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

Home Browse Search

e e e project must be viewed as an improvement in order to receive funding. Mr. Gix said he did not have a formal decision from the Federal Highway Administration, but he explained that the project must either improve or maintain services. He said that any reduction in existing lanes would be viewed as a reduction in services. Mr. Obie returned to the meeting at this time. In response to a question on the new data on long-term traffic volumes, Ms. Decker stated that the data was not an extrapolation from the Portland State population figures. She explained that the new data was based on Metropolitan Plan population figures; she said the data was labeled as "raw" because staff did not have any specific figures on the 6th/7th Corridor. Mr. Farah stated that the paragraph in the T-2000 Update to which Ms. Wooten referred is stating that the raw data from the computer shows a slightly lower figure than the ODOT projection, but it does not mean that the project projections are "out of sync." He said the T-2000 Update is still in the calibration phase and the difference in the two sets of figures would not require ODOT to recalculate their figures. He said that either projections show a marked increase in traffic volumes in the 6th/7th Corridor. Mr. Gleason added that the T-2000 Plan is based on a metropolitan-based number that is independant of date and that staff is assuming that the total volume as projected will be reached. The public hearing was opened. Speaking in favor of the widening project: Don Norris, 1984 Kimberly, referring to an article printed that day in the Register-Guard on Lane County unemployment, stated that Eugene still has an 11 percent unemployment figure. He said the City Council made economic diversi- fication its major goal in 1981 and that goal was subsequently reaffirmed. He said the City Manager mentioned the Willow Creek Study and its relation to the widening project. Emphasizing the need for the infrastructure, Mr. Norris quoted sections of the Willow Creek Study which support the need for the 6th/7th Widening project. He said merely repaving the roadway would cost $5 million; thus, it would be more sensible to make the added improvements for the additional $2 million. In regard to the loss of the trees, he stated that he was originally against the project because of the potential loss, but he changed his mind when he learned that 600 trees would be planted. He supported the four-lane alterna- tive, basing his judgement on the improved traffic flow in the Charnel ton Street area which already has four lanes. Jim Saul, 2780 Elinore Street, voiced his support of the full reconstruction and widening project. He appreciated the input of the Design Review Committee and he supported the options to save the trees. He said the project was adopted by the City in 1978 and is integral to other transportation projects within the city. He said that backing off of this project would call into question the essential elements of the Transportation Plan already adopted. He stressed that the City Council has made policy choices on where growth is to occur in the city, stating that the west and southwest portions of Eugene have been targeted in the Metropolitan Plan. He said the denial of the project would also call MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 23, 1984 Page 9