The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) will hold a drop-in event
from 2-4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11 at the Mt. Hood Foods Grocery Store parking
lot, 73265 Hwy. 26 in Rhododendron, to get community feedback on
transportation on Hwy. 26 in Rhododendron.

The event is part of ODOT’s U.S. 26 Rhododendron Refinement Plan, a project
launched in April to address transportation safety, access and connectivity
issues in the community. The plan’s goals include identifying the appropriate
number of highway lanes, identifying the safest locations for pedestrians to
cross Hwy. 26, evaluate entry and exit points for destinations and businesses,
evaluate bus stop locations and other improvements, such as sidewalks,
bicycle lanes and dedicated driveways.

The plan, which builds upon concepts developed in the Rhododendron Main
Street Redevelopment Concept Plan, is in the planning phase, with final street
design elements and a concept plan expected to be complete in early 2023.
Sandra Hikari, ODOT Major Projects Planner, noted that an online open house
for the project will likely take place in October, but the August drop-in event
offers an informal opportunity for people to share their thoughts.
“This is a way to get folks who don’t have as much of an online presence,” she
added.

Hikari also noted that ODOT is currently performing technical analysis, traffic
counts, looking at traffic impacts of existing conditions and looking at highway
lane configurations from a safety standpoint on the section of Hwy. 26 in
Rhododendron, approximately between Road 10 and Road 20. ODOT has
listed the funding for developing the plan to be $150,000.

The community’s desire for improvements to the highway was previously
documented by the Rhody Rising committee of the Rhododendron Community
Planning Organization (CPO), which is also considering the future development
of buildings and the community.

The Rhody Rising committee is not affiliated with the ODOT effort.
Mike Miskowicz, CPO President, noted that the Rhody Rising committee is
currently in a holding pattern.

The CPO will hold its next meeting from 10:30 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Sept.
10 at the Mt. Hood Village RV Resort, 65000 Hwy. 26 in Welches.
For more information on the ODOT refinement plan, visit
TinyURL.com/US26RhodyRefinement.