The Franklin Avenue undercrossing has the feel of bleached bones of Bend’s railroad past.

The stretch of Franklin between First Street and Hill Street used to have quite the knack for flooding. Bike along the road and there isn’t much margin for error. Walking the dim tunnel is more a spooky adventure than it should be.

It’s like the undercrossing doesn’t have a good side. It is, though, functional. It gets travelers past the Bend Parkway and the railroad tracks.

The city is thinking about how to make the crossing more than just functional. It needs the help.

If there is a way to give bicyclists and cars a bit more space between them, yes please. If there is a way to make pedestrian passage more welcoming, yes please.

You should tell the city what you think. An online open house opens Aug. 22 and runs through Sept. 5.

The Hawthorne Overcrossing, when it is finished, will probably be the most pedestrian-friendly and bike-friendly way to cross the railroad and the parkway near downtown. But not everybody will use that. Franklin can become more inviting so it is well used, too.

You can participate online in the Franklin open house here: bendoregon.gov/midtowncrossings.