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Photo by Bob Pennell Gov. John Kitzhaber talks about traffic in Medford Wednesday. Kitzhaber: City's on right road Praises plans for interchange By JIM DAVIS Gov. John Kitzhaber Wednesday praised community efforts to clean up one of most traffic-clogged intersections in Medford. Standing under an overhang at Hometown Buffet restaurant as rain fell, the governor told Medford leaders their ideas for relieving congestion at the intersection of Interstate 5 and Barnett Road are innovative. He praised the city's Southeast Plan, a development blueprint for a compact, pedestrian-friendly community of 10,000 residents east of North Phoenix Road at Barnett Road. He also applauded a community group's proposal for the so-called "5-5-5-15 plan," which would raise $30 million from the city, Medford Urban Renewal Agency, landowners and the state to fix the interchange. The interchange is at capacity now, and traffic planners have known that it will become a boiling point of gridlock and air pollution. "This interchange is one of the best examples in the state of how traffic congestion can affect economic growth and, first and foremost, livability issues for a community," Kitzhaber said. Dressed in his usual cowboy boots, jeans and leather jacket, Kitzhaber visited the intersection as part of a three-day swing through the Rogue Valley. His final public appearance will be a visit this morning to Ashland High School. Newly elected Republican state Reps. Rob Patridge of Medford and Jason Atkinson of Jacksonville, as well as Rep. Judy Uherbelau, an Ashland Democrat, accompanied him to the interchange Wednesday. "This is a really unique opportunity to show him what our community is facing," Patridge said. Kitzhaber was briefed by community and business leaders during the visit. Mayor Lindsay Berryman said the community relies on its two intersections with the freeway. "Basically we have two interchanges, and all of our traffic funnels off these interchanges," Berryman said. Kitzhaber noted he has visited several other communities barraged by the same problems of growth. Redmond, he said, has a highway that runs through the middle of town. "You can't even have a conversation, because of all the trucks going by," Kitzhaber said. Relief will come, Kitzhaber said, if the Legislature approves a gas tax and accepts his Oregon Livability Initiative, which would set up a $140 million fund to assist communities struggling with bulging populations. However, Kitzhaber said the solution for Medford is not as simple as making sure the south interchange can handle more cars and trucks. "Pretty soon, it'll just be clogged again," Kitzhaber said. "The city needs more ways to move from north to south without using the freeway." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA