Accelerate Bend

In 2012 Stacey and Rachel were thrilled by the opportunity to volunteer for Bend2030’s “Accelerate Bend Project” which aimed to create visualizations for a sustainable multi-modal 3rd Street. As many locals know, the existing area is car dominant and lined by small business-stagnant lots.

The first phase of these proposed improvements calms traffic at the intersection of Hawthorne and 3rd street by reallocating part of (what is now) five lanes of traffic into water catchments, buffered bike lanes, travel/turn lanes, and planted medians. Further proposed improvements include a streetcar line and an architecturally striking pedestrian bridge connecting the east side of Bend to the downtown district.

Due to current state-mandated mobility standards, it's necessary for the city to obtain a Multi-Modal Area designation for this district before lots can be expanded. In the end, the goal of these visualizations is to encourage high-density, mixed-use zoning codes that will ultimately bring people, jobs, and tax revenue to this corridor of Bend.