City launches couplet plan to ease congestion

Plans for a couplet in Sisters are underway.

The City of Sisters is starting to prepare a Couplet Refinement Plan to address existing and expected future traffic congestion on Cascade Avenue.

Traffic congestion is projected to continue to worsen during the next 20 years as population and traffic continue to grow both locally and throughout the state, according to City Planning Director Neil Thompson.

The city is proposing a couplet using Hood and Main Avenues.

"The couplet is intended to act as a relief valve, providing alternatives to Cascade Avenue for travelers during peak traffic periods," Thompson said. "At other times, people will be encouraged through signage and other means to continue to use Cascade Avenue and take advantage of the many shopping and other opportunities available here.

"The goal of the project is to address ongoing and future traffic congestion without compromising our livability and economy."

A Couplet Advisory Committee will meet at City Hall on Monday, November 10, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The committee will guide the creation of the plan. Its members include representatives of the City of Sisters; Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT); Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce; Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District; Sisters School District; Sisters Ranger District; Deschutes County Library District; other local citizens and business owners.

Local citizens will be encouraged to review and comment on development of the plan during two public workshops, according to Thompson.

Thompson reported that the refinement plan has several specific goals:

• Preserve the city's livability, small-town character and economy while accommodating increased local and through traffic.

• Determine how the couplet connects to the two-way traffic on Cascade Avenue and other design aspects.

• Consider environmental concerns, impacts on businesses, traffic engineering and highway mobility standards.

• Meet the goals of the city's Comprehensive Plan, Transportation System Plan, Urban Renewal Plan, Oregon Highway Plan and Transportation Planning Rule.

• Maintain interconnectivity within the local street grid.

• The resulting plan is expected to be ready to design and be included for future funding in the 2006-2009 State Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP).

The consulting firms of Cogan Owens Cogan, LLC (COC), CTS Engineering (CTS) and Robert Yakas Design will assist the city with the project.

For more information about the project, contact Eileen Stein or Neil Thompson, City of Sisters, 541-549-6022; [email protected] ci.sisters.or.us or [email protected]