Heights Streetscape Plan makes critical step forward by gaining jurisdiction of 12th and 13th Streets in the Heights
After 18 months of negotiations with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), the City will assume jurisdictional control of 12th and 13th Streets in the Heights. These streets are currently part of state highway OR-281 and serve as a central transportation hub for Hood River residents. Originally, OR-281 connected the City of Hood River to agricultural areas in the Hood River Valley. However, OR-35 has long been the primary route for commercial traffic.
The jurisdictional transfer would allow application of city standards that prioritize pedestrian and bicycle safety. Notably, 97% of Hood River homes are located within a one-mile radius of the Heights District. Despite its central location, the roadway currently has minimal pedestrian infrastructure and lacks bicycle infrastructure. Several years ago, the importance of the Heights motivated the community to take the lead in planning for its improvement even though the City had no authority over the State route.
After a series of community meetings beginning in 2018, the City’s Urban Renewal Agency initiated a multi-year, multiphase project to fully redesign and reconfigure the Heights District roadways, known as the Heights Streetscape Plan. Gaining authority over this section of OR-281 is a critical step towards implementing the projects outlined in the Streetscape Plan.
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