What the public thinks of Franklin Boulevard today

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.

There needs to be a better bike friendly transition from Walnut St. To Springfield

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.

Franklin is not a complete street. It lacks facilities for bicycling and dedicates too much space to travel lanes for automobiles.

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.

Add protected bike lanes! Like on 13th!!

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.

Weird division of the street between Franklin and the other street which makes it hard to bike from one side to the other.

It feels like a barrier within Eugene, there is one side of Franklin and then the other. I would never live on the river side of Franklin for uncomfortability being close to Franklin. It feels like bikers are an afterthought, and I find myself navigating unsafe conditions anytime I try to bike over there. (I will say the one spot that feels good to bike is biking on Agate and passing through Franklin over to the river). I dont know how to get involved.

Pedestrian crossing at intersection is unpleasant. Crossing on bike has confusing and dangerous right of way

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!

I wish Franklin had easier access from the university to the river, as well as no access to strip malls (like the market of choice) straight from the road by cars, it is super scary to walk or bike on.

i feel as though they should make the street more walkable and less congested. i feel as though walking and biking is better for the environment and we should have a better opportunity to experience that.

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.

I want to support the change of Franklin boulevard to be more pedestrian and bike friendly and accessible to people with disabilities in any way I can.

The current overall safety in my opinion is fairly low. Bike accessibility is very poor. There is a bike lane on the south side of the street that starts at E 13th and Franklin Blvd, and extends to Walnut St. I have used this bike before, but always seem to end up riding on the sidewalk when possible because of how unsafe I feel with cars speeding past me at well over 35 mph. I would like to also note that I do not see many cyclists on Franklin Boulevard at all, due to its poor street design and narrow bike lanes. All of my friends who walk and bike to school from 2125 Franklin Blvd (Walnut St and Franklin Blvd) cross over Franklin and continue walking towards E 15 ave instead of walking down Franklin. Another problem is that the sidewalks are very bare and narrow and close to the road. Any small movement from a car on Franklin Blvd could be deadly to a pedestrian.

While my route to campus only takes me about 10-15 minutes, I have personally encountered several close calls of nearly being hit by cars and seen others nearly injured on foot or bike on countless occasions. For pedestrians, having to cross Franklin is stressful due to the high levels of traffic. While some crosswalks are in place and well used, there is a desperate need for more infrastructure to support those on foot as well as cyclists. I would suggest clearly marked bike lanes and an increased number of crosswalks, specifically across Patterson next to the 7/11 convenience store and Chula’s restaurant as this area is well-traveled at all times of the day. Eugene’s comprehensive plan and city planning committees often discuss striving to meet equity, sustainability, accessibility, and climate change goals. However, there is a serious lack of basic infrastructure to support pedestrians and cyclists, as Franklin Boulevard and surrounding streets are designed nearly solely for automobiles shown by the lack of crosswalks, bike lanes, and safety measures in place for those not in cars. With these issues that currently face pedestrians and cyclists, it is hugely unsafe for all parties as it puts pedestrians and cyclists in direct danger and causes greater obstacles for automobiles. Within the city planning class I am taking this term, we have studied several communities and explored alternative solutions and modes of transportation other than automobiles. Communities with higher rates of walking and biking have seen drastic benefits for public health, safety, community growth and placemaking, and more. Additionally, creating this sustainable infrastructure to support and encourage people to walk or bike will help minimize greenhouse gas emissions, helping the city reach its climate goals. As there is currently construction and will be even more housing available on the north side of Franklin in the near future, there will be an even greater need for visible and safe crossing paths and the addition of clearly marked bike lanes in order to create a civil, healthier, and safer space and society.

I am pro roundabouts, trees, protected bike ways and sidewalks

I think that they need to make an area for cyclist, people on scooters, and people crossing the street. Maybe even take a lane away. two lanes i think would be good enough. also take traffic lights out and put in roundabouts to make it better for cars

We need to dicincentive travel by car, and encourage walking, have a protected bike lane, and have businesses that people actually want to go to. More trees and shady, nice areas for people to walk and rest.

Guarded rails or medians for bikers. More shrubs and street art to enjoy and encourage walking and biking.