04/14/1986 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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e written testimony in favor of the conversion. The only costs for the conver- sion from 11th to 13th avenues will be for parking changes on the east side of Willamette Street, some sign changes, and traffic signal changes at 11th Avenue. Beginning the council comments, Mr. Rutan said he supported the recommendation of the Planning Commission and the Downtown Commission. Ms. Ehrman said concerns about safety on Willamette Street were expressed at a neighborhood meeting she attended. She said she will support the compromise to convert the section from 11th to 13th avenues because it will have a mini- mal impact and a minimal cost and it can be reversed if it is not successful. She would like more information before the council considers the 13th to 20th section. She would like to know why Willamette Street became one-way, what the traffic counts and income from parking are for Willamette Street between 10th and 11th avenues, and whether there is enough capacity for turns at lOth avenue. She said many people want downtown to prosper, but the council must be sure the conversion to two-way traffic is the right way to accomplish that goal. She said the recommendations of the Downtown Commissioners affect many people outside of the downtown. Mr. Miller said an adequate crossing at 12th Avenue and signs which indicate the change for bicycle riders should be incorporated in the design when two- way traffic is implemented. Ms. Schue said the staff developed an excellent study of the proposed change which indicated that the effect of the change will extend farther south than expected. She said she is not sure that being able to drive north on Willamette Street will make people eager to shop downtown. She said most people will still have to use the Overpark. She said she will support the experiment from 11th to 13th avenues if the concerns for bicycle riders at 12th Avenue are addressed because the change will not cost much money, but she would like the information Ms. Ehrman requested before considering an exten- sion of the two-way traffic. She said more people can be moved on one-way streets than on two-way streets with the same number of lanes, so two-way traffic may increase congestion. She said she will accept the compromise because of the public effort to get it adopted. Ms. Bascom said two-way traffic on Willamette Street between 10th and 11th avenues has increased the downtown vitality, and she will support continuing the experiment from 11th to 13th. She said she is very concerned about the impact of the change on the bicycle system because 12th Avenue is an important route. She would like traffic counts and other information before making a decision about extending the two-way traffic. Ms. Wooten said she will support the conversion from 11th to 13th avenues with the understanding that provisions for bicycle riders and pedestrians will be made prior to the conversion. She would like an assessment of the conversion from 11th to 13th avenues included in the Central Area Transportation Study. She said she will not approve the conversion from 13th to 20th avenues or the opening from 10th to 8th avenues on the assumption that it will help downtown business. She would like proof that the conversion from 10th to 13th avenues ~ has increased business before considering other changes to Willamette Street. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council Apri 1 14, 1986 Page 6