Franklin, Greenwood or Hawthorne. Where should Bend spend millions to improve midtown pedestrian/bike crossings?

The city is still figuring it out. This week city staff are going to show the options and results of some public input to the city’s transportation bond oversight committee.

Of course, there isn’t enough money to do all the projects. There is about $21 million available. And what makes it hard for an outsider trying to choose options is that the city didn’t put price tags on the projects.

In any case, the plan for the Franklin undercrossing is for widening paths for pedestrians and bikes on the east and west side of the bridge and one option is to slightly widen the bridge structures. The alternatives for Greenwood are similar.

Hawthorne would be the big change. That’s where the city has hopes for a pedestrian/bike bridge crossing, spanning the parkway and the railroad.

From the feedback the city received — postcards, open houses and more — the city did get a slight preference for a Hawthorne bridge. There was also frustration from some participants that there was not more information available about costs and traffic impacts.

The Bend City Council may be asked to give the city staff direction on what to do at the council’s Oct. 19 meeting.

You can see more information about the options here, tinyurl.com/Bendcrossing. You can tell councilors what you think at council@bendoregon.gov.