HomeMy WebLinkAboutODOT Letter - N Hwy 97 ESIMay 5, 2009
Jon Heacock
Oregon Department of Transportation
63030 O.B. Riley Road
Bend, Oregon 97701
Board of County Commissioners
1300 NW Wall St, Suite 200 • Bend, OR 97701 1960
[541) 388-6570 • Fax [541) 385 3202
www.co.deschutes.orus
boardPco.deschutes.or.us
Tammy Baney
Michael M. Daly
Dennis R i. Luke
Re: ODOT / Highway 97 North Corridor ESI
Dear Jon:
We have reviewed the four alternatives that were presented April 1St to the Steering
Committee and April 16th to the BMPO. We understand that the four alternatives
(East 1, East 2, East 3, and West 1) and a "no build" alternative will be considered in
the DEIS/FEIS process.
We have expressed concerns about all four alternatives at the meetings and in private
conversations. At this time, as the process moves forward, we thought it would be
best to put into writing our general concerns that need to be ultimately addressed by
the preferred option.
• Empire Interchange: There remain unresolved questions on the East alternatives
and the Empire Interchange area regarding the 20 year traffic estimates and level
of service (volume to capacity) as Highway 20 merges with Highway 97 at
Empire Avenue. There needs to be a solution with a cost estimate.
• Access Management: Recent ODOT access management ideas for City streets
with the alternatives will cause many access and connectivity issues for the City.
• North Interchange: ODOT staff has indicated they will not study a full diamond
north interchange option. The City staff recommends a full interchange per the
earlier design and traffic analysis work which demonstrated that a full interchange
will not increase trips on Highway 97.
• Public Safety Access: The alternatives do not provide reasonable access and
connectivity for public safety vehicles.
Enhancing the Lives of Citizens by Delivering Quality Services in a Cost -Effective Manner
• Jurisdiction Transfer. This is a significant burden to the City both for maintenance
and potential liability. Currently, the City does not have the funds to assume such
responsibility.
• Access to Commercial Properties West of Highway 97. There are legitimate
concerns from existing commercial landlords and tenants concerning all four of the
alternatives. None of the alternatives meet the functional needs of these properties
for visible, direct, and convenient access to the new Highway 97.
• Financial Constraints. The BMPO does not have adequate resources, based upon
ODOT's revenue projections, for the cost of constructing any of the alternatives.
We are studying alternatives that cannot be constructed because of the costs.
The above issues need to be addressed as the process continues. We realize the EIS process
is just beginning. However, we did not want to leave the false impression that any of the
alternatives are currently satisfactory.
Sincerely;
Dennis Luke Erik King
Deschutes County Commissioner Bend City Manger
Mike Schmidt
Steering Committee Member