01/26/1987 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e Mr. Coleman said 5th Avenue from Blair Boulevard to Almaden Street is only 32 feet wide. He said it is difficult for two cars to travel on the street if cars are parked on the side. It is even more difficult for trucks to travel on the street. He said other streets in the area are 34 and 36 feet wide. Mr. Coleman said people fear for the safety of residents on 5th Avenue if the present traffic pattern is not changed before construction begins on 6th Avenue. He said commercial traffic uses 5th Avenue as an alternative to 6th and 7th avenues. There is only one STOP sign between Blair and Grant streets. He said neighborhood people want commercial traffic directed to arterials. If the test diverter is installed, businesses west of Almaden Street would have good access on Almaden, Fillmore, Chambers, and Grant streets. Good access would be available to Ms. Johnson's business from Polk Street. Mr. Coleman said the goals of the Whiteaker Community Council Transportation Committee are to retain the residential character of the neighborhood, to reduce the through traffic, and to ensure the safety of residents. James McCarthy, 474 Brookside Drive, said he owns Emerald Office Supply at 788 West 6th and employs 18 people. He said he supported the widening of 6th and 7th avenues. He discussed the competition his business has from out-of-town owners and mail-order catalogues. He said congestion from construction on 6th Avenue will be disruptive to his business and diversion of traffic from 5th Street before the construction is finished will adversely affect his business. It will make access so difficult that customers will go elsewhere. e Mr. McCarthy said increased police visibility and the installation of YIELD and STOP signs would decreased traffic problems on 5th Avenue during the construction. He said the council can demonstrate its support for small businesses by postponing the test diverter until the construction is finished. Robert Emmons, 1064 West 5th, said concerns about traffic on 5th Avenue are not a recent phenomenon. They have been raised by neighbors since 1979 and 1980 when a petition was signed by 132 people. He reviewed the recommendat ions of the Spi 11 over Study Task Team. He said the Whi teaker representative on the task team did not live in his neighborhood and he was surprised to learn of the Chambers Connector egress onto 5th Avenue. Mr. Emmons said the present traffic on 5th Avenue is intolerable. Traffic counts between Polk Street and Blair Boulevard are as much as seven times normal counts for residential streets. Many trucks use the street. He said traffic problems on 5th Avenue will increase when the Chambers Connector is completed. Mr. Emmons said the recent Public Works Department study of neighborhood traffic was not valid because the area between Blair Boulevard and Polk streets was excluded and write-in votes were not counted. He said the concerns of businesses prevailed. He said residents should not have to wait for the completion of the Chambers Connector for a solution to the traffic problem. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 26, 1987 Page 4