City of Bend
Home MenuPlanning for People Streets
This study will help the City plan for vibrant, people-centered streets in Bend.
Get involved Why now? What is the study? Where are districts being considered? When will districts be implemented? How are all users being considered? Documents
Get Involved
You're invited to learn more about this project:
Online Open House
Planning for People Streets- English
Planificación para las calles para personas- Español
Online Survey will be available until Monday, December 2 at noon.
La jornada de Puertas Abiertas de Web está disponible hasta el lunes 2 de diciembre al mediodía.
You can email Allison Platt at aplatt@bendoregon.gov if you’d like to get future project updates.
Why are we doing this study?
Bend has great people-centered streets— like Brooks Street Alley and is expecting more in the future. This study will help the City to plan for where and how we could have more of these kinds of vibrant "people streets” in Bend.
This study will inform the City’s next update to the Transportation System Plan to meet state land use and transportation planning requirements.
The State of Oregon requires cities with over 100,000 people in population, like Bend, to allow for “low-car districts” the next time those cities update their Transportation System Plan. Bend is planning to update our Transportation Plan which will be completed by 2027. The City received a grant to better prepare for this new rule: Oregon Administrative Rule OAR 660-012-0330(7).
What is the low-car district study?
The study will help the City to define what a “people street” (or “low-car district”) could look like in Bend. The City will learn about best practices for “people streets” and “low-car districts” to understand possible street types, design considerations, as well as supportive policies and programs to allow for more vibrant, people-centered streets in Bend.
As part of the study, the City will use a Case Study to evaluate people street and low-car district considerations for a connected route between Juniper Park and Drake Park utilizing the planned Hawthorne Avenue Pedestrian and Bicycle Overcrossing.
The City will use what we learn from best practices, the case study, and community engagement to develop a Next Steps & Recommendation Report which will serve as a roadmap for when and how a people street or low-car district will be used in Bend.
This study is funded through a grant provided by the Department of Land Conservation and Development, and will take place between Summer 2024 - Summer 2025.
Where are people streets and low-car districts being considered in Bend?
Bend already has well-loved people streets: Brooks Street, Tin Pan Alley, and more. State rules will require that Bend allow for “low-car streets” (people streets) in all mixed-use and residential areas in the future. This study will help inform where and how these streets will be allowed and explore the potential benefits of people streets and low-car districts as part of Bend’s future Climate Friendly Areas.
When will low-car districts be implemented in Bend?
The study is scheduled to occur from Summer 2024 to Summer 2025. Policies for low-car districts and additional people streets will be adopted only after the City updates the Transportation System Plan, expected by the end of 2027. This study will provide valuable insights for that update.
How are all users being considered?
The City will take into account the needs of all users for this project, including residents, businesses, employees, emergency service providers, utility service providers, and individuals with low mobility. Public access requirements such as pick-up and drop-off, maintenance, and delivery will also be considered.
The City is prioritizing equity in both public engagement and policy considerations for this project to ensure that future people streets and low-car districts take into consideration the needs of all users, especially those who have been historically underserved and under-engaged. Therefore, the City has set up an equity focused external committee to help review project materials at key milestones and provide broad community perspectives and feedback to the project team.