Our town is awesome. People banding together in one form or another to make things better. Years ago, we tried to do something similar but evidently the timing just wasn't right. But now, it's a different story.
Wallowa has typically been the place you drive through on your way to somewhere else, like Wallowa Lake which is 20+ miles further up the road from us, or Joseph, OR, which can be a splendor, especially in the fall. I get why people go there, but a number of us have been discussing how to get people to stop here in Wallowa and get a sense of OUR history and culture on the way to their final destination.
Highway 82 runs right through the center of town and is basically our main street. Evidently, the speed limit signs on both ends of town are somewhat hidden or hard to read as most people are usually doing 35 in a 25, but, on a more positive note, they do create a nice tail wind which keeps the dust off of the streets. The Oregon Department of Transportation recently allocated funding to fix some of the problems created by having a main thoroughfare running right through the middle of town. The bridge on the west side of town is being worked on as you read this which will make the approach into town much better. Pinch points on both ends of town will be created to slow traffic down and provide for better pedestrian access. Sidewalks and crossings are being redone to provide for ADA compliant access to those who need it. And they may even work on our speed limit signs while they're at it....Our job is to give people a reason to stop since they're going to have to slow down anyway.
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