Document text
Jacksonville wants rail museum Photo from Southern Oregon Historical Society Shown here are some travelers on an old Rogue River Railway car. The railroad tracks in Jacksonville in the late 1880s ran down California Street, which turned into Highway 238. A state grant will help the city create a historic railway district where the tracks used to run. It would fit plans for parking, safety By MELISSA MARTIN JACKSONVILLE -- Railroad buffs may like the historical signs about the turn-of-the-century Rogue River Valley Railway Company. Britt concert-goers may find the new crosswalk across Highway 238 a safer way to get to the Britt Grounds. And summer tourists may find the new auto bridge over Jackson Creek a convenient way to find a parking place. The city last month received a $215,000 federal grant to improve city parking lots, make it safer for pedestrians to get across Highway 238 and play up the city's historic railway district around California Street. "We hope to create an outdoor railway museum," says Paul Wyntergreen, city administrator. Grant monies will pay for: Placing a turf block on a grassy area near the parking lots to provide open space for interpretive signs or a donated railroad car. The turf block would also provide overflow parking for about 30 vehicles. "This would be a functional, attractive parking lot -- a parking lot that people would want to come to," Wyntergreen says. "We would have space for a traveling exhibit or a rail display." Designing and building a one-lane, auto bridge. It will be placed where the pedestrian bridge is now located, connecting the two, 180-car parking lots between California and Oregon streets. Building a stamped-concrete crosswalk on Highway 238, near the off-ramp to the parking lots. Called a "traffic calming device," the crosswalk would differ in color and texture from the highway and will include raised areas that jut out into the highway to catch a driver's eye. "The driver will recognize that the highway narrows a little in this spot and notice these changes on the side of the road and hopefully, slow down," Wyntergreen says. Landscaping and fencing around the city shops. This is Jacksonville's second grant from the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, administered by the Oregon Department of Transportation. Last year's $197,000 grant paid for the completion of Jackson Creek Junction. It has public restrooms, bicycle racks, information displays, benches, a Rogue Valley Transportation District bus stop and a skateboard park. At the corner of the junction is the Chamber of Commerce, located in a restored train station. In other action Tuesday, the Jacksonville City Council: Approved the following: a Jacksonville Booster Club plan to provide American flags for local businesses to fly on patriotic holidays; a plan by Michael Graham to place sand-filled milk cans (to be used as ashtrays) next to downtown benches; and a new $5 fee for duplication of tapes of meetings. Set a study session to talk about water and sewer rate increases. The session is scheduled for 7 p.m. April 19 at the Old City Hall. A public hearing is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday at Old City Hall. Scheduled a public hearing for Cascade Christian High School's appeal for 7 p.m. May 11, in the large group room at Jacksonville Elementary School. Cascade is appealing the Planning Commission's denial of the Jacksonville school's proposal to build a football stadium. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA