PAGE A2, KEIZERTIMES, FEBRUARY 19, 2021
Virtual ‘open house’ for
Wheatland improvements
By ERIC A. HOWALD
Of the Keizertimes
If you drive, walk, bike, bus,
live or work along Wheatland
Road North, the City of Keiz-
er wants to hear from you.
Keizer Public Works and the
Mid-Willamette Valley Council
of Governments (MWVCOG)
are hosting a virtual open
house on possible changes.
“Public participation is a
critical element in the study,
as we want to know what
residents of Keizer and oth-
er stakeholders believe are the
priority issues and needs along
the corridor,” said Mike Jaffee,
transportation planning direc-
tor at MWVCOG.
Residents can view infor-
mation on existing conditions
and possible improvements at:
tinyurl.com/WheatlandRd.
There is a link to a survey res-
idents can use to respond with
their thoughts on potential
projects.
The information is available
now and residents can offer
comments for the next few
weeks.
The goal of the Wheatland
Road Corridor Study is to de-
velop a multimodal corridor
plan and conceptual street de-
sign that removes barriers for
all modes of travel, considers
the latest urban safety improve-
ments for pedestrians, bicycles,
and transit facilities while cre-
ating an enjoyable experience
for all users.
The project will cover
Wheatland Road North from
River Road North to Jays
Drive North, roughly 1.8 miles
in length.
The initial study notes that
the existing design works well
for traffi c, but has limited in-
frastructure for bikes and poor
uniformity in the areas where
it does. Only one intersection
was rated “good” for pedestrian
traffi c. All others are tabbed as
KEIZERTIMES/Eric A. Howald
Possible improvements to Wheatland Road North, such as fi ll-
ing in sidewalk gaps, are one of many potential options under
discussion.
“poor.” Filling in sidewalk gaps
and adding street lights are sug-
gested, especially because stu-
dents use the route to walk to
and from bus stops.
Cycling conditions are rated
“fair” throughout most of the
area, but separated or buffered
bike lanes are suggested. The
plans include an option for a
multi-use path that would solve
the needs of walkers and riders.
Other issues the project is
expected to address include
poor street lighting, visibility
and potentially dangerous bus
stops.
There were a total of 54
crashes between 2014 and
2018, but none were fatal and
only one resulted in serious in-
jury. Nearly half of the crashes
were rear-enders.
The most common loca-
tion of crashes were at Russett
Drive North and Wheatland
Road as vehicles slowed to
turn left on Wheatland Road.
The suggested remedy is to
place a northbound left turn
lane at that point.
Other topics covered in the
study include public transit
options, including a note that
there are no covered stops on
Wheatland Road.
police scanner
SUNDAY, FEB. 7
12:58 a.m. - Criminal mischief in
the 2000 block of Latona Drive
NE.
3 a.m. - Strangulation in the 1000
block of Ventura Avenue N.
9:50 a.m. - Robbery in the 6000
block of River Road NE.
10:39 a.m. - Theft in the 5000
block of Briarwood Circle N.
1:24 p.m. - Unlawful entry to ve-
hicle in the 4000 block of 13th
Avenue N.
MONDAY, FEB. 8
3:44 a.m. - Burglary in the 700
block of Plymouth Drive NE.
10 a.m. - Theft in the 500 block
of Linda Avenue NE.
11:56 a.m. - Restraining order vi-
olation in the 5000 block of 10th
Avenue NE.
3:59 p.m. - Fatal traffi c accident
in the 3000 block of River Road
N.*
7:13 p.m. - Theft in the 4000
block of 12th Avenue NE.
11 p.m. - Vandalism in the 2000
block of Kennedy Circle NE.
mawa Road NE.
6 p.m. - Theft in the 3000 block
of Partridge Lane NE.
THURSDAY, FEB. 11
TUESDAY, FEB. 9
12:01 a.m. - Unlawful entry to
vehicle in the 5000 block of Has-
brook Avenue NE.
5:34 a.m. - Motor vehicle theft in
the 4000 block of Verda Lane NE.
6:58 p.m. - Criminal trespassing
in the 3000 block of River Road
N.
8:28 p.m. - Telephonic harassment
in the 200 block of Churchdale
Avenue N.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 10
9:21 a.m. - Vandalism in the 6000
block of Keizer Station Blvd.
3:51 p.m. - Burglary in the 800
block of Foothill Court NE.
5:27 p.m. - Possession of stolen
vehicle in the 900 block of Che-
3:37 p.m. - Criminal trespassing
in the 4000 block of River Road
N.
7:39 p.m. - Criminal mischief in
the 3000 block of River Road N.
FRIDAY, FEB. 12
4:45 p.m. - Theft in the 100 block
of Homewood Court N.
7:34 p.m. - Shoplifting in the
4000 block of River Road N.
* While reported as a fatal traffi c
accident, the driver in this incident
suffered a medical emergency while
backing out of a parking space and
into another vehicle. After the crash,
the female driver exited the vehicle
and collapsed. She succumbed to the
medical emergency after transport to
Salem Hospital. Because the driver
was technically operating a motor ve-
hicle, the incident must be reported as
a fatal crash per DMV rules.
Special
enrollment
period opens at
healthcare.gov
Those needing health in-
surance can now enroll as part
of a COVID-19 special en-
rollment period, which lasts
until May 15, 2021.
The special enrollment
period will allow people
throughout the United States,
including Oregonians, who
are looking for health cover-
age to shop at HealthCare.gov.
The enrollment period is
available to everyone, not just
those who have experienced
a life-changing event. Until
May 15, any person who is
eligible to shop through the
marketplace may enroll in
new coverage or change their
current plan.
Individuals making $51,040
or less per year, and families
of four making $104,800 or
less, may get help paying for
coverage. In 2020, more than
seven in 10 Oregonians who
chose plans through Health-
Care.gov got fi nancial help for
monthly premiums and out-
of-pocket costs. The savings
lowered the average premium
to just $145 per month.