City & Government

Springfield council extends road work

Chronicle staff report

SPRINGFIELD – The City of Springfield is extending the timeline for the planning phase of the Main Street Safety Project. Springfield Mayor Sean VanGordon provided this direction after considering the amount of public comment and the sheer size of the Draft Main Street Facility Plan. At Monday night’s (April 18) Council meeting, the Mayor cited a need to allow community members and Councilors additional time to review, comment, and examine the draft plan.

Springfield’s Main Street is consistently ranked as one of the most unsafe city streets in Oregon based on the severity and frequency of traffic crashes. The Oregon Department of Transportation and the City must address this problem to save lives, reduce injuries, and lessen property damage due to crashes. The purpose of the Main Street Safety Project is to select infrastructure solutions that will make Main Street safer for people walking, biking, driving, and taking transit. The safety improvements will provide for the movement of goods and people, support the economic viability of the corridor, accommodate bus service and future transit.

“I want to give Council members and community members enough time to vet the Draft Main Street Facility Plan as part of the planning phase for the Main Street Safety Project,” said Mayor Sean VanGordon. “Council needs more time to read and consume the material including the recommendations before making a decision, which is a significant one for our community.”

The scheduled May 2 City Council public hearing will not occur. Instead, prior to the summer recess, the council will hold a series of work sessions to dive more in-depth into the Draft Main Street Facility Plan. They are scheduled for 5:30 p.m. each Monday in June.

Officer Crawford honored: The SPD honored officer Kate Crawford on Monday. Chief Andrew Shearer said, “We’re here to recognize Kate Crawford for her achievements. And what we’re recognizing her for is just one example of the great work that happens day in and day out from our agency.” 

In February 2022 a 911 call came in by a man saying he had been stabbed. Crawford was first on the scene, and she met the victim on the sidewalk, who was bleeding from a deep stab wound to his chest. She provided life-saving care until paramedics arrived and transported him to the hospital. In her short time on the team she has also taken it upon herself to develop an enhanced emergency first aid training curriculum.

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