03/06/17 City Council Agenda Packet

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conditions, 2. Expanding bus transportation systems, 3. Improve traffic congestion, 4. Increasing bike accessible areas/bike lanes, 5. Cancel the EmX planning, 6. Improve mass transit 7. Bike safety. (Note #3 People would like to improve the current traffic congestion, not accept or make traffic congestion worse. People want to get rid of EmX and their concern for bike safety is down to #7 on the survey.) The TSP plan changes the ‘Level of Service’ (LOS) for Eugene streets citywide with a downgrade from a ‘D’ below average to an ‘E’ which is a failing level of congestion, one level above the total gridlock of ‘F’. Lowering the LOS to ‘E’ allows for more traffic congestion on all streets. This allows for lowered acceptable street standards and less system development charges for developers and supports more densification. System development charges should go to reimburse sidewalk repair and installation. Street and bike paths are built with system development charges and taxes, sidewalks should also be supported in this way. A lowered LOS to ‘E’ will result in slower responses from police, fire and emergency medical services. Since we already have enough buildable land within the Urban Growth Boundary (per Teri Harding 4/21/16 FAN meeting) to satisfy a 34,000 added population forecast over 20 years. Why would we downgrade all streets in Eugene from ‘D’ to ‘E’ LOS which, according to Oregon State Law, may allow for more density (i.e. housing) particularly along main corridors, when we do not need to reclassify streets (or all streets) at this time? There is growth and infill happening currently at a natural and slower pace than a massive rezoning or boom scenario would promote. Kurt Yeiter said, "The city is looking for what we missed in the TSP plan that we could do to keep traffic flowing." Do not lower the LOS citywide and stop creating traffic congestion. Do not lower the LOS, this does not improve traffic congestion, it supports more. West 29th Ave has congestion with stopped traffic between the Lincoln St and Woodfield Station traffic lights. The noise, congestion and pollution from added cars dodging the restriping test on South Willamette St has created difficulty with renting my properties for the first time in 26 years. It’s now so unpleasant to walk on W 29th Ave, thus leading to a decrease in pedestrian traffic and walkability. Remove “Parking In-Lieu Fees” from the TSP. Parking in-lieu fees are developer fees paid if they cannot or do not want to provide on-site parking for the development. The idea behind these fees is to decrease the amount of off-street, private parking and consolidating parking supplies on-street or in parking garages as a way to decrease parking demand on the development site. Parking in-lieu fees may benefit developers by reducing costs and allowingmore intensive development on a site. This does not benefit the existing neighborhoods. For example, not requiring on-site parking and the effects of Cascade Manor’s employees on-street parking on 30th Ave, Portland, Olive and Charnelton Streets is an issue for my neighborhood. Kurt Yeiter also mentioned the Climate Recovery Ordinance (CRO) included in the TSP. The CRO wants a 50% reduction in CO2 and automobiles using the road by 2030. This is unrealistic to the extreme. The TSP Complete Streets want to narrow streets and eliminate street parking to create congestion to eliminate automobiles. In reality there will be more congestion, not less cars. I have seen no decrease in car traffic, you are creating more of a problem, not solving one. In the context of the CRO, increasing capacity on Beltline does not make sense while at the same time strangling the city’s traffic. If Vision Zero is part of TSP, bike helmets should be mandatory to support the policy of zero injuries and deaths. Also bike registration should be required to provide education for bicyclists, (like automobile drivers), and to provide ID for bikes in case of theft. There appears to be no age limit with kids riding bikes along busy streets, even if they are not in control of a bike yet, this is unsafe and irresponsible, remember Vision Zero goals.