TSP Open House

Do you have ideas to make getting around town as a pedestrian easier?
What do you think about narrowing North Main Street to make room for bike lanes?
Do we need additional railroad crossings in the Railroad District?
What is a “Green” Street? A “roundabout”?

The City of Ashland invites you to share your vision for increasing alternative travel options and a creating a smarter, more efficient transportation system that will serve Ashland now through 2034. A key objective of the City's Transportation System Plan (TSP) is to further realize the goal of being a more “green” community while improving our quality of life and supporting economic prosperity. We will be holding an open house tomorrow, Wednesday, March 9th from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Ashland Middle School, 100 Walker Avenue.

The TSP is a joint effort between Ashland citizens, the Transportation Commission and Planning Commission and in coordination with the Rogue Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization (RVMPO), Rogue Valley Transit District (RVTD) and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT).

Background:
Since the last TSP update in 1998, there has been a pressing desire to expand and implement a variety of transportation system treatments focused on minimizing new infrastructure, supporting alternative transportation modes, reducing our carbon footprint, and creating a more green-friendly system. The proposed TSP update is the catalyst to bridge the current community values with the regional transportation system thus resulting in smarter, more efficient land use planning, innovative in-fill development, the creation of multimodal supported activity centers, and diversity in transportation options for system users. More efficient planning in this TSP update will lead to better system management and operations, a reduced number of auto trips, an increase in biking and walking trips, and reduced congestion on Highways 99, 66, and Interstate 5.


For more information, please contact the Public Works Department at 541-488-5587 or attend the open house on March 9th from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Ashland Middle School, 100 Walker Avenue.

CERT Graduates 500th Basic Trainee

Ashland CERT completed its winter basic training course on February 24 with a disaster simulation exercise despite heavy snow from the recent winter storm.

This graduating class is significant because not only is it the largest class, with twenty-six graduates, since CERT was founded in 1999, it also represents the 500th citizen trained to be prepared when disaster strikes.

A recent partnership with Southern Oregon University has bolstered the number of people participating in CERT’s basic training and the program is on track to add over fifty new members this fiscal year.

Participants in CERT basic training learn to help themselves, their families, and community members immediately following a disaster when emergency services are typically overwhelmed and unable to help.

Through training ranging from disaster kits to search and rescue, graduates are able assemble a team to do the greatest good for the greatest number of people following a disaster.

The class will be offered again in April.

More information about CERT can be found at www.ashlandcert.org or by contacting Richard Randleman, the CERT Program Coordinator at 541-552-2226 or randler@ashland.or.us