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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 7, 2019)
10A | WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2019 | COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL Sears from A1 Object Removal project began with a $150,000 Or- egon Department of Trans- portation (ODOT) grant as part of the All Roads Trans- portation Safety fund to re- move fi xed objects on the sides of Sears Road. The decision to use the road, according to offi cials, was data-driven, based on crash history and recommend- ed by ODOT as part of a cost-benefi t analysis when distributing the grant. At the Board of Com- missioners meeting, Lane County Traffi c Engineer Steve Gallup presented data that counted six crash- es with fi xed objects be- tween 2010 and 2016. One of the crashes resulted in a fatality and the other fi ve in injuries. As part of its goal to re- duce fatal and severe-in- jury collisions, the Lane County Board of Commis- sioners adopted a Trans- portation Safety Action Plan (TSAP) in 2017 to identify and address the greatest risks in the coun- ty. In this approach, fi xed objects are identifi ed as risk factors when they are within what is considered a “clear zone,” an otherwise unobstructed roadside area that drivers may use to pull to the side of the road or safely navigate and return from if they leave the road- way. To achieve this goal, the Sears Road project states the need to cut 61 trees from the road at the cost of the grant amount, $150,000. During February’s pub- lic testimony, however, residents expressed dissat- isfaction with the proposed cutting of 61 trees along the stretch, which in some cases provide protection from out-of-control vehi- cles. “I don’t need a car at 55 miles an hour that loses control … come crashing through my yard and hit- ting one of my kids,” said resident Jim Poetzl at the public hearing. In the same meeting, South Lane County Fire and Rescue Division Chief Joe Raade spoke in his ca- pacity as a fi rst responder. “I had the unfortunate experience of responding to all six of those emergen- cies up there,” he said. On the fatality, Raade said, “He was dead before he left the road. I know that fi rst-hand.” Raade urged commis- sioners to look elsewhere for solutions. “The accidents on our road are not related to the objects. They are related to the speed,” he said. Raade also pointed to Mosby Creek Road and London Road as needing safety attention. In a subsequent interview with The Sentinel, Raade explained his knowledge as a fi rst responder to the accidents cited by the proj- ect report. “All but one of those involved intoxicants,” he said. According to Raade, re- garding the fatality, an el- derly passenger of the car had experienced a heart attack. His wife, who was driving, was distracted by the event and had a low-impact crash with a tree stump. No injuries resulted from the crash, but the passenger did not survive his medical emer- gency. Community input at the July 29 meeting raised these concerns as well as a litany of suggestions which included refl ectors on trees, curve warnings, more law enforcement and guard rails. “We were able to iden- tify a lot of alternatives,” me and my son.” Smith added that one tree across the street from his home is more than 100 feet tall. “If it comes down, it’s going through the middle of the house. We’re dead,” he said. “I mean, that’s a concern for me.” The formation of the community input meeting was done at the behest of Lane County Commission- er Heather Buch, who rep- resents the district encom- passing Sears Road. Buch was hopeful that an agree- ment could be reached with the information gathered. “We’ll be able to go back and analyze all the infor- mation they’ve provided and see if there’s an alter- DAMIEN SHERWOOD/COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL County Engineer Peggy Keppler (left) meets with local residents in the Community nate combination of things we might be able to do,” Center July 29 to discuss solutions to safety concerns on Sears Road. she said. The presence of ODOT, Taylor said. “The chal- ate from the data-driven what’s feasible.” lenge is, I don’t know if we stipulations of the funding. Though the room ap- Buch said, was a positive can fund any of those alter- Very few trees were peared mostly resistant to sign of community-gov- natives.” agreed upon as possible the removal of trees along ernment interchange. “We had two people While many of the sug- removals at the input meet- the road, resident Lowell gestions can be explored ing. Should a consensus Smith, who has lived on from ODOT here this eve- with other funding sourc- not be met, the grant may Sears Road for more than ning. That’s fantastic, so es, little negotiation is left very likely be sent back to 45 years, was in favor of we knew that they were lis- tening,” she said. “That’s in the fi xed-object removal the state. the idea. grant, though the grantor “We heard the potential “It’s great,” he said. “I invaluable.” Staff is scheduled to re- has agreed to the addition for two trees to be removed think they got off on the of centerline rumble strips. and [we need] clarity from side with strips and wid- port back to the Board of Despite this allowance, ODOT about how many ening and stuff, but those County Commissioners on it is yet unclear how many trees is enough,” said Tay- trees — if you drive down Aug. 27 where it may be trees at minimum would lor. “Before we rule out the Sears Road in the middle determined if the project is need to be cut to fall within ability to use the funding, and on the end toward Sag- still viable. the grant’s parameters as I’m doing a little more in- inaw, it’s dangerous. 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