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· The comments were reviewed with a stakeholder working group consisting of a cross- <br /> section of both communities, user interest groups, and agency staff. Questions brought <br /> up at the hearing were answered in this forum. <br /> · A recommendation was made to the decision team and the team deliberated over two <br /> meetings on it. There was a decision by the team, 5:0, to proceed with the <br /> improvements to the interchange as well as Option 3 of the improvements to the <br /> Beltline/Gateway intersection. <br /> <br />Mr. McRae introduced Karl Wieseke who spoke on the Oregon Transportation Investment Act <br />(OTIA) project as it related to Phase 1. Mr. Wieseke explained that Phase 1 was very specific in <br />the environmental assessment and that a major element of that was the fly-over, which was the <br />north to west movement on Beltline Road. He noted that OTIA was easier to understand if it was <br />considered an element of Phase 1. He said that $18 million would pay for ramp improvements to <br />the southbound and westbound movements on Beltline Road, an auxiliary lane from Interstate 5 to <br />Coburg Road westbound, and the bike and pedestrian improvements. He added that OTIA was <br />intended for a total project cost and, as such, the $18 million would also purchase right-of-way, <br />relocate utilities, and would do preliminary engineering on the project. <br /> <br />Mr. Wieseke related that the Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) owned a portion of the <br />property and that the conditions under which EWEB would accept the new bike and pedestrian <br />facility entailed lowering the berm and replacing the existing fence with something more durable in <br />nature. He noted that the changes would create a noise impact for the people who resided there <br />and the Beltline Decision Team had made recommendations to address this. <br /> <br />Ms. Nathanson asked why EWEB wanted the berm reduced in height. Mr. Wieseke responded <br />that the slope of the berm made the vegetation difficult to maintain and also, as the new bike and <br />pedestrian improvements cause some area to be paved over, EWEB was asking, as part of the <br />mitigation, for the project to reduce the slope and increase the area that they could actually locate <br />future utilities on. <br /> <br />In response to a question from Mr. Farr, City Manager Carlson explained that the pedestrian and <br />bicycle improvements were part of the TransPlan. Mr. Farr asked if it was felt that the <br />improvements would be amply used by bicyclists and pedestrians. City Manager Carlson affirmed <br />that they were projected to be well used. <br /> <br />In response to a question from Mr. Rayor, Mr. Wieseke stated that the sound wall would extend <br />along the south side of the Beltline Road corridor from Coburg Road to Interstate 5, and along the <br />east side of the Interstate 5 corridor from Beltline Road to Interstate 105. <br /> <br />Mr. Wieseke clarified, for Mr. Pap6, that OTIA 1 would not fund the sound walls. <br /> <br />Mayor Torrey commended the vote on this project, noting that the $18 million in OTIA would <br />have been lost. He felt that this interchange was very important to the area. <br /> <br /> MINUTES--Eugene City Council November 25, 2002 Page 3 <br /> Work Session <br /> <br /> <br />