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Welcome to the online open house for the Lava Butte to La Pine Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Study!  

This online open house describes background information about the planning study and shares draft options for the path’s route. Take the survey at the end of the open house and tell us what you think. Your feedback will help us select a preferred route. 

Stations

We are working to identify a preferred route for a new walking and biking path between Lava Butte and La Pine.
See our first draft of potential trail types for the path.
See where trailheads could be located to access the path.
We need to hear from you!
Point us to opportunities or issues in specific locations.
The Lava Butte to La Pine Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Study is expected to continue through the end of 2023.

Project Background

We are working to identify a preferred route for a new walking and biking path between Lava Butte and La Pine. This path would enhance access to recreation-rich areas such as the Deschutes National Forest, the Prineville District of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) forest land, and Newberry National Volcano Monument. 

Project Area Overview

The project is considering route options in the study area, outlined in the map to the right.

The route will loosely follow the north-south direction of U.S. 97, though it may be some distance from U.S. 97. At the north end, the route will join with the planned “Bend to Lava Butte Multi-Use Path” at the Lava Lands Visitor Center (scheduled to begin construction in 2024). At the south end, the route will connect with the recently-completed “U.S. 97 Wickiup Junction to First Street Multi-Use Path” at Burgess Avenue in La Pine. The route will be paved and ADA-compliant.  

The multi-use path will provide outdoor recreation opportunities and transportation options to avoid the seasonal traffic and parking congestion in these popular areas.  

View the full Lava Butte to La Pine Multi-Use Planning Study Existing Conditions Report on the project webpage.

Project Subareas

It is nearly 20 miles between Lava Butte and La Pine — a long distance for a path. For this reason, we are thinking about the path in three smaller areas: 

North Area: between Lava Butte and Spring River Road/Century Drive. 

Central Area: between Spring River Road/Century Drive and State Recreation Road. 

South Area: between State Recreation Road and Wickiup Junction. 


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Trail Types for the Path

We have four potential trail options for the route. These are still conceptual — so they can and likely will change as we learn more about them. The trail options could be “mixed and matched” among the North, Central, and South Areas of the study. For example, the preferred route could follow Option A through the North Area and Option C through the Central area, and Option B through the South Area. 

We are sharing them now to gather community feedback. Based on your feedback, we will study them further and identify a preferred route. 

Option A: Separated Path Next to U.S. 97

This option would build a new separated path next to U.S. 97.​ The path would be near the highway, which would help simplify the approval process and could likely result in the route being built more quickly than the other potential options.   

  • This is a direct route between Lava Lands Visitor Center and Wickiup Junction.
  • This path would be separated from motor vehicle traffic. 
  • The route would be near the highway and have exposure to traffic noise and air pollution. 
  • This route is not directly connected with many destinations or residential areas. 
Sketch of multi-use path next to U.S. 97

Option B: Widened Shoulders on a County Road.

This option would be along existing paths and roads to make efficient use of existing infrastructure. The route would connect with many residential areas and destinations, which would make it a convenient transportation option.   

  • This route would use existing paths in the area of Sunriver in the north portion. These paths are already busy during the summer, and bringing additional people would make them even busier.  
  • Sunriver’s paths are privately owned. Using them would require coordination with the owners.
  • This route would use widened shoulders on existing roads south of Spring River Road, including South Century Drive, La Pine State Recreation Road, and Huntington Road. Roadway shoulders generally do not feel as comfortable for walking and biking as separated paths. 
Sketch of multi-use paths next to a two-way street

Option C: New Path Through Forest Area 

This option would build new paths through undeveloped land. This route would be the most scenic and quiet but would not connect with many destinations. 

  • This route would require coordination with multiple landowners and the potential for a long approval process.  
Sketch of multi-use path in the forest

Option D: Path Parallel to an Existing Unpaved Road.

This option is only in the North Area. It would follow widened shoulders on Cottonwood Road and a path parallel to U.S. Forest Service roads east of U.S. 97.​ 

  • This route would connect with Lava River Cave and U.S. Forest Service roads and trails. 

  • This route is not directly connected with many other destinations or residential areas. 

Sketch of multi-use path next to U.S. 97

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Trailhead Locations

We are exploring where trailheads could be located to access the path. Each trailhead would provide parking for bikes and cars. Trailheads would also have a map kiosk and could have other amenities like benches, toilets, and drinking water. 

Trailheads should be in locations convenient for people to access. To simplify the project and speed up construction, we want to make use of existing parking areas and publicly owned land. 

Five locations stand out for potential trailhead locations: 

1. Lava Lands Visitor Center parking area.

  • This would be at the north end of this path. It would connect with the planned Bend to Lava Butte Multi-Use Path.
  • This location would be convenient for all options.

2. Forest Service Road NF-4000 just south of South Century Drive.

  • This existing gravel forest road has a small pull-off area. It is on land managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
  • This location would be convenient for Option C: New Paths.

3. Lot at the northwest corner of Vandevert Road and the railroad crossing.

  • This existing gravel pull-off is on private property and would need to be coordinated with the property owners.
  • This location would be convenient for Option A: Next to U.S. 97 and Option C: New Paths.

4. Lot at the northeast corner of State Recreation Road and Huntington Road.

  • This existing gravel pull-off is on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
  • This location would be convenient for all options.

5. Wickiup Junction Park and Ride.

  • This would be at the south end of this path. It would connect with the recently-completed Wickiup Junction to First Street Multi-Use Path.
  • Cascades East Transit Route 30 stops here.
  • This location would be convenient for all options.


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Survey

Please tell us what you think about the path options in the survey below. Your feedback will help us find the preferred route for the path. All questions are optional, and you can skip anything you prefer not to answer. 

Project Comment Map

We would like to know if specific locations in the study area could be helpful or challenging for a new pedestrian and biking route. Do you see something on these potential routes or trailhead locations that we should be aware of? Tell us with a comment on the map below.

Next Steps

This online open house will be open through July 17. The draft routes will be finalized based on feedback received from this online open house. 

Then, based on community and partner input, we will identify a preferred alignment and draft the final plan. The final plan is expected by the end of 2023.  

Once the plan has been completed, the next phase will include the design and engineering of the final path. After this has taken place, the project will go to construction. 

Stay connected! 

Keep an eye out for more information on public input opportunities by signing up for the project email list

You can always learn more about the project, find out about upcoming events and stay connected by visiting the project webpage.

Contact

Cody Franz

Community Affairs Coordinator
541-316-9341
cody.franz@odot.oregon.gov


Please help us spread the word about this online open house.

Feel free to share this with your friends and neighbors so that we can get their feedback.

Thank you for participating!


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