ODOT event looks at Hwy. 26 in Rhody posted on 08/02/2022
The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) will hold a
drop-in event from 2-4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11 at the Mt. Hood Foods Grocery
Store parking lot, 73265 Hwy. 26 in Rhododendron, to get community feedback on
transportation on Hwy. 26 in Rhododendron.
The event is part of ODOT’s U.S. 26 Rhododendron Refinement
Plan, a project launched in April to address transportation safety, access and
connectivity issues in the community. The plan’s goals include identifying the
appropriate number of highway lanes, identifying the safest locations for
pedestrians to cross Hwy. 26, evaluate entry and exit points for destinations
and businesses, evaluate bus stop locations and other improvements, such as
sidewalks, bicycle lanes and dedicated driveways.
The plan, which builds upon concepts developed in the
Rhododendron Main Street Redevelopment Concept Plan, is in the planning phase,
with final street design elements and a concept plan expected to be complete in
early 2023.
Sandra Hikari, ODOT Major Projects Planner, noted that an
online open house for the project will likely take place in October, but the
August drop-in event offers an informal opportunity for people to share their
thoughts.
“This is a way to get folks who don’t have as much of an
online presence,” she added.
Hikari also noted that ODOT is currently performing
technical analysis, traffic counts, looking at traffic impacts of existing
conditions and looking at highway lane configurations from a safety standpoint
on the section of Hwy. 26 in Rhododendron, approximately between Road 10 and
Road 20. ODOT has listed the funding for developing the plan to be $150,000.
The community’s desire for improvements to the highway was
previously documented by the Rhody Rising committee of the Rhododendron
Community Planning Organization (CPO), which is also considering the future
development of buildings and the community.
The Rhody Rising committee is not affiliated with the ODOT
effort.
Mike Miskowicz, CPO President, noted that the Rhody Rising
committee is currently in a holding pattern.
The CPO will hold its next meeting from 10:30 a.m. to noon,
Saturday, Sept. 10 at the Mt. Hood Village RV Resort, 65000 Hwy. 26 in Welches.
For more information on the ODOT refinement plan, visit
TinyURL.com/US26RhodyRefinement.
By Garth Guibord/MT
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