Medford-Jacksonville bike path becomes part of larger effort - News - MailTribune.com - Medford, OR

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2014-09-08

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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation  |  Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Smoke expected to clear out Monday afternoon Saturday riot lands 7 in jail Echo of the past: Camp begins transition Central Point launches language immersion program More smoke and stingy fire activity expected Sunday Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Saturday riot lands 7 in jail More smoke and stingy fire activity expected Sunday Emergency Services Medford woman grazed by bullet while doing laundry Emergency Services Politics and Elections Senate race could be expensive Talent to consider taxing recreational, but not medicinal marijuana Candidate files false statements Just one seat will be contested for Central Point council Gold Hill mayor faces challenger; other races have one candidate each Education Central Point launches language immersion program UPDATED: Medford school bus in crash; no students hurt, officials say Free TED talk simulcast in Ashland Bear spotted near Central Point school Eagle Point helps students with first-day jitters Environment Dredgers might return to the Rogue next year Dubs' auction preview draws bidders and gawkers OR-7's pups are true wolves ODFW director Elicker will step down Medford hunter's exotic collection goes on sale State news Nation - World Obituaries Joseph Henry Bowden Jr. Thomas Vern Quinnin Irving �Ike� Eisenstein Duane George Daniels IN MEMORY Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories Big W in Big D Horschel holds on for title at BMW Championship Serena wins third straight U.S. Open Beavers have a defense this year, and that gives them hope Timbers rally to tie Earthquakes Varsity 541 College Sports Beavers have a defense this year, and that gives them hope Mariota sets school TD record as Oregon rallies past Michigan State Oregon State holds on to beat Hawaii 38-30 Virginia Tech stuns No. 8 Ohio State 35-21 Big game, big records for Mariota Pro Sports Big W in Big D Horschel holds on for title at BMW Championship Serena wins third straight U.S. Open Timbers rally to tie Earthquakes Rejuvenated Sky challenge Mercury in WNBA Finals Community Sports Barry fires back into SOGC finals Super seniors strong at SOGC Crenshaw pulls off upset in SOGC Murphy claims victory in Stroke Play Championships South Korea downs Chicago for World Series title Business Latest Stories Pleasant weather, stable interest rates spurred summer home sales Sustainable Valley receives $50,000 SBA grant Blog: And the Award Goes to... 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Business briefs Real Estate News Pleasant weather, stable interest rates spurred summer home sales People In Business Transportation Agriculture 1-800-Flowers.com buying Harry & David for $142.5 million Earlier than normal pear harvest coming up short of expectations Weisinger's Winery has earliest crush on record Amy's Kitchen begins expansion in White City Opinion Latest Dana Milbank: Proving trickle-down wrong Letters to the Editor, Sept. 7 Harry & David: the next chapter George Will: In a NATO state of mind Charles Krauthammer: Ukraine abandoned Editorials Harry & David: the next chapter An unresolved conflict; A judge declines to say if county laws trump city laws Cheers and jeers Our View: Make property owners pay for cleanup Committed to community Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Sept. 7 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 5 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 4 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 3 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 1 Guest Opinions Hazardous fuel treatments vital to protection from severe wildfires Wilderness for Kalmiopsis has served us well The summer of my discontent: An open letter to Bill Rauch The power of local philanthropy Lifestyle Latest stories Community blog: We Need to Talk Oregon's Top 5 wilderness areas Origin Story: 3 a.m. New Arrivals Puget Sound's south end offers solitude Food Community blog: 'Crispy Treats' a cut above rice-cereal originals The peace potential of cobblers and crisps Lunchbox recipes Community blog: Try this sweet treat for back-to-school snacking Put your kids through the school of good eats Home and Garden Trees aren't always the best companions for plants Hot tips for a cool (shade) garden An August checklist for your garden Green Scene: Diagnosing common tomato troubles Lawn talk Health Community blog: We Need to Talk Down-size is the right size Oregon Health Policy Board to meet in Medford Community blog: Health is More than Meets the Eye 'Super-Agers' are coming fast Hiking Faith Religion briefs Religion briefs Community Blog: Is Peace Possible in the Middle East - Part three of four Milestones and Achievements New Arrivals Engagement Wedding: Gibson-Hodnefield New Arrivals Engagements Columnist for a Day Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Ashland Contemporary Theatre gets dialectic with "Freud's Last Session" Live Music in Local Clubs Keith Greeninger and Matt Hill at the Rogue Theatre Jennifer Nettles plays Britt Rob Zombie plays Lithia Amphitheater Theater Ashland Contemporary Theatre gets dialectic with "Freud's Last Session" 'Freud's Last Session" at Ashland Contemporary Theatre OSF presents 'The Alchemy of Gender' Randall Theatre extends 'Godspell' 'Pump Boys & Dinettes' opens at Camelot Theatre Music Live Music in Local Clubs Keith Greeninger and Matt Hill at the Rogue Theatre Jennifer Nettles plays Britt Rob Zombie plays Lithia Amphitheater Britt Festivals adds to indoor fall concert lineup Community Events Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists 5 Things to Do This Weekend From business professor to artist Shady Cove Tie Days Swap Meet 'Prints From the Plateau' at the Rogue Gallery Dining Ami Sushi serves up Asian dishes Wild River Brewing & Pizza Co. NW Raw Kelly's Crepes Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED   » Obituaries TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW   Expect delays on I-5 near exit 43       ...       OR-7's pups are true wolves       ...       A pair of recent arsons in northeast Medford have the attention of police       ...       Expect delays on I-5 near exit 43       ...       OR-7's pups are true wolves       ...       A pair of recent arsons in northeast Medford have the attention of police       ...           RAILS TO TRAILS Medford-Jacksonville bike path becomes part of larger effort By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 31, 2014 @ 2:00 am By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 31, 2014 @ 2:00 am »  Social News A Jacksonville effort to create a path along the route of a railroad that once ran to Medford has become part of a larger, countywide planning process involving biking, walking, skateboarding and other self-propelled transit. In April 2013, Jacksonville City Council approved $8,250 as a match for a $75,000 grant to study the idea. But as others in the region learned of the proposal and considered their own efforts for similar connections, a combined approach was developed by Jackson County and local municipalities. Rogue Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization awarded Jackson County a $179,460 grant of federal Surface Transportation Program money this spring for planning. “We’ll develop a binder full of plans that will be used to shop around for federal and state grants,” said Jacksonville Councilman Criss Garica, who proposed the five-mile long project to the council. “We are going to be looking at the connecting of destinations. Clearly the connection between Medford and Jacksonville is a key one,” said Jenna Stanke, county bicycle and pedestrian program manager, who will lead what’s called the Regional Active Transportation Plan. Eagle Point and White City to Medford pathways will also be researched, along with connections to other communities and within them, said Stanke. The Bear Creek Greenway, which now runs 20 miles from Ashland to Central Point, will be a spine for links. “It made more sense to look at projects throughout the region as well as extending the Bear Creek Greenway,” said Stanke, who wrote the grant. Jacksonville had completed a pre-application for the grant it considered. More than one-fourth of all trips are less than a mile and could easily be walked in 20 minutes, while nearly one-half of all trips are shorter than three miles, an easy 20-minute bike ride, Stanke said, but 78 percent of these trips are now made by car. A network of safe, comfortable and convenient facilities that connect people is a goal of the plan. “It’s also looking at what each community is doing with their own bicycle and pedestrian plans and how best to work together for the best product,” said Stanke. Oregon Department of Transportation will pay half of a $20,540 match, with cities, the county and Rogue Valley Transit District funding the rest. The funds will be available at the start of the federal fiscal year on Oct., 15, 2015. “In the meantime we’ll be thinking about how to approach the planning,” said Stanke. A consultant will be hired for planning according to the grant application. Both a policy committee and technical committees will be established, said Stanke. Garcia hopes to be appointed to serve on one of the groups. Links to other forms of transit, barriers to connection and low-stress bike options away from motorized traffic will be investigated. “The county hasn’t always been flush with funds,” said Garcia. “This is a well needed boost to plan for the future.” Garcia said the plan should allow determination of how much old railroad line right of way may still exist. The line was created in 1891 but ceased operation in 1925. “They’ll have the time to really study potential routes and provide a recommendation as to what the best routes will be,” said Garcia.   By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 31, 2014 @ 2:00 am » 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. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs 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. 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