Bend MPO defers decision on school-area path, asks La Pine Schools to verify alignment and return with priorities

The Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Board on Jan. 16 deferred a decision on using MPO discretionary construction funds for a proposed shared-use path near High Desert Middle School and the future Caldera Drive, directing La Pine Schools to confirm property alignment and return with prioritized projects and cost estimates within roughly two months.

Doug Piggman of La Pine Schools presented an executive summary of a master-planning effort conducted with a consultant (Parametrics), saying the study produced options to improve student safety and connections between Caldera High School, High Desert Middle School and a planned library in the Stevens Ranch development. Piggman told the board the project package originally included a master-planning allocation of $50,000 and a construction budget figure discussed in the meeting (he said $125,000, though meeting participants later referenced $75,000), and that about $35,000 has been spent on planning so far. “We have a deeper understanding of what the impacts are going to be for walking, commuting and connection,” Piggman said in his presentation.

Chair Ariel Mendez said connectivity to the new library and schools is her top local development priority and framed the decision in safety terms: fixing the existing pedestrian connection would prevent “another generation of kids that can't get to school safely.” Several board members echoed concern about current conditions on the north section of the green trail and the need for a safe route to the 27th/Ferguson area.

Board members and staff emphasized a timing and alignment problem: the final route and landing for Caldera Drive is not fully fixed, raising the risk that a near-term concrete sidewalk could be built where a future public road might later be required. Piggman recommended three options: (1) proceed with coordination and investment if alignment stabilizes; (2) pursue other quick-start projects in the district; or (3) hold funds pending clearer alignment. Board members asked staff to confirm whether the proposed path lies entirely on school district property and not in an easement that could become a road.

Rather than vote on immediate construction, the board directed La Pine Schools to (a) verify property boundaries and that the path alignment is on district-owned land, (b) return within approximately two months with two or three alternative projects that could be fast-tracked, and (c) provide cost estimates and a prioritized list so the MPO can meet COVID‑funding timelines. The board noted COVID-funded dollars must be spent by Sept. 2029; staff said the master-planning phase has used about $35,000 and that development funds were roughly $20,000, but participants expressed some confusion about the original construction-dollar figures discussed in the presentation.

The board's direction was procedural rather than a formal vote to spend construction funds: members agreed to defer a final decision while seeking those clarifications and alternatives. The item was discussed at length with staff and district representatives and will return to the board once the district provides the requested verification and prioritized options.

What happens next: La Pine Schools will review parcel and easement records, confirm whether the green-trail alignment sits on district property, and come back to the MPO with a short list of ready-to-advance projects and cost estimates. The board set a goal of revisiting the item no later than their March meeting.

Key source quotes from the meeting

"If we fail on this, we're gonna lock in another generation of kids that can't get to school safely," Chair Ariel Mendez said when urging careful consideration of the path.

"We now have a deeper understanding of what the impacts are going to be for walking, commuting, and connection between Caldera, the high school, and the library," Doug Piggman said summarizing the master‑planning work.

Ending: The board did not vote to spend construction funds at the Jan. 16 meeting; it deferred action and asked La Pine Schools to return with property-confirmation and prioritized alternatives so members can act before COVID-funding deadlines.