Aune Safety and Connectivity

The Aune Street Extension will improve connectivity and travel options.

This area is at the geographical heart of Bend but is missing critical east-west connectivity for all travel options between 3rd Street and Bond Street. By making complete street connections it will be easier and safer to drive, and less stressful to walk and bike, so we can help connect the Old Mill District to East Bend.

This area has seen increasing traffic from drivers accessing the Parkway and people traveling to nearby housing, businesses, the high school, and recreation sites. There is more mixed-use development coming soon to this area so having complete, safe streets available to travel by bike, walking or car is critical.
This project is part of the City of Bend’s continuing work to improve safety, connectivity and access for people walking, biking and driving as our community grows. With these goals in mind, the City is exploring different ways to improve several intersections and streets at the southern end of Bend’s Core Area.
If approved, these upgrades will:
Reduce vehicle conflict points
Enhance accessibility for all users of the existing Aune Street undercrossing to support east-west connectivity
Connect this area to the existing grid of walkable streets
Add crosswalks for pedestrians and cyclists
Identify and improve key routes for cyclists and pedestrians

This project is located in southeast Bend near the Parkway. Starting on Aune Steet to Scott Street, then along Second Street to Miller Street, over to Third Street and up to Burnside Avenue.

• Summer 2024: Concluded Feasibility Study
• Spring 2025: Project design begins
• September 2025: Open house—Help us select the improvements that work best for the community.
  Browse the open house materials by using a link below. 
  – English 
  – Spanish 
• Winter 2025: Design—The team will complete designs up to 30%
• Spring 2026: Open house – Review the chosen designs.
• Fall 2026: Final design—We’ll get permits and acquire right-of-way as necessary.
• Winter 2026: Pre-construction Open house—Learn about the construction schedule and detour routes
• 2027: Anticipated start of construction

This project began with a feasibility study, to be followed by the design and construction of a two-lane road extension, intersection improvements, pedestrian and bicycle key route crossing improvements and sidewalk enhancements. The components are identified in the Transportation System Plan (TSP) as follow:

• Aune Street extension from Bond Street to Third Street
  (This project will solely include the US 97/Bend Parkway undercrossing to Third Street, which includes TSP Key Route 7). See TSP ID #C-5 on p. 99
• Third Street/Miller Avenue intersection improvements and Third Street modifications study (Phase 1: Feasibility Study will confirm if Miller is the best intersection for the Aune alignment extension, preferred intersection treatment and improvement limits). See TSP ID #S-5 on p. 101
• Third Street/Miller Avenue intersection improvements and Third Street modifications implementation (Phase 2: Design and Construction). See TSP ID #S-6 on p. 102
• Crosswalk – Create a safe crossing of 3rd Street between BNSF RR and Wilson Avenue using RRFB and safety islands (Determine if overlaps with project S-6 or alternate location). See TSP ID #R7-A on p. 108
• Crosswalk – Create a safe crossing of 3rd Street between BNSF RR and Franklin Avenue using RRFB and safety islands (Determine if overlaps with project M-7 or maintained at Burnside Avenue). See TSP ID #R7-B on p. 108 
• Third Street underpass – Near term enhancements to sidewalk (To be determined during the design phase).TSP ID #R7-C on p. 108 
• Clay Avenue/3rd Street intersection improvement – to include pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvements. TSP ID #M-7 on p. 102

Phase 2: Design – Starts Winter 2024

Phase 1: Feasibility Study – Complete

In June 2024, the Aune Street Extension Study was completed to identify and evaluate infrastructure improvement options for Aune Street Extension and the surrounding network to improve connectivity, mobility and safety for all modes. The report identified three Sub-Area as summarized below and shown in the area map:

• Sub-Area A: Includes intersection alternatives for a proposed crossing north of the railroad undercrossing

• Sub-Area B:t Includes intersection alternatives for a proposed crossing south of the railroad undercrossing
   
• Sub-Area C: Includes intersection options at Aune Street-Scott Street-Second Street and complete street upgrades on Second Street and Aune Street

Area Key Routes

As part of the Study, Key Routes (low stress for pedestrians and bicyclists) in the City’s Transportation System Plan were evaluated and alternatives were identified along the routes as shown in the figure at right:

This project builds on previous planning: 

• The community-driven Transportation System Plan update, 2018-2020, included these improvements that were referred to the Transportation General Obligation [GO] bond passed by Bend voters in November 2020. 
• Resulting project prioritization by the Transportation Bond Oversight Committee in 2021. 
• The Core Area Project Report, 2020, set a vision for how this area would function and feel, creating a connected and safe growing urban landscape.  
• In July 2024, the Aune Street Extension Study was completed to identify and evaluate options to improve connectivity, mobility and safety for all travel modes. This work provided some options for each of the needed improvements that are consistent with the vision to increase safe and accessible east-west connections, especially for people walking, biking and using transit.

Project design is funded through the Bend GO Bond, Capital Improvement Program funding, and a grant through ARTS (All Roads Transportation Safety).