Document text
Interchange decision due out Tuesday Two years of planning finishes with a discussion of residents� concerns By JILL BRISKEY Mail Tribune The South Medford Interchange Solution Team will cap off two years of planning by making its decision Tuesday about Barnett Road�s traffic congestion. But first it plans to listen to residents discussing a variety of concerns. The event � which is open to the public � shouldn�t be seen as a last chance for opponents to plead their case, said Gary Leaming of the Oregon Department of Transportation. Most interchange team members are local The South Medford Interchange Solution Team will choose between the Highland, Ellendale and no-build alternatives when members meet Tuesday. The solution team, along with the Citizens Advisory Committee, will meet at 9 a.m. at the Red Lion, 200 N. Riverside, Medford. Local members of the 15-person solution team are: Frank Stevens, ODOT, White City; Joe Strahl, former director of Jackson County planning and roads; Alex Georgevitch, city of Medford public works; Mark Gallagher, city of Medford senior planner; Robin Marshall, Automobile Association of America; Jim Oldland of Oldland Trucking, representing the Oregon Trucking Association; Jacksonville businessman Reeve Hennion; Medford consultant Mark McQueen; Mike Burrill of Burrill Real Estate; Skip Knight, Medford City Council member; Dan Moore, Rogue Valley Council of Governments; and Scott Chancey, Rogue Valley Transportation District. The team also includes Salem members Nick Fortey of the Federal Highway Administration, Greg Holthoff, ODOT environmental and Brian Dunn, ODOT planning. The Citizens Advisory Committee includes local residents Tim Alford, James Buckley, Patty Claeys, Jon Deason, John Forris, Jani Hale, Teresa Hogan, Mike Mahar, Jean Milgram, Mike Montero, Jane Podolski and Wade Six. It�s an opportunity for the solution team to talk about and address concerns that surfaced during the 90-day public comment period before a final selection is made, he added. "For the most part, the big comment period has ended," said Leaming, project information specialist. "The time is fairly limited in that particular venue." The solution team and the Citizens Advisory Committee will meet at 9 a.m. at the Red Lion Hotel in Medford. Residents will be allowed to speak for five minutes each at the beginning of the meeting. ODOT urges organizations to choose a spokesperson, allowing everyone present a chance to talk. A decision is expected by 1 p.m. The solution team�s preferred alternative is moving the interchange south to connect with Garfield Street on the west side of the freeway and with Highland Drive on the east. ODOT estimates the project would cost $50 million. It will be paid with city, state and federal funding. The solution team can direct the state to realign the interchange to connect with Ellendale Drive on the east side of I-5. That project is expected to cost at least $10 million more than the Highland alternative. Third is the no-build option. Project Director Frank Stevens said if selected, ODOT would go back to the drawing board and draft plans to make minor improvements to the existing Barnett Road interchange. But funding has not been lined up for such improvements, Leaming added. ODOT has reviewed nearly 300 letters from residents, public agencies and organizations during the public comment period. Leaming said responses to many of the concerns that have been raised will be included in the final environmental impact statement later this year. Leaming said ODOT would lose funds if the no-build option was selected, including $14 million from the state, more than $5 million in federal funds and Medford�s pledge of $15 million. "Essentially if this project goes to a no-build status, we wrap up what we�re doing now," Leaming said. "But the funding for south Medford goes away." Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.