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Home Show Booth Focus Is on Eco-Logical and Eco-Nomical <br />A showcase display at the Spring Home Show will highlight vehicle care tips that help <br />protect vehicles and the environment. Simple steps such as maintaining air pressure in <br />tires, getting regular tune-ups and cutting idle time are examples of ways to save money <br />and protect air and water quality. The display also includes a list of automotive shops <br />that are certified in the EcoBiz program, which recognizes businesses that meet all envi- <br />ronmental regulations and take extra voluntary steps to reduce water, energy, and <br />material consumption, prevent water and air pollution, and reduce the generation of <br />hazardous and solid waste. <br /> <br />The booth is in Expo Hall 3 at the Lane County Spring Home Show. This well-attended event has over 18,000 people <br />attending and is a great way to interact with community members. The home show runs Mar. 6 - 9 at the Lane County <br />Fairgrounds. For the home show schedule, visit www.eugenehomeshow.com. <br /> <br />The information station will have handouts on a range of topics, and staff from partner agencies will be available to answer <br />questions. Booth visitors who spin the wheel of knowledge will have the option of entering a drawing with multiple prizes <br />donated by local businesses and several agencies. <br /> <br />This will be the sixth year that an interactive booth, created and staffed by the Lane Pollution Prevention Coalition (Lane <br />P2C) will be featured in the Expo Hall. The Lane P2C is a group that works together to share information and inform and <br />educate residents about pollution prevention. These agencies include the City of Eugene’s stormwater and wastewater <br />management programs, City of Springfield Environmental Services, Department of Environmental Quality, Lane County <br />Public Works recycling and household hazardous waste programs, Springfield Utility Board, Lane Regional Air Protection <br />Agency, and Eugene Water & Electric Board. The City’s stormwater management program focuses on a commitment to <br />protect local waterways while promoting environmental stewardship. <br /> <br />Kathy Eva, public information specialist for the stormwater management program, will be presenting a session on “Rain <br />Garden Basics & Benefits” on Sunday afternoon. For more information, please contact Eva at 541-682-2739 or visit <br />www.eugene-or.gov/happyrivers. <br /> <br />New Survey Reveals Local Travel Choices <br />The new Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area Travel Barriers and Benefits Survey, conducted in January 2014, provides <br />valuable insights into how people travel for non-commute trips such as running errands, going to entertainment events <br />and keeping appointments, and why people choose to drive or not drive. The survey was conducted by DHM Research, of <br />Portland and sponsored by the City of Eugene. <br /> <br />Purposes of this survey include supplementing the American Community Survey data about travel choices, monitoring <br />success of programs designed to increase active modes of transportation (i.e., walking, biking, and transit), and measuring <br />answers so consistent comparisons may be made over time. One example of the usefulness of the survey information is the <br />City of Eugene’s “20-Minute Neighborhood” strategy. This approach to accommodate growth and meet state and local <br />goals for reduced greenhouse gas emissions was developed for Envision Eugene: “Plan for growth so that an increasing <br />proportion of residents live in 20-Minute Neighborhoods where residents can meet most of their daily needs near their <br />homes without the use of an automobile. This strategy is intended to reduce the need for, and reliance on, motorized forms <br />of transportation…” To implement this strategy, there was a need to understand the opportunities and barriers for people <br />making the shift from single-occupancy vehicles to active modes of transportation, and for having a survey mechanism that <br />can be repeated to monitor progress over time. <br /> <br />The survey found, for example, that in Eugene: <br /> <br />While driving remains the most frequently used mode of transportation, substantial numbers of people frequently <br /> <br />walk (23 percent), bike (19 percent), or bus (13 percent) for groceries and errands. <br /> <br />One-third of people bike at least once a month for transportation purposes. <br /> <br /> <br />Gas prices, health, and environmental issues were the largest influences on people who choose to not drive alone. <br /> <br /> <br />43 percent of the people who do not bike regularly would bike more often if there were more bike lanes or paths <br /> <br />available or if the bikeways were better connected. <br /> <br />86 percent of people who do not walk regularly would walk more frequently if stores and services were located <br /> <br />closer to their residences. <br /> <br />For more information, please contact Senior Transportation Planner Kurt Yeiter at 541-682-8379 or <br />kurt.m.yeiter@ci.eugene.or.us. <br /> <br />EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 <br />March 6, 2014 <br />