Erick Njue Connector: A Quick Build, Low Cost Redesign for Patterson Street

The primary transformation on this block is repurposing a no-parking curb lane on the SEHS side into a bus loading/unloading zone, reducing car lanes from two to one, and maintaining on-street parking on the east side. Shorter pedestrian crossings become possible, bus stopping no longer blocks car travel, and vehicular speeds can be better controlled through design, resulting in a safer and more comfortable environment for pedestrians and transit users, while still meeting the needs for car users.

The primary transformation on this block is the addition of a two-way protected bike lane on the west side of Patterson. The lane design accommodates full social cycling: two side-by-side cyclists in both directions. The lane connects into the “SEHS Alley” – the low-speed parking lane between SEHS buildings and sports fields that connects directly to the Amazon path and the bike/ped bridge to Kidsports. Low-cost, ground-based painted wayfinding can help make the connection simpler through this parking lane. Shorter pedestrian crossings become possible, people of all ages can safely cycle, and vehicular speeds can be better controlled through design; creating a safer and more comfortable environment for everyone, including car users.

The main change on this block is a gradual move of the car lane from the street center to the eastern curb, creating dedicated space for a bus stop out of the flow of traffic. Shifting the drive lane also creates an opportunity for a major improvement at the intersection with 22nd. Creating pedestrian refuges for crossing Patterson changes the crossing distance from 34’ to 11’. (see rendering on next page). Diverters have also been added at the 22nd intersection that restricts cars from entering or leaving the east side of 22nd. Drivers can use 23rd to reach Hilyard, which already acts as a U-turn location.

In this block, the 2-way protected bike lane continues, but the protection is achieved with car parking. Car parking is moved from the existing location on the west curb into a ‘floating’ car parking design that protects people biking.

The primary design change on the Patterson Spur is to eliminate car access entering from the north to create a shared bike and bus lane. This lane would continue to the 24th 4-way stop, and improve network access for the YMCA, Roosevelt Middle School, and South Eugene High School.

The primary design change on the S-Curve is to maintain the single car lane and restrict all car travel to the northern lane around the S-Curve. This design allows for safer, more visible, and swifter pedestrian crossings of Patterson both at the spur and on Hilyard. Patterson again expands to two lanes after the final bend in the S-Curve to accommodate the storage of vehicles from the red light at 24th.