11/17/2008 - Bend
By Matt McDonald
 
Traffic on Reed Market road in Bend is at its typical midday pace.
 
"It's a mess. A lot of traffic. A lot of people. It's too condensed, too small, to narrow a road for the amount of traffic," said John Phee.
 
"It'd be nice to have it smoothly be able to go from one end to the other and be on time to where I'm going," said Jody Mullins.
 
The problems have put the improvement of Reed Market at the top of the Bend Metropolitain Planning Organizations (mpo) wish list.
 
"It's almost completely designed there's just not sufficient construction funding to available at this point to build it," said Tyler Deke, manager of the Bend MPO.
 
The city has one hundred fifty five thousand dollars budgeted for the project, the total cost is expected to be twelve million. But across the country, they are finding a reason for hope. The House of Representatives may introduce a new stimulus bill focused on transportation, providing more than one hundred fifty million dollars for Oregon projects, like Reed Market Road.
 
"Busy traffic there, with only a two lane, it's just really dangerous for pedestrians," said Shawn Socia who works at the Expressway gas station on Reed Market Road.
 
If the stimulus passes quickly, construction could begin as early as March. But it isn't the only project on the list. The City of Bend also hopes to extend Empire Avenue between Purcell and 27th and ODOT is looking at a number of projects including work on Highway 97 near Lava Butte. In Redmond, ODOT may transfer money to the city for the 5th and 6th Street Couplet.
 
The prospect of funding has planners dreaming. But for John Phee who's driveway enters Reed Market, the dream is simpler.
 
"Having an open spot big enough just to get into it, is just a dream away," said Phee.