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.
Between the increase in student Population at UofO and the increased traffic along Franklin, the conditions make it unsafe for anyone but LTD to travel along Franklin. Students seldom are aware of anything but their smart phones and often cross in front of motor vehicles. LTD drivers are seldom paying attention to other vehicle traffic and make conditions worse. Disabled people, bicycles and skateboards are often at risk as well. You might try adding pedestrian overpasses at key intersections to help with pedestrian safety.
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.
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”.
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.
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.
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!!!
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.
Needs things to bring people there. Needs shade, slower traffic. dicey turn at Patterson and Franklin.
Do not put in roundabouts. Not the solution for safer pedestrians, and will cause increased pollution from idling vehicles.
Franklin is auto-centric while other forms of transportation are secondary. Crossing Franklin can definitely be a challenge at times for pedestrians. While most of my trips down Franklin are by car and without issue, making the street into something that’s more friendly to other forms of transportation seems like a good idea.
Not nearly enough lighting making walking, biking, or any other use of the sidewalk feel very unsafe. Barely enough light to drive safely.
Roundabouts won’t make it any safer!! People will still drive unsafely & speed.
Have to be very careful when driving to be sure not to hit anyone.
Round abouts are more dangerous.
Scooter users behaviors cause dangerous conditions
Folks living in the street near Hirons Market of Choice made walking or biking in that area very dangerous plus lots of garbage. Cars drive very fast
No multi-lane roundabouts please….they are so confusing and scary to drive through. Single lane roundabouts are better, if we have to have one at all.
Constant jaywalking
With more students living north of Franklin today than there was 20 years ago, and with the Matthew Knight Arena drawing more visitors, I feel like a footbridge over Franklin Blvd would come in handy. When I walk on the sidewalk in front of Market of Choice the speeding cars are just inches away. One distracted driver hopping the curb there could be fatal to walkers. We do need a safer pedestrian corridor on Franklin. Also needed is a safer way to gain access to the river bike trail that leads to the Knickerbocker Bridge. Crossing with a bike at Villard or Orchard St is unnerving, especially with smaller kids who also like to bike. Cars start speeding up to highway speeds at about Franklin and Orchard.