally, Franklin Blvd will be safe to cross, bikeable and walkable. EmX service will vastly improve. Students and seniors will be much safer and better able to navigate the neighborhood.
We consistently dislike the merging from I-5 coming westbound onto Franklin, with low visibility merging & then getting over for the left turn at MoC to go south toward our house. And the Franklin – Agate intersection timing is great for pedestrians, not so great for cars, etc.
I trust the city to implement an appropriate solution and support the new design including roundabouts.
Please don’t Change it.
This space feels like it’s been forgotten, and is waiting for someone, anyone to come up with a plan. It feels now like there’s NO PLAN. Pedestrian centered plans will CHANGE how people use the space, especially UO students and faculty/staff.
Franklin Boulevard is very dangerous to pedestrians and cyclists. The sight lines from turning lanes, the speed of traffic, the number of lanes, the fact that people tend to drive well over the speed limit regularly, the confusing nature of the turning lanes onto side streets… I can’t even list all the ways is currently unsafe to those who are not inside a vehicle. Even though I have never been hit while walking, it has come very close a number of times and that is also traumatizing. I would never consider riding a bike or or other mobility device on Franklin because that is a death wish. I think the city’s plans are good, and that roundabouts are not as scary as people think they are!
Some of the turning lanes on Franklin are confusing, even as someone who is familiar with the area. I accidentally turned into the wrong lane from Franklin onto Villard the other day (luckily other drivers saw me error and gave me room to correct it!) I don’t love having to turn left/make U turns to access business on either side. I appreciate that the EMX runs along Franklin, when I have taken it before (I did moreso in the past when I lived near a place that was on the route) I found it convenient for accessing the UO and Downtown. As a pedestrian, Franklin just feels exhausting to me–loud and full of traffic and I feel like I have to be extra vigilant at crosswalks because of all the different turn lanes/vehicles/etc.