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NEWS Protected Bike Paths Proposed
City leaders propose two bike paths, one running north to south and the other east to west, to the Transportation Oversight Committee
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By Jack Harvel
Momentum for more protected active transportation is building in Bend, with City Councilor Anthony Broadman and Bend Park and Recreation Board Member Ariel Méndez submitting a proposal for the prioritization and augmentation of 17 miles of new bike paths in Bend.
The routes would run 7 miles in a north-south corridor and 11 miles eastwest, both sharing a 1-mile segment around Pilot Butte. The paths will prioritize a separation from cars through “modal filters” and diverters.
“A modal filter is something that blocks cars, but allows people walking, biking or in wheelchairs, or using scooters to get through, and a diverter is something that allows people to drive through, but requires that they change directions. So it could be a forced right turn. It’s just it’s a mechanism of preventing cutthrough traffic,” Méndez said.
The paths would connect Shevlin Park in the west to Big Sky Park in the east and Rockridge Park in the north to Alpenglow in the south.
“The approach up to this point has been more or less piecemeal,” Méndez said. “The two parts that have been missing are this higher standard of not sharing space with cars, and a contiguous network so that people feel like they can get somewhere safely and conveniently.”
Méndez said he’s already heard complaints that the new proposed routes wouldn’t connect some areas, like southwest Bend.
“I think that’s a totally legitimate criticism, and I had said, ‘this is a start.’ I think the concept is the most important part to provide this kind of protected connectivity across town,” Méndez said. The other two factors in deciding routes: catering to historically underserved neighborhoods and areas that will grow residentially in the next several years. Getting the paths approved will require the input of both the Transportation Bond Oversight Committee and City Council before approval or denial by the Bend City Council.
“The Transportation Bond Oversight Committee—one of the question before them is prioritizing which projects should be funded first,” Méndez said. “And in this case, what I’m suggesting is that they approve of a minor amendment and some realignments in some cases to fulfill some of Council’s goals for eastwest and north-south connectivity.”
The next phase of planning for the proposal will be evaluating which routes can be done quickly and cheaply, and which will require more planning and investment before proceeding.
“There’s that that trifecta of fast, good and cheap, pick any two, and I think that applies here, as well,” Méndez said. “But I think there’s a lot of mileage that we’ll be able to get right off the bat because it was specifically designed to take advantage of existing conditions.”
The oversight committee held their first meeting on May 18 and will be meeting continuously to evaluate and prioritize projects that voters approved in the General Obligation Bond in November 2020. They will meet on at least a quarterly basis until they have satisfied the goals outlined in the Transportation Systems Plan.
Courtesy ArielMendez
A map from Bend Parks and Recreation Board Member Ariel Méndez shows the two proposed paths. The seventeen miles of trails were designed to be low stress routes for pedestrians and cyclists.
Tumalo Fails
Vandals target a portion of Tumalo Irrigation District pipe amid piping resentment by local landowners
By Jack Harvel
Vandals targeted a segment of pipe belonging to the Tumalo Irrigation District near Pinehurst Road, causing around $78,000 in damages for heavy construction company Taylor Northwest and more than $15,000 to the irrigation district.
Seven holes were drilled into a pipethat was to be used in the irrigation district's project to replace open-air canals with underground piping. TID is offering a $2,500 reward for information that leads to an arrest and $10,000 if it leads to a conviction.
“During final inspections and testing of the new pipeline, it was discovered that multiple holes were intentionally and unlawfully drilled into the pipeline. It is believed that between January 6th and 13th the vandal climbed into the then open trench and drilled multiple holes in the 36” polyethylene pipeline,” wrote Sergeant Jayson Janes of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office in a press release.
The total estimated repair costs range from $125,000 to $250,000, after which engineers will determine if the repairs were sufficient or if the 450-foot-long section will need to be replaced entirely.
TID says the pipeline is meant to increase flow in streams and provide farmers with pressurized, reliable water for crops. Some landowners who rely on the district oppose the project and have filed a class action lawsuit to recoup the costs they say the project is pushing onto them.
“Tumalo Irrigation District describes itself as quasi-governmental entity and that is exactly how it is behaving— pressing ahead with its $42 million big government handout with no accountability, no concern for the millions of dollars of destruction, and little regard for the rule of law or the legal rights of the individual citizen,” said Matt Smith on behalf of the homeowners' group.
The group alleges the district neglected to factor in costs for patron hookups, destruction of trees and property devaluation when making their decision. They also argue that the canals provide a reliable source of water for area wildlife, and that drying the 100-year-old canals could put local wildlife at risk.
A judge rejected a temporary restraining order halting the project in October, and the project was allowed to continue, before the lawsuit was finalized. The landowners asked for $250,000 in financial damages per property if the project wasn’t stopped, which would result in a multi-million-dollar payout for the district.
Patron Group in Tumalo lawsuit
Paths cleared through the forest is one of the homeowner group’s biggest complaints with Tumalo Irrigation Ditrict’s pipeline.
Por Jack Harvel / Traducido por Jéssica Sánchez-Millar Líderes de la ciudad proponen al comité de supervisión de transporte dos senderos para bicicletas, uno que va del norte al sur y otro que va del este hacia el oeste.
El impulso para un transporte más activo protegido se está edificando en Bend, con el concejal de la ciudad Anthony Broadman y Ariel Méndez, miembro de la mesa directiva de Bend Park and Recreation (Parques y Recreación de Bend), presentando una propuesta para la priorización y del aumento de 17 millas de nuevos caminos para bicicletas en Bend.
Las rutas circularían por 7 millas de norte a sur y por 11 millas de este a oeste, ambas rutas compartirían un segmento de 1 milla a la altura de Pilot Butte. Los caminos priorizarán una separación de los autos por medio de “filtros modales” y de desviaciones. “Un filtro modal es algo que bloquea los autos, pero permite pasar por ahí a las personas que pasan a pie, en bicicleta, en silla de ruedas, o en patín del diablo (scooter) y una desviación es algo que permite a las personas pasar por ahí manejando, pero que requiere que cambien de dirección. Así que, puede ser que se lleve a cabo una vuelta forzosa hacia la derecha. Es solo un mecanismo para recortar el tráfico”, indicó Méndez.
Las rutas conectarían a Shevlin Park del lado oeste con Big Sky Park en el lado este y Rockridge Park del lado norte con Alpenglow en el lado sur.
La siguiente fase de planeación de la propuesta será evaluar las rutas que se pueden crear de manera rápida y económica, y cuáles requerirán de más planeamiento e inversión antes de ponerlo en marcha.
El comité de auditoría llevó a cabo su primera reunión el 18 de mayo y se reunirá de forma continua para evaluar y priorizar proyectos que los votantes aprobaron en el Bono de Obligación General en noviembre 2020. Se reunirán por lo menos cada trimestre hasta haber cumplido con las metas descritas en relación al Plan de Sistemas de Transporte.
Vándalos abordaron una parte de la tubería de riego en el distrito de Tumalo, en medio del resentimiento de los terratenientes locales
Vándalos atacaron un segmento de la tubería perteneciente al distrito de riego de Tumalo, cerca de Pinehurst Road, causando cerca de $78,000 en daños a la compañía de construcción pesada Taylor Northwest y más de $15,000 al distrito de riego.
Se perforaron siete agujeros en una tubería para el proyecto del distrito de riego, para reemplazar los canales al aire libre con una tubería subterránea. El distrito de riego de Tumalo ofrece una recompensa de $2,500 por la información que conduzca a un arresto y de $10,000 si esto conlleva a una sentencia. “Durante las inspecciones y pruebas finales del nuevo acueducto, se descubrió que múltiples agujeros se perforaron intencional e ilegalmente en el acueducto. Se cree que entre el 6 y 13 de enero, el vándalo subió a la fosa entónces abierta y perforó múltiples agujeros en la tubería de polietileno de 36,” escribió el Sargento Jayson Janes de la oficina de la comisaría del Condado de Deschutes en un comunicado de prensa.
El valor total de la reparación en costo oscila entre los $125,000 a $250,000, después de que los ingenieros determinarán si las reparaciones eran suficientes o si la sección de 450 pies de largo necesitará reemplazarse por completo.
El distrito de riego de Tumalo dijo que el acueducto está destinado a aumentar el flujo de arroyos y suministrar a los agricultores con aguas fiables para los cultivos. Algunos terratenientes que dependen del distrito se oponen al proyecto y han presentado una demanda colectiva para recuperar el costo, que de acuerdo a ellos, les está imponiendo el proyecto.
Year-Round Shelter Opens
Seventy individuals can find shelter at a converted warming shelter with new City and non-profit funding
By Jack Harvel
Jack Harvel
Shepard’s House is receiving funding from NeighborImpact and the City of Bend to convert its warming center into a full year-round shelter.
The location at 275 NE Second Street will open on June 1 and have the capacity to house 70 individuals. It will run seven days a week from 6 pm-7am and will be a low-barrier shelter, meaning all people have to do to stay there is cooperate with the volunteers in keeping the shelter safe and peaceful.
The shelter is located in the same building that housed the Winter Warming Shelter, which opened in November and closed for the season in the spring. City leaders upped the timeline for opening that location in November following the death of a Bend man, David Savory, due to exposure on Nov. 10. Previous versions of the winter warming shelter would open only when temperatures were expected to be below freezing, so last year’s more permanent shelter added more support for those experiencing homelessness in Central Oregon.
“Having a low-barrier shelter in Bend is an important step towards our Council goal to find 500 beds for our neighbors experiencing homelessness,” said Bend City Councilor Megan Perkins in a press release. “This public-private partnership is a key investment and can serve as a model for our actions going forward.”
At the shelter guests will be provided with two warm meals a day, a bed and shelter from the elements. Shepard’s House will provide case management and support services through their program Project S.H.A.R.E., which collaborates with other agencies to make sure there are continuous services including medical help, employment, long-term housing, mental health and other services.
Shepherd’s House is seeking help from the community in the form of clothing, food and supply donations, volunteering and monetary donations. Donations can be dropped off at the 1854 NE Division Street location in Bend. Those who want to volunteer can find more information or donate at shministries.com.
The City and NeighborImpact will both contribute at least $300,000 for the project, made up of state and federal
funding as well as from federal COVID-19 relief funding. Shepherd's House currently has about six to nine months of funding while the Emergency Homelessness Task Force, a joint endeavor between the City and Deschutes County, explores longterm funding options.
The City of Bend estimates that there are nearly 1,000 people experiencing houselessness in Central Oregon, including families and young people living alone. Actions towards ending homelessness in Bend were part of the council’s 2021-2023 goals, which included creating a five-year action plan, exploring additional funding services and expanding options for both temporary and permanent housing.
The City had attempted to address other issues related to houselessness with a safe parking program to allow overnight parking in certain areas for people experiencing houselessness, updating its code to allow for temporary housing shelters in some commercial
zones and attempting to gain funding through Project Turnkey. Though the City’s first application was unsuccessful, the Council gave authority to City Manager Eric King to purchase one or two motels to convert into a shelter.
On May 28, City Manager Eric King released new guidelines for removing homeless camps that have been deemed “unsafe” by the City. Tenants must be notified three days prior to the eviction and can’t be arrested solely for failing to vacate before the campsite removal takes place.
The main room at the new permanent shelter for Shepherd’s House. Previously it had strictly been a warming center for the colder months, but now is open year-round.
Jack Harvel
