01/23/1984 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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e e e and he added that this shifting may reduce the width of the sidewalks in that area. He said the other possible option for the east portion is an enhanced three-lane cross section with improved grading and wider lanes, thereby still qualifying for the State funding. He said this option would save all the trees but would possibly require the repair of some curbing. Mr. Obie returned to the meeting at this time. Mr. Bressler stated that some recommendations not fully investigated by the committee but which are worthwhile are: a three-lane cross section on 6th and 7th Avenues from High Street to the Washington-Jefferson Street Bridge, or at least a four-lane road on 7th Avenue due to the existing four-lane section, or a four-lane cross section on 6th and 7th Avenues from High Street to Charnel ton Street, with the remaining section to be included in the west portion of the construction. He stated that the DRC needs more time to develop and investigate these options. He said it would be tragic for the council to adopt the plan based on just the Build or No-Build Alternatives. He stressed that the DRC wants a good project. He complimented the testimony presented by the public and urged the council to act wisely, not hastily. Marilyn Odell, 750 West Broadway, a member of the Design Review Committee, stated that she was speaking in opposition to the project as a member of the Westside Neighborhood Quality Project. She said a letter from the WNQP was sent to the Planning Commission and she assumed that the council had read the letter. As a member of the DRC, she voiced her support for the improved three- lane road as previously described. She said the DRC has discussed the issues but no solutions have been developed; she asked the council to give the commit- tee more time. She said the majority opinion supporting the three-lane option is based on the importance and uniqueness of the Gateway Arch to the downtown and the concern for maintaining pedestrian access within the downtown. She said widening the roadway will narrow the sidewalks, creating unattractive and unac- ceptable walkways. While the DRC has discussed the four-lane weave option, she said ODOT commented that subtle curves may be hazardous. She said the council has demanded that 1-105 be part of the project; in particular, improved access on 7th Avenue. She said the adjacent portion of Jefferson Street could be widened, but she stressed that the same traffic problem will occur without improved access from 7th Avenue onto 1-105. She believes that 70 percent of the east-bound traffic west of Jefferson Street wants to go onto 1-105 and one lane is insufficient to handle this traffic. She said the DRC has not studied that portion of the project west of Washington Street and that significant trees exist there which need to be saved. She then recommended that the council approve: an improved three-lane facility east of Washington Street, to retain the current four-lane sections at an unimproved width, that 1-105 access points be improved to two lanes from 7th Ave- nue, and, as a compromise, that four lanes be built west of Washington Street, with careful study by the DRC to ameliorate the impact on buildings and trees. As an alternative proposal, she said the council should consider the weaving four-lane option. She said the council must consider that the project may be rejected for safety reasons and, if so, the council must make a decision on the downtown section. She said the four-lane option would also include improvement of access to 1-105, three lanes (and one turn lane) on 6th Avenue between Charnelton and Lincoln, and exploring a weave alternative for the section west of Washington Street. She stressed that it is important that the DRC be sustained in order to develop the best solution possible. MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 23, 1984 Page 17