HomeMy WebLinkAboutTransportation Community Meeting Summary February 2018
Community Meeting Summary
On February 1, 2018, the Transportation Commission hosted a Community Meeting at the
Ashland Community Center. Thirty-three people signed in and divided into 6 groups to list
concerns and ideas about transportation. This is a summary of comments received during the
meeting and of written comments received.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Existing Transit Service Improvements
• Feasibility study good idea
• More frequent service
• Longer hours of service
• Workers and OSF patrons need evening service
• Weekend service
• Bus stop amenities
• Real-time arrival signs
• Transit options not obvious to newcomers
• Other amenities
• Pavement or other ADA compliant surfaces at all bus stops
• SR99 north of Ashland, near Lithia Motors and Wellsprings, particularly poor. Difficult
to access businesses, especially for people with disabilities
• Bus stops too far apart, especially for walkers or wheelchair users
• SR99 north of Ashland area in particular
• More efficient service for Valley Lift patrons; follows existing service route; takes one hour to
get to OLLI classes from nearby locations
• Give transit red-light override capability
• Affordable housing creates transportation needs
Additional Service Routes
• Residential circulator
• Include hilly areas such as those above library, downtown
• E. Main Street area needs service to provide access to
• Science Works
• Farmers Market
• City Council chambers: public meetings
• Ashland needs an electric shuttle/trolley
• Could connect downtown to remote parking
• “Off Bardway” trolley route to connect Jackson Wellsprings, the hospital, downtown,
Mountain Meadows and points south.
Transit Vehicles
• Electric shuttle/trolley
• Renewable energy vehicles
• Replace existing buses with electric buses on in-town routes
• Buses don’t have to all be large; use right size for the task
• Get rid of diesel buses, including school buses
• Consider combining school bus and city bus service
• Better regulation of bus temperatures in passenger area; currently overheated in winter and
over cooled in summer, which wastes fuel and makes passengers uncomfortable
Other Public Transportation
• Carpooling assisted by social media and/or apps
• Co-op car sharing: joint, shared ownership
• Self-drive cars
• Uber, Lyft ride services
• Handicap scooter rentals for visitors
• Encourage riding school bus instead of driving
• Encourage fleet of small electric jitneys to ferry people Butler Ford to Ashland Hills - I-5
BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
Pedestrian facilities were discussed in conjunction with transit and accessibility issues. One
group stated facilities need to be age friendly because 56.5% of Ashlanders are over 50. Groups
also noted many areas in Ashland lack Americans with Disabilities (ADA) compatible facilities.
Intersections
• Intersections dark and unsafe
• Potholes in crosswalk area create problems
• Misplaced ramps, curb cuts at crosswalks
• No marked crosswalks on N. Main
• Need more curb cuts
• Improve wheelchair ramps
• Need more audible signals
• Tolman Creek at Siskiyou Blvd: need marked crossings on north end of intersection so
visually impaired pedestrians do not have to cross 3 streets.
• Provide bike boxes
• Provide signs and education for SOU crosswalks
Railroad Crossings
• Wheelchairs, strollers get stuck in poor crossings
• Too few places to cross tracks legally, even as a pedestrian
• Provide crossing at 4th street, either pedestrians/bikes only, or also vehicles
• Oak and N. Mountain crossing
Sidewalks
• Sidewalks dangerous: uneven and broken
• Downtown
• Other areas
• Especially difficult for users of wheelchairs
• No sidewalks on Wimer: lower speed limit
• Bushes block sidewalks
• Map sidewalk gaps; repair and complete sidewalk network
• Can be very difficult for disabled person to get from car to business when facilities are lacking
• Educate bicyclists not to ride on sidewalk
• Lithia Park edges and transitions too big
In-street bike lanes
• Connect downtown from Plaza to library
• Implement downtown sharrow plan from Helman to library
• Provide bike boxes at intersections
• Improve bicycle signage and marking for bike safety
• Improve bicycle infrastructure all over City
• Safe access to plaza from southeast: bike lane across Main at Oak, then on Oak adjacent
to sidewalk
• Implement plan presented to Down Parking and Circulation Committee
Multi-use bike/ped off-road paths/trails
• Implement bike pedestrian connectivity plan
• Continue Central Bike Path past 4th Street
• Continue Bear Creek Greenway
• Be aware of Trails Master Plan
Construction Sites
• Reconstruction damages streets and creates issues for those with mobility impairments
• Obstructions and poor site control create safety issues
• Visually impaired people need tactile hazard barriers; tape does not help
• Passage thru site needs to be free of equipment, holes or other hazards
• Training needed
Lighting
• Improve street lighting for bike/ped visibility
• Especially Siskiyou Blvd from Walker to Tolman Creek, north side of street
• Inadequate crosswalk lighting at Siskiyou and Harmony
• Light Central Bike Path and Bear Creek Trail
Behavioral Issues
• Low number of bicycle commuters
• Perceived lack of bicycle safety
• Lots of bicyclists violating laws
• Safety issues for pedestrians and bicyclists
• Educate walkers and bicyclists re light/neon clothing
• Signs in school drop off zones to discourage poor behavior
STREETS
• Install roundabout at Oak Knoll/East Main
• Pave dirt intersections to reduce dust
• Upper Alta
• Almond-Manzanita/Pine
• Speed limits
• Enforce
• Lower to 20 mph in neighborhoods
• Blinking yellow light and pedestrian zone signs downtown
• CAB Flooding at Mountain Avenue
• Hersey Street needs signal at Oak
• Median landscaping creates visual obstructions
• Road diet is a great success
• Fewer cars downtown
• Install sheer wall at N. Mountain/I-5 bridge for earthquake protection
• Blinking light at Van Ness
• E. Nevada Street area
• Verde Village created more traffic and safety issues
• Speed bumps on E. Nevada to dog park
• Speeds too high near Helman School
• Traffic calming E. Nevada to Laurel by Verde Village; increased traffic an issue
• Fair Oaks and Mountain: sight lines for vehicles
• A St. can only handle 1 lane of traffic and no more parking; limit development uses
• Slower speeds downtown
• Merge sign for top lane south bound on Ashland St. at 1-5
• Car-free downtown; too crowded now
• Big trucks unloading downtown create problems
• Close streets more often for events like First Friday
• Address difficulty turning either way onto N Main St from W Hersey/Wimer
• Speeding on E Hersey between Oak St and N Mountain Ave creates access difficulties
• Install speed control devices on E Hersey between Oak St and N Mountain Ave.
PARKING
• Implement Downtown Parking Plan
• Charge for parking via Smart Phones
• Require paid parking downtown
• Make curbside parking flex zones that allow different uses at different times of day
• Provide parking ticket appeal process
• Southern Oregon University/City parking collaboration
• Provide reserve parking chargers for hybrids/electric cars
• Provide off-site parking with shuttle service
• Modify or eliminate strict parking space rules for the “small houses”
• Need more bicycle parking downtown
• Community plan for parking
• Park and Ride
FUNDING
• Focus on real long term costs by considering environmental and health impacts
• Money priorities:
• Short term: electric transportation, security
• Long term: health, environmental (pollution)
• Require paid parking
• Resources should be aimed at promoting more non-motorized transportation
• Would like some ODOT tax revenues for local use
• California has 1/4% gas tax dedicated to community transit
• Volkswagon Settlement funds could be used for transit
• T.O.T.
ADMINISTRATION
• Identify city contact for transportation issues and coordination
• Process for residents to communicate safety issues
• SOU Capstone project instead of consultant
• Use best management practices
• No response from Planning Dept. for sidewalk problems in build.
• Coordinate communication: Public Works, Planning, Transportation Commission
• Improve interaction between Planning and Transportation Commissions
• Climate Energy Action Plan guiding vision for transportation decisions
• Reduce green-house gases
• Awareness of Climate Action Committee (CEAP)
• Transportation Commission liaison on CEAP Ad Hoc Committee
• Safe Routes to School
• Need bicycle subcommittee
• We plan, but don’t implement
• Make it easier to ask for traffic counts, speeds
• Use forward looking transportation strategies
• What works for other cities our size and characteristics?
• Respond to changing technology in autos and mass transit
• Establish Commission on Aging
• Communication concerns regarding safe streets, code enforcement
• Code enforcement officer
• Plan 20 Minute Villages: shops and services within walking distance
• Modal inequity: car centric
• Safe Routes to School Program
Questions posed by participants
• What is the utility bill street usage fee for?
• Why does it take so long to fix streets?
• Where does our money go?
• How are all the studies and data used?