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EUGENE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Work Session: Statewide Freight Route Analysis Project Meeting Date: November 17, 2004 Agenda Item Number: A Department: Public Works Staff Contact: Chris Henry www. cl. eugene, or. us Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-8472 ISSUE STATEMENT The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), through the Freight Route Analysis Project (FRAP), is seeking comments regarding designation of additional freight routes statewide. The record has been held open until January 7, 2005, for comment. Within Eugene, additional freight routes proposed are: Beltline Highway, West 11th Avenue (from Beltline Highway to the west), and Highway 99W (north of Beltline Highway). ODOT staff will review the freight route designation process with the council at the work session on November 17, 2004 (a copy of the presentation will be made available at the work session). BACKGROUND Currently, the only freight route designations in Eugene are along Interstate 5 and Interstate 105. The current proposal is to add routes along Beltline Highway, West 11th Avenue (west of Beltline Highway) and Highway 99W (north of Beltline Highway). Details of the Freight Route Analysis Project (FRAP) can be found at: http://www.odot, state.or.us/tdb/planning/FRAP.htm. Included is a 22-page staff report dated September 1, 2004, maps and proposed changes to the Oregon Highway Plan (OHP). The Oregon Department of Transportation began a review of the state highway freight system in 2004 and formed a Freight Route Analysis Project committee representing various stakeholder groups to participate in the discussion and designation of new freight routes on state highways. The committee advised on criteria for route designation and made recommendations of routes to be considered for designation. While still a significant increase (43% more miles of State Highway Freight Routes than existing), the initial recommendation for route designations was substantially larger that the current proposal for consideration. The proposed changes to designations and policies would amend the OHP. ODOT is scheduled to present those changes to the Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC) at its April 20, 2005, meeting, followed by a public hearing at OTC's May 18, 2005, meeting in Salem. Consequences of the proposed freight route designations include increased (more stringent) mobility standards to reduce the congestion on those routes. For example, a statewide highway within an urban growth boundary not on a freight route currently has a maximum volume-to-capacity (V/C) ratio of 0.80. With a freight route designation, the V/C ratio would change to 0.75. Therefore, designations will lead to more rigorous standard review of plan amendments and zone changes. The effect on design of highways and intersections may include additional travel or turning lanes to provide additional capacity to meet projected demand, roadway widths, median barriers and other factors. Pavement design would also be affected by freight route designation to accommodate anticipated truck loadings. In addition, the freight route designations would impact design and spacing considerations for access management approach permits. L:\CMO\2004 Council Agendas\M041117\S041117A. doc