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<br />.¤¨¦§¡®±§®®£ ¢§ ± ¢³¤± <br /> This is a social equity concern, particularly in the Whiteaker <br />neighborhood. A guiding planning document, the Whiteaker Plan, has been reviewed by <br />staff, and the safety improvements needed to qualify for a quiet zone have been found to be <br />consistent with the refinement plan. At the same time, a wide range of urban amenities and <br />a reputation as a cultural hot spot already have made this neighborhood attractive to <br />commercial development. The quality-of-life benefits of a quiet zone could be an additional <br />catalyst for residential and commercial redevelopment. <br /> <br />This trend is not unique to the Whiteaker neighborhood, nor is it specific to railroad quiet <br />zones. As documented by the Associated Press in tight housing markets, <br />particularly in large urban areas, demand for residential property appears to outweigh <br />factors such as noise from trains and freeways, industrial landscapes and other traditionally <br />negative purchasing incentives. <br />"´²¨­¤²² ¨¬¯ ¢³² 3 ¥¤³¸ ¥®± ¬®³®±¨²³² <br /> As discussed above () several businesses were <br />concerned about how safety measures would affect their operations, including customer <br />access and freight delivery routes. Public Works staff worked one-on-one with these <br />businesses to identify their concerns and look for workable solutions. The citizen advisory <br />panel included a representative from the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce, who helped <br />facilitate a listening session with local businesses. In making their recommendations, the <br />members of the citizen advisory panel chose safety measures that had the least impact on <br />businesses. Considerations related to effects a quiet zone may have on development are <br />%¢®­®¬¨¢ ¤¥¥¤¢³² ®¥ ­®¨²¤ <br />discussed above (). <br />Parking <br /> In the citizen advisory panel discussions, concerns were raised about parking <br />availability in the Whiteaker neighborhood and the potential loss of several parking spaces <br />if a median were installed as a safety measure on Van Buren Street. Staff estimates that two <br />parking spaces may be removed using the median option. No other concerns have been <br />expressed about the impact of safety measures on parking on other streets. While the <br />parking impact related to the quiet zone project appears to be minimal, the broader concern <br />about parking in the Whiteaker neighborhood may be an issue that deserves further study. <br /> <br /> <br />3®¢¨ « %°´¨³¸ <br />There are potential equity issues beyond the socio-economic impacts described above. <br />4±¤²¯ ²² ®­ ± ¨«±® £ ¯±®¯¤±³¸ <br /> Why do people walk on the tracks (i.e., trespass on railroad <br />property)? In many cases, the tracks are the are traveling east <br />and west through the north downtown area. Staff is trying to identify obstacles that may <br />discourage people from using sidewalks. Fencing may help people make safer choices, <br />especially if the fencing is combined with education and enforcement and if reasonable <br />walking options are provided. Other communities have used disincentives such as trespass <br />fines to discourage walking along the tracks. A common concern heard during public <br />outreach was that quiet zone efforts will be in vain if people continue to walk on the tracks, <br />because trains will blow their horns as a warning, even in a quiet zone. <br />Homelessness <br /> <br />establishment of a quiet zone and homelessness, indirect connections exist. To the extent <br />that the General Fund is used to pay for quiet zone safety improvements, that money is not <br />Socio- <br />available for other needs, such as addressing homelessness. As discussed above ( <br />¤¢®­®¬¨¢ ¤¥¥¤¢³² <br />), increased livability may increase demand for housing, driving out those <br />who cannot afford higher housing costs. Homeless campers living along the rail line are <br />among those who may walk on the tracks. Equity impacts can be somewhat mitigated by <br /> 29 <br /> <br /> <br />