New crosswalks near Autzen on MLK Blvd. for safe 'PED XING'
EUGENE, Ore. - Fast cars and no crosswalks can be a dangerous combination for pedestrians on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Eugene.
"It's crazy. You got people walking out in the middle of traffic and cars not wanting to slow down, it's crazy," said pedestrian Jeff Gilbertson.
On August 31, an elderly couple was hit by a car and sent to the hospital after attempting to cross the street during a baseball game at PK Park. Eugene Public Works officials hope that some new crosswalks will help prevent accidents like this from happening.
"This is designed as a safe crossing," said Public Works spokesman Eric Jones.
The two crosswalks, located at bus stops near Autzen Stadium, are part of a larger re-paving project currently taking place on MLK.
"We do have the concrete refuge and there will be a pedestrian activated rapid flashing signal," said Jones.
Jones said the project was in the works long before the couple was hit at the end of August. He said they hope to make it more convenient for pedestrians to access both sides of the street.
"That was the intent all along, to help folks get from the bus stops across Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard and to the service agencies."
For folks who work in the area like Gilbertson, the crosswalks mean a safer walk to work.
"I think it's a great, great idea," said Gilbertson. "I just hope people pay attention to them."
The crosswalks will be fully operational by October. Right now public works said they have no plans to put any additional crosswalks on this portion of MLK.
Instead of putting in a crosswalk, why not put in an overhead walkway, so cars donât have to slow (they wonât anyway) and save lives. Places like this, with lots of foot traffic during sports events, and lots of fast traffic (40+mph, should have these types of overhead crossways. Just an idea.....
So instead of giving jaywalkers tickets. The city of Eugene decides to create more congestion. The streets are for cars. More crosswalks are not the answer. Pedestrians need to follow the laws to. If they don't they could die. I learned at 4 or 5 years old. Look both ways then cross if clear. Pedestrians around here look. See a car  coming. And then walk in front of a car traveling 40 mph.
MLK has always been a problematic area for pedestrians ie especially the clients of LCMH. Has anyone ever discussed with Lance County Mental Health OR the Scouts (located on Scout Rd.) that some of the thousands of dollars they get from the UofO parking during the games? Yes that's right: UofO pays both for use of their parking lots and they bring in lots of money which by the way I never see publicly revealed nor discussed. As far as I know they use it on themselves and clients. LCOG is head of LCMH; what say you?
fine any one not using the tax payer created flashy crosswalk enough to pay for said crosswalk
Great, now if they could get around to completing the sidewalk from 11th to 18th on Bertelsen so kids aren't walking along side of the road in a 40MPH zone.