Rogue Valley Transit asks council to close Front Street driveway apron; council directs staff to review

Kelly Matting, operations director for Rogue Valley Transit District (RVTD), praised city staff for emergency coordination during a recent mattress fire and for snow plowing that kept buses running, then asked the City Council to close a driveway apron at Front Street Station to reduce conflicts between buses and private vehicles.

Matting said RVTD has invested more than $5,000,000 in downtown Medford over the past four to five years — acquiring and renovating buildings at Front Street Station and improving the transit hub — and has obtained a grant to strengthen the street where heavy buses operate and to improve sidewalks leading to transit stops. “RBTD has invested over $5,000,000 in downtown,” Matting said.

Nut graf: Matting told council the apron that serves a private parking lot creates sight‑distance and pedestrian conflicts when buses load and unload at Front Street. She said the apron is the city’s apron, not the private owner’s, and that Public Works supports closing it but lacks authority to do so; only the council can authorize closure.

Matting asked the council to direct staff to close the driveway apron and to consider closing other driveway aprons along Front Street to create a safer loading area and reduce vehicle-bus conflicts. She offered to provide maps and additional material to staff.

Council discussion acknowledged that staff would review the request. At the council officers meeting later in the evening, the council moved to “direct staff to look into the driveway closures and provide a recommendation to council.” The motion passed; councilors asked staff to include outreach to nearby property owners and stakeholders in any analysis.

Ending: Council asked staff to return with recommendations and noted that any formal closure would require legal steps and coordination with property owners and city departments before action.