02-15-17 City Council Agenda Packet

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Emphasize the proximity of the university to downtown. 5.Connectivity The University of Oregons campus is only one mile from Many said that forging connections between the various downtown, yet students perceive downtown as much further parts of Eugene and the downtown appears crucial to devel- away. The Barn Light has gone as far as highlighting bike oping a critical mass of people in the citys core. routes between the two to combat the dissonance. We heard that the bus schedule is more limited on weekend nights, Improve connections between downtown destinations. and without Uber or Lyft, people think late night outings are Downtown public spaces feel disconnected, according to harder. connect the fragmented parts of downtown and develop the Enhance access from North and West Eugene to the down- sense of a downtown core. Other local touches like trails of town. River Road is the one street that runs downtown from duck prints or public art could help bridge the gaps in down- northern Eugene. Bus trips from these neighborhoods take town users mental maps. Barren alleys could function both a long time. Its hard to get people from the outer neighbor- as connectors and gathering or art spaces. hoods to downtown. Emphasize Willamette to Willamette. Many downtown Enhance accessibility for families and the mobility-chal- stakeholders believe that 8th Avenue should be a pedestri- lenged. In conversations with disability advocates, we heard an-friendly boulevard connecting the downtown to the riv- that Eugene has a large senior and disabled population. erfront. Transforming it from a one-way to a two-way street, Around 13% of people in Eugene identify as having a dis- ability. There is not enough disabled parking around major make the connection. The highway viaduct is a mental bar- rier between the downtown and the riverfront for many. Cap- for wheelchairs, baby strollers, elders, and people with dis- italize on new development on East 8th Avenuestudent abilities. Many downtown curb cuts are angled at 45 degrees housing, the Barn Light East, Sam Bonds Brewing Co. and into the intersection, sending disabled users between cross- the Northwest Community Credit Unionto help bridge the gap. - Enhance connections to Eugenes other natural assets trian realm. Downtown plans recommend transforming from the downtown. Improve connections to Skinner Butte, one-way streets into two-way: e.g. 7th Avenue, 8th Avenue, the river trails and parks, and other parks that lie outside the downtown. they are disrupted (e.g. Willamette) or are slowed by activi- ties (e.g. 8th Avenue on market day). 25