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PUBLIC FORUM Local residents get their say on transportation issues at public forum Bicycle lanes, sustainability and earthquakes among the topics Comment By Hannah Golden Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Hannah Golden Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 31, 2016 at 8:01 PM Updated Aug 31, 2016 at 8:02 PM By Hannah Golden Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 31, 2016 at 8:01 PM Updated Aug 31, 2016 at 8:02 PM » Social News Local residents expressed a variety of views and some concerns Wednesday evening on transportation projects in Southern Oregon, from the merits of bicycle lanes to infrastructure improvements to the threat from a major earthquake to the Interstate 5 viaduct. The state Joint Committee on Transportation Preservation and Modernization held a public forum at the Medford Library, opening the floor to comments from a standing room-only crowd. Topics brought up by local residents also included sustainable development, road maintenance, public transportation, the local economy and greenhouse gas emissions. Bicycle routes were a highly contested issue, especially in regards to Highway 99. Jeff Gutting of Jacksonville was met with applause when he spoke on bicycle lanes in commercial areas of Phoenix, Ashland and Talent. His significant other, he said, passes those routes every day on her morning commute via Highway 99. "She has yet to see a bicycle rider on these bicycle routes," Gutting said. "(There's) a slowing of the traffic flow to the detriment of the citizen who's just trying to get to work ... I'm all for the green thing, but the reality is bicycles by law can still drive on streets and highways. We have to look at the practicailty of, what is the usage actually going to be?" Brad Earl, chief operations officer for the Medford School District, said there was, in fact, heavy usage of bicycle lanes. "I raced in packs of cyclists of about 90 screaming along at 30 mph, and I'll do that every day over playing Frogger on Highway 99 along with the cars," Earl said. Earl also spoke about the need for infrastructure and public transportation to respond to the needs of students. "Walking infrastructure is something that we need to continue to focus on in Southern Oregon," he said regarding Medford students. "Absent safe walking routes, what (parents) do is drive their kids. If you can imagine what some of our elementary schools look like in the morning, it's crazy." Several residents similarly voiced concerns about public transportation to accommodate an aging population and those with disabilities. Multiple residents discussed sustainability. Bill Meyer of Medford, a talk show host for radio station KMED, strongly opposed Vision2020 and other sustainable development plans. He called them undemocratic. "Sustainable development is a roadmap to economic ruin," Meyer said. Others voiced concerns over the Inertstate 5 viaduct's vulnerability to a potential Cascadia earthquake. "When it occurs, because it's going to occur, the lifeline routes to this region — I-5 and Highway 140 — will be impassable under current conditions for more than one year," Stuart Foster, former member of the Oregon Transportation Commission, said. "We could have the finest viaduct in the world, and if we have a Cascadia event, it'll be a bridge that leads to nowhere. We need to address mobility in this region in a Cascadia event, and we need to do it now." The committee, formed earlier this year, is composed of 14 members, evenly split between Oregon state senators and representatives. The committee has been on a statewide tour to meet with regional Area Commissions on Transportation, tour "trouble spots" in transportation and hold public forums for commuter feedback, according to an article by committee members Sen. Lee Beyer, D-Springfield, and Rep. Caddy McKeown, D-Coos Bay. The committtee toured the Rogue Valley Transportation District earlier in the day. The committee aims to pass a package of transportation legislation in the 2017 session that will improve roadways and update outdated systems to address commercial and environmental concerns. The package is reportedly slated to be the priority of next year's session. By Hannah Golden Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Hannah Golden Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 31, 2016 at 8:01 PM Updated Aug 31, 2016 at 8:02 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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