Transportation System Plan 2018-2038

• To determ ine how the intended use of the pot ential expressway should influence surrounding land uses and developm ent. Reaching these objectives have entailed: Identify ing a system of roadway s in the area, developing conceptual plans for the potential expressway with r espect to lane uses near potential interchanges, and proposing designs for key areas along Crater Lake Highway that could serve as transit centers and provide convenient facilities for pedestrians and cyclists. Prelim inary recom mendations have been identified pending full environm ental review. No funding s ource for these im provem ents has been identified. Preferred Alternative The central com ponent of the preferred Build A lternative is a new design for the north Medford interchange that would address traffic congestion and safet y issues in the project area. As part of the Build Alternative, a num ber of im provem ents to bicy cle a nd pedestrian lanes have also been proposed. The preferred north Medford interchange design consists of three m ain com ponents: the Highway 62 and I-5 interchange, the Highway 62 and Biddle Road interchange, and other im provem ents necessary to support the safe, effective and efficient operation of these facilities. In addition, due to increased im pervious surface in the project area as a result of the proposed pr oject, a water treatm ent facility is proposed to treat runoff. A m ap of the preferred build alternative is shown in Figure 2-1. South Medford Interchange Project Overview The South Medford Interchange is located on Inters tate 5 (I-5) serving Barnett Road, a m ajor east-west connector in Medford. The interchange serves as the south gateway to the city , and is a key link to future expansion of the city ’s econom ic base. The increased use of the facility has resulted in high levels of congestion and ODOT has responded by proposing closure of the existing intercha nge and construction of a new interchange to the south intersecting the easter ly extension of Garfield Road and the southerly extension of Highland Drive. The South Medford Interchange Project was undertaken at the direction of ODOT and was guided by a highway Solutions Team . The Solution Team consisted of m embers from various disciplines in the public and private sectors and was the focal point for decisions about this project. Team members included selected representatives of the community , business interests, local governm ents, the transit district, other project stakeholders and ODOT. A key com ponent of the South Medford Interchange Project is the developm ent of an interchange managem ent plan to address land developm ent and access provisions in the vicinity of the interchange. The interchange m anagem ent plan will require the City’s Municipal code to include provisions that protect the capacity and function of this new transportation facility . Figure 2-2 is a drawing of the South Medford interc hange preferred alternative as prepared for the project’s Final EIS that will be published during April, 2003. . Medford Transportation System Plan 2-17 Previous Work/Background Studies