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Klamath Falls budgets major street projects; Safe Streets, Safe Routes and Eleventh Street bridge highlighted
Summary
The budget includes engineering and grant-funded projects for street and sidewalk upgrades, including the Eleventh Street Bridge rehabilitation and Safe Streets / Safe Routes to School applications; the Oregon Avenue bike lane phase 2 was discussed as a federally funded, ODOT-administered project.
City staff outlined major street and pedestrian projects during the budget hearing and emphasized reliance on grants for several large items.
Among the projects discussed were an Eleventh Street Bridge rehabilitation project (approximately $1.6 million), a Safe Streets for All (SS4A) application (about $2.5 million) and a Safe Routes to School construction application (approximately $2.38 million). Staff said the Safe Streets for All project focuses on downtown intersection improvements and the Safe Routes grant targets sidewalk and crossing improvements near local schools.
The committee also discussed the Oregon Avenue bike lane phase 2, extending from Eaton Street to Moore Park. Staff said the project is largely federally funded (CMAQ at about 90% federal share with a 10% city match) and must be administered by ODOT. “Because it is federal funds, ODOT will have to administer the project for us,” one staff member said. Committee members urged careful messaging and public outreach before construction given mixed public reaction to past bicycle infrastructure projects.
Why it matters: Streets and active-transportation projects affect traffic safety, school access and sidewalk connectivity; many of the projects depend on competitive grant awards and federal administration.
Next steps: Staff continues grant applications and coordination with ODOT; if grants are awarded, construction schedules and public outreach plans will be brought forward to council.
