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<br />e <br /> <br />Mr. Emmons said many of the Community Development Block Grant funds were spent <br />in rehabilitating 5th Avenue area but the livibility of 5th Avenue is <br />jeoparized by the traffic. He said the installation of a test diverter now <br />will help retain the residential character of the neighborhood, reduce through <br />commercial traffic, ensure public safety, and preserve the historical <br />character of the neighborhood. <br /> <br />Mr. Emmons said 5th Avenue between Blair Boulevard and Polk Street has twice <br />as much traffic as 5th Avenue between Polk and Almaden streets. He asked the <br />council to consider partial barricades at the 5th and Polk and the 5th and <br />Blair intersections, a traffic circle or island at the 5th and Tyler <br />intersection, and NO THROUGH TRAFFIC signs. <br /> <br />Rich Snider, 1697 West 5th Avenue, said he owns Eugene Mirror and Glass <br />Company at 5th Avenue and Chambers Street. He said his truck drivers do not <br />use 5th Avenue to get downtown but they do use 5th Avenue to get to areas such <br />as the South River Road area. He said a diverter at Almaden Street would <br />create a hardship for him. He said the Chambers Connector will relieve <br />traffic problems in the neighborhood and the diverter should not be installed <br />until the Chambers Connector is completed. <br /> <br />Mr. Snider said 5th Avenue is not used by through traffic going west. <br />However, several successful businesses have located near 2nd Avenue since 1979 <br />and they have generated increased traffic in the area. He said the 5th Avenue <br />residential area is close to strong business areas and the street should not <br />be compared to residential streets in other parts of the city. <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />Joe Janda, 1207 West 5th Avenue, discussed the process for considering the <br />request for the diverter from the Whiteaker Community Council. He said the <br />City staff stated that through traffic on 5th Avenue from Blair to Grant <br />streets is a problem but only a small segment of that area was surveyed. He <br />asked the council to, at least, direct the staff to do more research to reach a <br />compromise between residential and commercial interests. He said residents <br />have gone through many channels for several years and the council owes them a <br />good dec is ion. <br /> <br />There being no additional requests to testify, Mayor Obie closed the public <br />hearing. <br /> <br />Mr. Duke said the City will try to manage traffic as well as possible during <br />construction on 6th Avenue this summer. <br /> <br />Ms. Wooten said traffic on 5th Avenue greatly increased during construction in <br />past summers. Answering her questions, Mr. Duke said utilities will be <br />installed earlier this summer than in the past, drivers will be encourage to <br />use 11th and 13th avenues, two lanes will be open at all times on 6th Avenue, <br />and there will be a "hot line." <br /> <br />Answering questions from Mr. Rutan and Mayor Obie, Mr. Duke said 6th Avenue <br />will be widened this summer. The possibility of installing the test diverter <br />in October 1987 could be investigated. The businesses affected by <br />construction of the Chambers Connector would be contacted before a diverter is <br />installed. <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />MINUTES--Eugene City Council <br /> <br />January 26, 1987 <br /> <br />Page 5 <br />