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.
Looking forward to a transformed Franklin that is safer and more attractive.
Could be prettier I suppose.
There is so much potential for this space to be special for the residents of Eugene and the students of the University of Oregon! Please don’t shy away from making it TRULY pedestrian centric. We need protected bike lanes, roundabouts, quality pedestrian crossings, many more trees and green spaces, etc. Thanks for doing this work!!
Franklin Boulevard is terribly hot in the summer, and hardly attractive. It’s time to invest in some quality shade trees where currently there are hardly any to be found.
I am excited about the idea to add more round-a-bouts to Franklin Blvd. I like the two round-a-bouts in Glenwood and I think they would improve traffic flow closer to campus. Making left turns off of Franklin on Villard St and Orchard street when going West Bound feel very dangerous. Particularly Orchard St – I avoid this left turn at all costs. The traffic in the Market of Choice and Hiron’s parking lot is also very uncomfortable. It is unclear if there are one ways and the visibility is poor especially when the sun is setting. I would like to see more trees on Franklin to improve the walking experience. I believe that the sidewalks and bike lanes could be made safer. I do NOT feel safe biking on Franklin, which is a real shame because there are so many PeaceHealth bike facilities in that area. The stores are so set back on Franklin making them feel inaccessible to pedestrians. This should be changed to promote more UO student foot traffic at local stores.
Franklin is currently a terrible road. It’s unpleasant, loud and dangerous. It prioritizes cars at the expense of people and even motorist suffer because of its high speeds and dangerous driving.
I wish the street was slower and had more biking/walking options as well as more trees and less concrete for a better sense of place. If these things were achieved, development of a better district could happen as opposed to just focusing on maximum care throughput.
For walkers, it is completely unpleasant to use Franklin and difficult for drivers to enter and exit local businesses.
On a bicycle I avoid it as unsafe and unpleasant. Fortunately there are alternate routes that are not too bad, and when necessary I have used sidewalk from the Moon Mountain area.
too busy for pedestrians – a pleasant urban street would be awesome
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.
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!!!
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.
It is good that Franklin Blvd has its own bus lane, as well as designated crosswalks. However, the street is still very unsafe for pedestrians and bicyclists, and for those wanting to use the bus, oftentimes it is difficult because the bus stop is in the middle of the road and sometimes the bus leaves before the crosswalk allows pedestrians to cross and reach the bus stop. I have just missed the bus many times because of this, or have had to run across the street to avoid being hit by a car in order to make the bus. I have also witnessed these things happen to others also trying to take the bus. Franklin Blvd overall has good and bad aspects, but my main concerns are that it needs to be safer for non-drivers and possibly more nature could be integrated into the street in order to beautify it and make it more eco friendly, although the main priority should be making Franklin Blvd safer.
Transforming Franklin into a walkable street will greatly alter to area for the better. If it slows car traffic, so be it. The pedestrian friendly alternative will create better, safer routes and attract more to businesses. Most people have no interest in eating outside on Franklin- it’s ugly, loud, busy, not human scaled.
It’s mostly unattractive and a little bit complex to navigate
Guarded rails or medians for bikers. More shrubs and street art to enjoy and encourage walking and biking.
It’s not attractive, especially walking. The sidewalks aren’t bad but even if it’s a short distance I prefer the bus.
Franklin Blvd is very much an eye sore. A lot of the pavement is uneven and is not the safest for bike or skateboarding. I’ve seen people run into each other because there is not enough room to skate on the sidewalk.