COMMENT SUMMARY – Decision Point 4 Comments received by email and postal mail DATE: August 17, 2007 2007 49. Comment – 8/17/2007 9:55 AM I want to follow up on my comment that none of the alternatives currently on the table meet the purpose and need to which the task force agreed. That came as somewhat of a realization during the discussions of the "improvements" that would be needed at the various intersections at either end of the alternative crossings. These "improvements" will have a devastating effect on pedestrian mobility and a negative effect on bicyclist mobility. There is ample literature available discussing the characteristics of areas that accommodate pedestrian traffic--and none of it describes 6-8 lane intersections as beneficial. The City of Salem itself has acknowledged the impacts of these types of intersections by the recent projects to construct curb bulbs at many intersections, particularly in the capitol mall area. (I would be happy to put together a little walking route/assignment for anybody who thinks that the street configurations on the table are beneficial for pedestrians.) With the alternatives that we have, we are no longer having a discussion about how to meet the purpose and need, but rather we are discussing what elements of the purpose and need are going to be compromised and to what extent one mode is going to be sacrificed for the benefit of another. I appreciate that the study team is trying to be ...
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