Transportation System Plan 2018-2038

commercial business activity which could, as a result, gene rate significant levels of truck activity or need truck-related accom modation. Proposed additions to the truck freight sy stem include: • Bullock Road from Highway 62 northward to the Medford Airport, • New arterial alignm ent in the vicinity of Medco Haul Road from Highway 62 to West Vilas Road, • Easterly extension of McAndrews Road (constr ucted during 2002/2003) to connect with Foothill Road, • New alignm ent of North Phoenix Road to connect with Foothill Road at Hillcrest Road, and • Garfield Road extension from Highway 99 to Barnett Road at Highland Drive. A num ber of routes designated as regional freight routes are not included in the proposed City truck route map. Generally the regional freight routes not incl uded in the proposed City truck route map run through residential areas (along roads ty pically classified as collector streets), downtown Medford (e.g., the form er alignm ent of Highway 238), or areas that are served by other, more preferable roadway s. It is proposed that these routes also be rem oved from the RVMPO regional freight route m ap. They include the following: • Delta Waters Road between Crater Lake Avenue and Foothill Road, • Beall Lane east Highway 99 to Merrim an Road, • Merrim an Road between Beall Lane and Table Rock Road, • Sage Road southeast of Posse Lane (Sage Road is proposed for realignm ent to connect with Colum bus Avenue and this new alignm ent should be designated for trucks), W Main Street between Central Avenue and Colum bus Avenue, • • W 8th Street between Central Av enue and Colum bus Avenue, • Hillcrest Road between Black Oak Drive and the existing intersection with North Phoenix Road, • Black Oak Drive between Hillcrest Road and Barnett Road, • North Phoenix Road between Princeton Way and Hillcrest Road, and • Barnett Road between Oakdale Avenue and Holly Street. Truck Freight-Related Improvement Strategies As discussed in this chapter, good freight m obility and accessibility is essential to the on-going econom ic vitality of the Medford/Jackson County region. While a detailed analy sis of freight issues in currently underway by the Rogue Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization (RVMPO), several initial strategies have been identified. Specific actions that should be taken by the City of Medford include the following: • Approve the freight route sy stem map, install signage and focus improvem ents on accom modation of large vehicles along these routes. • Rem ove inappropriate truck route signage in downtown Medford that directs m otorists to the old route for Highway 238. • In cooperation with RVMPO, Jackson County and ODOT, identify street im provem ents that enhance freight m obility . Table 6-1 provides insight into a prelim inary list of these improvem ents including locations where the City ’s LOS Study identifies specific improvem ent needs. Establish a priority list of im provem ents for im plem entation and secure funding. • Address deficient bridges along freight routes, in particular, McAndrews Road over Bear Creek including assigning weight restrictions as necessar y. Evaluate and develop im provem ent projects to address these deficiencies, secure necessary funding, and m anage freight traffic during Medford Transportatio n System Plan 6-6 Freight Plan