05/19/1982 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e e e with its recommendation. The first comment was a recommendation that buses leaving downtown for the University of Oregon and Lane Community College be clearly marked with these destination points. The second comment dealt with the concern that the focus of the proposed improvements was on the southwest corner of the downtown area. Acknowledging this focus, the Planning Commission had recommended that consideration be given in the near future for improving service to employment centers located at the northeast end of the downtown area as well. Ms. Decker introduced Ellen Bevington of Lane Transit District. Ms. Bevington displayed a schematic design of the proposed improvements, which called for eliminating one of the traffic lanes on 10th Avenue, widening sidewalks, and retaining one lane for bus parking. She said that this design would allow the Transit District to arrange bus parking by neighborhood sector, with all the buses going to a particular part of town leaving from the same area of the transfer station. Ms. Bevington said that the improvements would also include provision of bus shelters, improved lighting, and landscaping. Councilor Obie noted that there had been discussion of reopening Willamette Street to through traffic between 10th and 11th avenues. He asked if the proposed layout would be compatible with this reopening. Ms. Bevington responded that this would be compatible and would mean loss of one bus parking space, which would not be a major problem. Ms. Bevington said that the new layout would allow LTD to use color, number, and symbol graphics to identify buses and loading sections. She felt that this would make the routing system much easier for patrons to understand. Councilor Hamel asked whether reducing the number of traffic lanes from three to two would discourage traffic on 10th Avenue. Ms. Bevington responded that 10th Avenue is currently used at well under capacity and that closing one lane should not affect traffic flow. Mr. Hamel questioned whether additional sidewalk width was needed along 10th Avenue. Ms. Bevington said that the Downtown Development Board and downtown businesses feel that crowding on the sidewalk is a major problem. Councilor Wooten asked Ms. Bevington to explain the financing mechanisms for the improvements. Ms. Bevington responded that the cost of the improvements is estimated at $288,000. She said that the Eugene Renewal Agency will provide $95,000, to be used primarily for improvements in the Overpark area and for lighting and landscaping. LTD will contribute the remaining amount for sidewalk improvements, bus shelters, graphics, and lighting and landscaping. In addition, LTD will be funding construction of a customer service center. Public hearing was opened. Ken Kohnen, 2576 Brittania, represented the Board of Directors of the Lane Transit District. He said that design and construction of a downtown transit station had been under consideration for nearly ten years and that the district estimated that $140,000 had been spent to date in consultant fees and staff time in this work. He felt that the solution under consideration was reasonable and MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 19, 1982 Page 4