What the public thinks of Franklin Boulevard today

So help me if ANY more traffic circles are put up ANYWHERE I will no longer go to that part of town for ANY REASON…. I would not patronize any business, I would change doctors offices, I would stop supporting Fire & Police services in those areas…. THANK GOD I do not live in Eugene… but due to many of the street changes ( EMX, changes to traffic flow, etc.) I am doing MUCH more of my personal needs services (Physicians, Grocery shopping, Health care, goods & services, etc) in Junction city, Veneta, and Springfield, because getting areound Eugene in ANY form (Walking, biking, scooter, motorcyle, or car) is just too much of a pain in the butt to deal with anymore…. OH by the way, I’m 61 years old and have watched Eugene descend into a disaster for travel… and for all that is holy…. QUIT screwing around with LTD… it has been a disaster since the “Eugene City Bus” system was ended, and has only gotten worse since then….

I think that roundabouts in high traffic areas that include buses, pedestrians, bike riders, scooters, skateboards, etc. would be incredibly hazardous. I like the idea of slower speeds for autos is a great idea.

I do anything to avoid this roadway, but I live in Fairmount so I have to interact with it. It’s not well planned – just cobbled together with lots of lane changes required for drivers, dysfunctional intersections, too many lanes of traffic, traffic is too fast. I like to walk or bike from Fairmount neighborhood to the river and just despise the Franklin crossings as a pedestrian or biker. Even with the stop lights, I’m very wary because there are generally over six lanes of traffic traveling very fast and you only need one of those lanes to have an inattentive driver. There are a couple places closer to town with two roads coming together in a Y shape that are obvious retrofits and dangerous. It’s also ugly and uninviting. No wonder so many restaurants on Franklin fail. It’s just the worst road in Eugene and realistically needs a complete overhaul.

There’s no bike lanes! Moving from one side of the road to the other is scary and unsafe! The sidewalks are too narrow to safely have a cyclist pass a walker! The cars parked on the side of the road block the view of cars driving of pedestrians! The parked cars block the view of pedestrians and cyclists who will want to cross crosswalks! The businesses along the road are difficult and unenjoyable to access! There’s a sign outside the 959 thats pointed at the sidewalk and says something to the effect of ‘Pedestrians – watch for cars exiting the parking lot’. Which is BullShit. I have a right to be on that damn sidewalk. It’s the CARS that need to watch for ME. Franklin is a road made by carbrains, for carbrains. In the year of our lord 2023, surely the city of Eugene, acclaimed as a bike and pedestrian accessible city, can do better. As far as on engagement, I’m not entirely sure how? Where is this being discussed?

Market of Choice and Hirons worry about cars. But if people can drive easily they can drive to competitors. If walking and biking are better, and driving less convenient, we will shop MORE local and not drive to Costco as often or at all.

I would never walk or bike on Franklin- dangerous and unpleasant. I avoid it for driving (even though we live right off it) as the traffic and signalization make it a pain.

I support the goals of both Vision Zero and CFEC. I have no opinion about traffic circles nor the locations of turns off of Franklin. I am most concerned with creating a safe and attractive thoroughfare with clear delineations between cars and non-motorized user paths as well as trees for much-needed shade.

Cars often speed or do not wait for pedestrians to cross villard. Often times cars speed way too close to sidewalks and do not respect busses or people walking.

The public engagement process has felt like box checking and is myopic in not extending further to the west. While I’m a fan of roundabouts, I’m not sure it is the most effective solution at each of the intersections as proposed to enable safe and efficient movement north-south, particularly given the large volume of pedestrians.

It’s ugly. Signage is poor, especially traveling west regarding left turns. It’s pedestrian unfriendly.

I feel Franklin Blvd functions perfectly fine. There are multiple lanes which keeps congestion down. Plenty of pedestrian paths and safe crossing locations. Bus island for those who commute by bus to safely and efficiently travel. My engagement with planned changes for Franklin has been that I attended a city event where I learned about the proposed design changes that are coming. I must say, whoever designed this doesn’t spend much time in the area. The amount of round-a-bouts is asinine. The round-a-bout that is furthest east is completely unnecessary. I believe this design is only going to create a less safe, more congested Franklin Blvd.. ESPECIALLY during events at Matt Knight Arena. I genuinely believe the City needs to revisit the design of Franklin because what is proposed is bad for the area and is going to be loathed by residents of the city.

Franklin is unsafe for bicycles and scooters. Bus access is good, but the pedestrian access doesn’t feel safe or enjoyable. The sidewalks must be awful for people with wheelchairs or other devices. Franklin is also very unattractive, and is one of the first roads that some visitors see. This stroad is poorly designed and doesn’t serve our community.

What a mess! Given how close it is to the University and the amount of student housing that is on the north side of Franklin, as well as the lack of parking at the University and the Matt Knight forcing people to park across Franklin and then play “Frogger” to walk where they are going, it is surprising there aren’t more car-on-human deaths along it. Getting across on a bike to the River Path is also challenging and dangerous. Finally, if you are driving westbound, you will be doing at least 50 mph before going onto Franklin by Walnut, and there is no engineering to change people’s mindsets to the new speed environment – so they try to go 45 or more through to Agate. It would be great if there were a separated bike lane that went at least from 11th to Augusta. It shouldn’t be like the current 13th St bikeway – it needs to actually be a useful and pleasant way for bicyclists and scooterpeople to get through this area (no stopping at every intersection!), and it needs to allow easy and safe ways to for people to get across Franklin Street so they can access either the River Path or the University.

Congested and fast. Need to slow things down and allow for more pedestrian traffic

The pavement on the East end of Franklin Blv. has very uneven surfaces. The crossing distance is *very* long making it hard to cross the street in a timely and safe manner. There are currently few trees on the East end of the street making it very hot to walk alongside the street. Due to the width of the street many people speed while driving.

The pedestrian crosswalk near Patterson seems to be a recipe for disaster. I don’t know what can be done about it.

needs safety passages for pedestrians — who at times run across in front of traffic

Circles are not my favorite, prefer lights.. Don’t know statistics on accidents. Seems with pedestrian/ bike traffic, circles would be more dangerous and distracting for drivers with pedestrians. Also add the bus to the complexity. Not to mention the road rage we are experiencing these days in Eugene.

Drivers don’t respect the flashing red light crosswalk near Patterson. The intersection of Franklin & Agate is suuuper dangerous. I work at UO and cross this many times a week and there are always near-accidents with pedestrians. Specifically drivers who are on Riverfront Pkwy southbound, turning right onto Franklin. The pedestrians need more protected crossing. Now that UO is utilizing the Millrace garage as main parking lot for staff and visitors, it is very busy from 8-9 and 4-5. Lastly, the speed limit should be slower. Many times when walking eastbound near Wild Goat Restaurant area, cars fly down Franklin and I have been splashed with a huge waterfall from the car driving by.

I live on Sylvan and walk/ride along Franklin almost daily. The speed of vehicles as they leave eug to enter southbound i5/enter Springfield is alarming. The lack of bike lanes in both directions on Franklin is challenging for our commute. The lack of lighting near the eastern end approaching Sylvan is difficult at night. We often walk the much longer route up through Hendricks park to avoid the speeding vehicles and loud noise along Franklin between Sylvan and walnut.

The pedestrian light right before Patterson(technically I think this might be Broadway and not Franklin) is cumbersome and leads to more traffic. I agree for the need for pedestrian protection but there has to be a better way

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.