Eugene plans safer multilane crosswalks, starts Patterson Street pilot

Eugene is moving ahead with a safety pilot on Patterson Street that would remove the west travel lane between 19th and 24th avenues, add space for a bicycle lane and either a bus lane or parking lane, and eliminate the multilane crossing pattern at most intersections on the four-block stretch. City transportation planner Reed Dunbar called the design a practical step the city can take now, and the corridor can handle the traffic volume in one lane.

Multilane crossings can hide people from drivers when traffic is moving quickly or when one lane is blocked by a stopped vehicle. The area also sits near the new YMCA and Roosevelt Middle School, where more people are now traveling on foot and by bike. Eugene plans a community meeting later this summer to discuss the changes, and the city hopes to keep the project affordable, possibly with help from a University of Oregon partnership.

The city will update striping and signage at up to 23 locations, adding a solid white centerline leading up to the crosswalk, stop bars and extra warning signs meant to discourage lane changes just before someone steps into the street. Oregon’s crosswalk rules require drivers to stop and wait for pedestrians.

City crash data show the city recorded 10 traffic deaths in 2025, including five pedestrians and one bicyclist. Its fatal crash report found 60% of victims were pedestrians or bicyclists even though those modes account for about 11% of Eugene residents’ travel. Eugene adopted its Vision Zero goal in November 2015, and its 2026 transportation safety program also includes flashing crosswalks, protected bikeways, enhanced bike lanes and sidewalk connectivity work from River Road to South Eugene, Bethel to Downtown and Cal Young to the Whiteaker.

University of Oregon doctoral student Erick Njue was killed while biking across the street in January 2026. In late May, community members and advocacy groups posted signs along the corridor, and the student group LiveMove proposed a redesign that would leave Patterson as one lane with dedicated bus and pedestrian space. The city has already used lane reduction on East Broadway to widen sidewalks and add street trees, and a second phase there is planned for summer 2026.