Document text
CLEAR Temp: 90 °F Wind: NW at 10 mph Friday, August 29, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder RogueValleyHomeFinder Real Estate Showcase Wellness Connection Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend August 8, 2003 Medford council votes in favor of hospital plan over bike safety lane By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune A local hospital will retain strips of landscaping that had been planned for bicycle commuter safety lanes. "We’re disappointed," said Bob Korfhage, president of the Siskiyou Velo Bicycle Club. "But I think that the city is recognizing bicycle groups," he said, "and I think in the future they will get us involved." Korfhage was one of a dozen club members who showed up, many clad in brightly colored cycling tops, at Thursday night’s Medford City Council meeting. Advertisement The council voted 5-2, with one abstention, to adopt a project plan for the Crater Lake/McAndrews intersection as proposed by the Providence Medford Medical Center. The project as designed by city engineers came to the council in May. The $1.6 million concrete intersection project originally involved widening the streets to create additional turn lanes and add bike lanes on both sides of both streets. Expressing concern about the loss of landscaping and possible loss of large, old trees, the hospital hired an engineer to submit alternative plans. The alternative decreases the hospital’s loss of land by eliminating two 5-foot bike lanes and replacing the bike lanes and sidewalk with a 10-foot-wide, multi-use path that meanders through the property. During the meeting, several council members expressed concern that there weren’t enough bicyclists that use the intersection to justify bike lanes on both sides when sharing a path with pedestrians will suffice. During the public hearing, Korfhage said his group "encourages bike lanes on both sides," for the safety of cyclists, pedestrians and drivers. Group member Edgar Hee said the hospital proposal requires commuters to cross traffic to get on the multi-use path and/or wait for the pedestrian crosswalk signal. "An experienced cyclist will not use the hospital’s multi-use path," he said. Club member Becky Brooks said an opportunity was before the city. "This is our chance to encourage people to use alternative modes to get around Medford," she said. Stuart Foster, the attorney representing the hospital on this project, said this was not a perfect solution for either the hospital or the bicyclists. "We believe it’s a balanced approach," he said, adding that Providence wanted to maintain as much of its green space as possible for the 500,000 people that use the hospital each year. Medford Public Works Director Cory Crebbin said by keeping the strips of landscaping, which range from about 2 feet wide to 8 feet wide, the probability that the redwoods and oaks would not be damaged is increased. During projects such as this one, arborists visit sites and assess root damage after construction begins. Councilman Jim Key said he could not support the motion. "I think we’re just building in an accident that’s going to happen," he said. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] . Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times