City Council Newsletter - 11/02/06

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representatives from volunteer Fire Departments. These two entities will then meet with OSHA personnel to help educate and support each other about safety as it pertains to the unique environment of emergency incident scenes. This important assignment will also give the Eugene Fire & EMS Department an opportunity to identify potential safety issues as Fire Service expands its role in protecting the community. For more information please contact A/Deputy Chief Operations Randy DeWitt at 682-7130. th State Grant Approved for Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements on 18 Avenue On October 27, the Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (OBPAC) approved the City's application for a $345,600 grant for pedestrian and bicycle improvements on 18th Avenue. The ODOT Pedestrian and Bicycle Grant Program received 56 applications from jurisdictions across the state requesting a total of $12 million for $5 million in available grant funding. The Oregon Transportation Commission will vote on the OBPAC recommendations in January. Eugene’s project is designed to significantly improve the walking and bicycling environment on 18th Avenue between Agate and Alder streets. Bike lanes will be added to both sides of the street between Alder and Agate. The 4- foot-wide asphalt sidewalk on the north side of 18th Avenue between University and Agate streets will be replaced with a wider concrete sidewalk and a planting strip with street trees will be installed between the new sidewalk and the parking lane. There will also be curb extensions installed to shorten the crossing th distance for pedestrians at the intersections of 18 Avenue and Emerald, Onyx, and Harris streets. Of the approximately 5.5-mile length of 18th Avenue, the only section without bike lanes is the half-mile stretch between Alder and Agate streets. The sidewalk on the north side of 18th Avenue between University and Agate streets is presently a very narrow curbside sidewalk with parking meters, making the walking environment uninviting and noncompliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. To accommodate bicycle lanes entails removing the parking lane on the south side of 18th Avenue. However, parking loss will be mitigated by carving parking bays into the planting strip on the south side. Also, a few areas have been identified where additional parking can be added by reducing the amount of yellow curb and removing unused curb cuts. This project was developed in collaboration with residents and other stakeholders through two community workshops that included representatives from the South University Neighborhood Association, Eugene Tree Foundation, and University of Oregon. In total, these pedestrian, bicycling, and landscaping improvements will significantly enhance the character of 18th Avenue. In addition to addressing the th pedestrian and bicycle issues along 18 Avenue, this project will also improve the City’s infrastructure directly adjacent to where the 2008 Olympic Trials will be held. For more information about the 18th Avenue pedestrian and bicycle improvements, contact Senior Transportation Planner Rob Inerfeld at 682-5343 or rob.inerfeld@ci.eugene.or.us. Art's Up @ Eugene Public Library The Eugene Public Library and Metro TV are pleased to announce the premier big-screen showing of a new DVD about artwork at the Downtown Library, featuring interviews with the Oregonians who created it. The free screening is set for Thursday, November 2, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m., at the Downtown Library. Highlighted pieces include paintings, sculptures, mosaics, monotypes, art chairs, terrazzo floors, and stained glass windows by Jim Carpenter, Bob DeVine, Denis Keogh, John Rose, Lilli Ann and Marvin Rosenberg, James Ulrich, and Mike Walsh. These commissioned works were made possible by Eugene’s One Percent for Art ordinance. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3 November 2, 2006