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52 °F Forecast | Road Cams Wednesday, February 25, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend February 5, 2004 Medford�s Public Works Department is proposing sidewalks and bike lanes for this busy stretch of South Peach Street in Medford. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell South Peach needs sidewalks By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune A busy stretch of South Peach Street in south Medford stands to get a lot safer for schoolkids and other pedestrians if the City Council OKs bending the rules. "On this street, you’ve got to be a smart walker," said Gilbert Barker, 50, who has walked Peach Street daily for five years. Drivers aren’t always attentive to pedestrians, who have to jump to safety sometimes, he said. "I’ve been put in the ditch." The proposed city project, which preliminary estimates put at $800,000, will be heard during the public hearing portion of today’s Medford City Council meeting, starting at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 411 W. Eighth St. The project, which would replace narrow shoulders and open ditches with sidewalks, storm drains and bike lanes, includes both sides of the street between Stewart Avenue and Garfield Street. But city staff needs council approval to deviate from the city requirements. City code requires a "collector" street, a street like South Peach that "collects" traffic from smaller residential streets, to have a 44-foot width, curb to curb, plus 5- foot-wide sidewalks and 10-foot-wide planter strips. Advertisement But engineers argue such widths would mean the city would end up taking everyone’s front yards along the old, narrow street, which is currently about 40 feet wide. So the proposal eliminates a center turn lane and the planter strips, making the right-of-way width 48 feet instead of 74 feet. Some residents and city staff want the council to make an exception to the rule. "There’s been development going on in that area and traffic volumes have been going up," said Public Works Director Cory Crebbin, adding that the street averages 4,100 vehicles per day. Barker said the combination of a lot of traffic and children walking to and from school without sidewalks makes South Peach Street a dangerous route. Resident Gavin Culver agrees. He walks South Peach every day on his way to work at the Rogue Valley Mall. "It’s a hard place to walk," said the 25-year-old, adding that there’s no space for bicyclists either. South Peach residents will need to give up a little lawn, but they’ll get a little green in return. "The city will have to purchase right of way from Peach Street properties," said Crebbin. The widest swath is three and a half feet wide, and the city will end up paying property owners an average of $170 for the right-of-way, he said. If the council approves the project, construction would probably begin in spring 2005, said Crebbin. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times