News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sisters citizens will soon begin planning how to deal with the city's traffic through a state-mandated Transportation System Plan (TSP).
The Oregon Department of Transportation is funding the $100,000 plan to be conducted by the consulting firm of David Evans and Associates. Sisters schools, businesses, government agencies and citizenry will participate in a citizens advisory committee to help guide the plan.
The TSP will attempt to address the traffic problems created by the state highway that runs through Sisters.
"Cascade (Avenue) is not only part of a larger state-designated freight route linking the mid-Willamette Valley and Central Oregon," the ODOT contract with David Evans and Associates reads. "Cascade is also the city's main commercial street. During summer and special events, the conflicts between pedestrians and vehicles can become quite severe...
"Balancing the safe and timely operation of the highway while continuing to accommodate pedestrian and other local traffic movements will be a major component of the TSP," the contract states.
The plan will address traffic control options such as alternative routes, a couplet and traffic signals.
ODOT planner Peter Russell has indicated that a traffic signal at Locust Street and Cascade Avenue is the likely means to deal with the traffic impacts of the Barclay Meadows Business Park along Camp Polk Road and possible industrial uses of the school district's Lundgren Mill property at the end of North Pine Street.
However, city planner Neil Thompson said that the decision on a traffic signal should be part of the TSP.
"I want this to be kind of a pure process that comes to the idea of a traffic signal on its own," Thompson said.
The contract also requires that the plan "analyze the strengths and weaknesses (traffic circulation, land use issues, cost, cost-effectiveness, timeliness, economic impacts, livability, etc.) of a bypass around the city." The plan is also to "perform a similar analysis for a couplet system and for a complete grid system of local streets."
The TSP will also address modes of transportation other than automobiles, including bicycles, pedestrian and air.
According to Thompson, the citizen's advisory committee will consist of a city councilor; a planning commission member; a school district representative; a chamber of commerce representative; a member of the Community Action Team of Sisters; a Forest Service representative; someone from Sisters Airport; a private sector employer; a Deschutes County representative; and three "citizens-at-large."
Meetings will begin Wednesday, November 17, at 5:30 p.m. The committee will probably meet monthly, Thompson said. There will also be two public meetings and three public hearings on the plan before it is adopted.
Those interested in participating in the citizens advisory commitee may contact Thompson at 549-6022, extension 4.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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