Welcome to the former Geer Branch of the Southern Pacific Railroad. The median strip here used to be filled with railroad tracks. If you look east adn west, imagine a set of track here with siding going to the industries that are slowly fading away as well.
It is unclear when the Geer branch was built, but probably somewhere in the late 1800's. The line runs almost straight line from the Salem Train Station to a location called "Geer" along the former SP Railway that stretches from Woodburn to Silverton to West Stayton. That line was originally built as a narrow gauge line from Ray's Landing on the Willamette River (near Newburg) south to Brownsville in the 1880's.
The Geer Branch is named after the Geer family (TT Geer was the 10th Oregon Governer) that owned land in the Waldo Hills near where "Geer" is located today. The SP leased the Geer Branch to the Willamette Valley Railway in the early 90's. However the SP officially abandoned the line in 1995. Rails are still in place near Geer Junction east Salem near 79th Ave, But between 78th Ave and downtown, there is little left of the right-of-way. If you use satilite view you can get an idea with the line use to go.
With traffic on Hwy-22 getting crazier, a RR line from Stayton to Salem sounds pretty good, but no chance of it happening now. ODOT removed the I-5 Overpass over the former Geer branch, and various property owners have reclaimed the RR land.
This neighborhood is a bit residential and industrial. So just be aware of your surroundings.