02/20/1985 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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'" - e - February 12, 1985 MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Planning and P4blic Works Departments SUBJECT: VAN BUREN RAILROAD CROSSING On March 11th, the City Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing on Southern Pacific Railroad's request for closure of Van Buren Street at its intersection with the Southern Pacific Rail road. This request has been filed with the Public Utility Commissioner and was initiated in November, 1984. At that time, Southern Pacific agreed to the construction of the Chambers Connector overpass over their lines and switching yards, asking at the same time that the Van Buren Street grade crossing be closed: "coincident with the opening of the Chambers overpass... and that a proceeding be instituted to effect such a closure." The PUC staff have initiated a closure investigation that will eventually lead to a full hearing before the Public Utility Commissioner. I n response, businesses and residents in the Blai r/Van Bu ren area, the Neighborhood Economic Development Council (NEDCO), and the Whiteaker Community Council have met with city staff and PUC representatives. During the last several months, positions of area businesses and community organizations have been established as follows: 1. Petitions have been circulated among patrons of businesses in the area and submitted to the city, with more than 1200 signatu res indicating opposition to the potential closure; 2. NEDCO and the Whiteaker Community Council have obtained legal counsel to represent them as interested parties in the PUC process in opposition to closure of the at-grade crossing at Van Buren Street. Existing policy documents provide clear direction for the construction of the Chambers Connector to improve north-south traffic movements and connections between the River Road area and other parts of the Eugene area. These policy documents also provide direction for reduction of through traffic movements within neighborhoods to the extent possible. In all such documents, the construction of the Chambers Connector has been identified as a needed part of the regional transportation system, while Van Buren Street continues to be identified as a significant corridor within the arterial system.