05/17/2018
Advocates for Disabled Americans Inc. (ADA Inc.) is raising serious concerns about the impact of the soon to be completed Empire Connection on east side neighborhoods most specifically Boyd Acres and Mt. View.
For several months ADA Inc. has been calling for signalization at the corner of NE 27th and Conner's prior to the start of construction,of a 129 unit Extended Stay Hotel likely to be approved on NE Conner's Avenue.
ADA Inc. has now expanded its call for signalization at NE 27th and Wells Acres Road.
Traffic studies from 2016, a lifetime ago considering Bend's rapid growth shows that about 20,000 cars every 24 hours travel north and south of Neff Road and through the middle of our two neighborhood
No current traffic estimate is available from the City regarding the number of cars or trucks that will be on NE 27th street when the Empire Connection is completed soon.
Residents who attended the Annual Meeting of the Mt. View Neighborhood Association on May 7, 2018 believe they heard Nick Arnis, Director of Growth Management for the City of Bend, respond to this question by saying perhaps as many as 35 - 40,000 cars per day including large Interstate trucks will transit 27th Street when the Empire Connection opens.
Most American cities have banned interstate trucks from designated Freeways, By Passes, Beltways, Parkways etc. NE 27th street should be for local deliveries only!
"If this projection is anywhere near accurate, the impact on east side neighborhoods like Boyd Acres and Mt.View neighborhoods will be devastaing impacting accessibility, livability, safety and equity, and the De facto East side By Pass\ Parkway will have become a reality", stated Brian M. Douglass , Chief Advocate and Director of Development for ADA Inc.
A citizens group, Lets Catch Up Bend Alliance is being formed to promote a citizen driven General Obligation Bond Initiative for the May 2019 ballot.
The proposed bond will include among other improvements, $2.6 Million for signalization at NE 27th and Wells Acres Road and NE 27th and Conner's Avenue. The collection of 10, 500 valid signatures will commence in early June.
In the meantime, ADA Inc. is calling on the City of Bend to immediately turn these two intersections into Interim 4 way stops with an ADA Designated Crosswalk.
"Drivers need to start getting used to this type of traffic control, sooner rather than later", stated Douglass.
In addition, ADA Inc. is renewing its call for the City to abandon its plans for a Crosswalk 75 feet north of NE 27th and Conner's at the cost of $80K and moving that project north to NE Courtney where it is most needed.
"This crosswalk is truly, a Crosswalk to Nowhere" asserted Douglass.
