Subcommittee reviews Neff Road Go Bond corridor design; staff seeks next‑phase funding and agreements

City staff on April 23 updated the Community Building Subcommittee on a 30% design for the Neff Road corridor (Norton through Purcell to Eagle) funded in part by a voter‑approved Go Bond and several state grant applications, and asked to advance design scoping toward 60% while pursuing intergovernmental agreements for grant delivery.

Todd Johnson, a city project lead, told the subcommittee the Neff Road work is being treated as a corridor bundle that links three related projects: improved access to Juniper Elementary on Norton, a proposed Hillside Path that would connect Juniper Elementary to Pilot Butte Middle School, and corridor improvements on Neff itself. Johnson said the project is currently at roughly 30% design and that the team is seeking authority to scope the contract to 60% design so construction documents can be developed.

Why it matters: Neff Road is a key east‑west connector on Bend’s east side. The project aims to improve safety for school walkers and cyclists, provide a continuous shared‑use path in sections, and add pedestrian crossings and refuge islands, but city staff said limited bond and grant funding will require tradeoffs in scope and materials.

Scope, design choices and constraints

Staff presented preferred cross sections and alternatives. On Norton, engineers proposed uphill bike lanes on the south side that would remove some on‑street parking; staff said south‑side parking along Norton is not heavily used but property owner outreach will continue. East of Purcell, the preferred approach is a north‑side shared‑use path to avoid trees and steep grades on the south side.

A central element is the Hillside Path on Bend‑La Pine School District land. Johnson said the district’s property and future plans constrain alignment: ODOT’s original tight switchback design uses less property but is less comfortable for cyclists, while a sweeping path would require more school land and a memorandum of understanding with the district.

Funding and schedule

The meeting record shows the Go Bond allocation for the corridor is $4,000,000 (TSP recommended amount). Staff reported additional grants (ODOT arts funds, Neighborhood Street Safety Program, and a pending Oregon Community Paths grant) that could bring in outside money but include match requirements and geographic restrictions. After accounting for required matches and grant restrictions, staff estimated roughly $2.6 million of city‑direct construction funding available for the corridor work; they cautioned that exact figures would change as grant awards and IGA terms are finalized.

Traffic, safety and school access concerns

Parents and council members raised the school‑drop‑off and pickup congestion near Juniper Elementary and Pilot Butte Middle School. Staff described proposals to relocate curb ramps, add pedestrian crossings at Eleventh and other streets near the schools, and install pedestrian refuge islands and speed‑management elements. Council members suggested modal filters, stop‑controls on cut‑through streets, and added vertical delineation to keep vehicles from encroaching on bike lanes at refuge islands.

Materials, lifecycle and scope tradeoffs

Council members asked whether the new shared‑use path should be concrete or asphalt. Staff said concrete typically has longer life but higher initial cost, while asphalt can be cheaper up front but may require more maintenance. They said final material choices could be revisited during the construction‑document phase and that some portions funded by ODOT grants may be bid on ODOT schedules.

Next steps and staff requests

Staff asked the subcommittee to support advancing the design scope (to 60% design) and to continue pursuing the Oregon Community Paths grant and related IGAs. They said if grant awards and final estimates require scope reductions, the Providence‑to‑Eagle segment could be deferred. Johnson said design would continue in coordination with ODOT and the school district and that council would see contract and IGA approvals as required before construction procurement.

Ending

The subcommittee signaled support for the design‑advancement request and for additional stakeholder coordination. Staff said they expect to return with a contract amendment in July (subject to council schedule) and with IGAs for the ODOT and Oregon Community Paths funding agreements when those are ready.