Ethan Hoagland
A population past 10,000 people, Main Street buildings coated in fresh paint– the City of Sweet Home is looking to the future of transportation in town. City officials, eager for community input, held a Transportation System Plan Open House on Wednesday, Nov. 29. There, city officials also discussed the North Sweet Home Area Plan.
Sweet Home’s current transportation plan contains one goal: a well-planned, “comprehensive transportation system that balances the needs of future land development with a system that serves all users.” A draft for the new plan breaks out four goals for the city.
The first: mobility, accessibility and connectivity. That means providing a system that is “accessible and efficient” for all modes and purposes of travel.
Second: safety. At the open house, city Engineering Technician Levi Gideon said one of the primary requests from community members is safe routes to school.
Third: quality of life. Under this goal, the city seeks to preserve the character of Sweet Home, while making it easier for people to bike, walk, use transit and “drive less to meet their daily needs.”
Fourth: system management and maintenance: The goal here is to manage traffic in an efficient manner that supports transportation infrastructure.
About a dozen people attended the open house, chatting with city staff like Community and Economic Development Director Blair Larsen. City councilor Angelita Sanchez attended the open house, chatting with Larsen about speeding problems, and ways the city can slow down drivers going over the limit.
The drafting process for both the Transportation System Plan and the North Sweet Home Area Plan will continue through the winter. Officials expect to begin the adoption process this spring.