Franklin Boulevard Transformation 

Project Updates

ONLINE OPEN HOUSE for REFINED PREFERRED DESIGN

On February 2, 2023 over 160 members of the community attended the in-person Community Open House for the Franklin Blvd Transformation project. Staff shared the current design iteration with attendees and engaged in discussion. Feedback was shared and collected and will be used to inform further refinement of the design as it moves forward from planning to engineering.

Didn't make it to the in-person event? Have no fear! You can visit our Engage Eugene project page to review all materials shared and provide feedback on the design through March 5, 2023.

Preferred Conceptual Design - 2023

*This image is a design overview. You can also view the design in more detail.

RAISE Grant Application - AWARDED!

The Cities of Eugene and Springfield, with support from the Lane Transit District, submitted a joint application for federal Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant funding in July 2021.  In November 2021 it was officially selected for federal funding! To learn more about the RAISE grant, you can visit our grant application page. You can also visit the U.S. Department of Transportation’s RAISE grant website.

Project Description

What is the project?  

We're spearheading a planning process for Franklin Boulevard from Alder Street to Interstate 5, including Garden Avenue. The purpose is to transform Franklin from an auto-focused state highway to a pleasant,  multi-modal urban street that is safe for people walking, biking, riding the bus and driving.

Why is it needed?  

Franklin Boulevard, with its wide lanes, can be an unsafe and uncomfortable street. For people who walk, bike, or ride the bus, Franklin Boulevard can be a significant barrier to getting from place to place. Because of that, fewer people choose to walk or bike to make connections between the University of Oregon, surrounding neighborhoods and Willamette River trails to the north, hindering the our long-term efforts to reach climate reduction goals.  The project will also encourage new ways for businesses and neighborhoods near Franklin Boulevard to redevelop the boulevard into a more comfortable connector of places, rather than a divider.

What has the processes been so far?

Planning for the project began in January 2019 with the goal to improve Franklin Boulevard from Alder Street to Interstate-5, including Garden Avenue. The project aims to transform Franklin Boulevard from an auto-focused state highway into a pleasant, multi-modal, urban corridor that is safe for all people, including those who walk, bike, roll, take the bus and drive.

Throughout the planning process, staff engaged with the community through multiple public involvement activities, including two workshops, online surveys and meetings with interested parties. Through public input and professional analysis, the three corridor alternatives that were shared in May 2019 have been evaluated and revised into one preferred alternative, which was shared at an open house in March 2020. Since then, additional design refinements have continued to be identified and made.