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TRANSPORTATION Talent interchange plans to be aired Open house scheduled Tuesday to discuss city's transportation options Comment By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 16, 2015 at 1:53 PM Updated Jan 20, 2015 at 12:38 PM By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 16, 2015 at 1:53 PM Updated Jan 20, 2015 at 12:38 PM » Social News TALENT — Exit 21, Interstate 5’s gateway to the city, isn’t set for the type of massive remake now taking place just three miles north in Phoenix under Oregon Department of Transportation alternatives the public can view Tuesday. ODOT and city of Talent will present transportation visions for the future at a joint open house Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. in Town Hall, the former Community Center, 206 E. Main St. ODOT is doing an Interchange Area Management Plan for the exit while Talent is revising its Transportation System Plan. Only slight traffic growth that is not considered significant is predicted at the interchange over the next 20 years, said ODOT Project Manager Don Morehouse. “The land use and zoning just doesn’t create the need for something like we have in the Phoenix or Medford area,” said Morehouse. Land on the east side of the freeway is zoned for farm use and won’t see the commercial development that has taken place near the other interchanges. Reduction of West Valley View Road from four to two travel lanes with a center turn lane is one alternative for the link between the interchange and downtown. Exit 21 would see little change. “We have been working with the city based on growth and traffic projections,” said Morehouse. “We figured out where it is going to go in the future and what needs to be improved.” A westbound on-ramp that puts traffic onto I-5 toward Medford may see some revisions on approaches that are not ideal for safety, said Morehouse. URS Design Engineering has developed the Talent exit plans. Plans focus on West Valley View west of the freeway because of potential commercial and residential development. The former Talent Truck Stop location could be developed commercially. More commercial development could take place in the former Walmart parking lot on the road’s south side. Electric vehicle manufacturer Brammo purchased the site and has relocated there. Talent streets also will not see large growth in traffic, which has allowed planners to look more at improving routes for pedestrians and bike riders. Talent’s Transportation System Plan was last updated in 2007. “A lot of cities are worried about how to deal with traffic congestion,” said Zac Moody, community development director. “We are not over volume on any of our roads.” Getting people from one side of the city to the other safely is an important focus, Moody said. Crossing major thoroughfares is a challenge for walkers and bikers. Proposals include consideration of a nonmotorized travel route along Wagner Creek with ideas on how route users could safely cross Highway 99 and West Valley View. Other elements look at ways to link to the Bear Creek Greenway, bike lanes for Talent Avenue downtown and improvements for Suncrest Road. "These are really preliminary steps in deciding what is important,” said Moody. David Evans Associates and CH2MHill have helped develop proposals for the city. The city’s Planning Commission and City Council will need to approve the revised TSP. A citizens’ advisory committee formed for the Talent plan will also function in the same role for the interchange plan. More information on the proposals can be found at www.cityoftalent.org and www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/REGION3/Pages/I-5_Exit21.aspx. Tony Boom is a freelance writer living in Ashland. Reach him at [email protected]. By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 16, 2015 at 1:53 PM Updated Jan 20, 2015 at 12:38 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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