04/08/1985 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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- traffic circulation and accessibility to the downtown, to stimulate business activity in the downtown, to indicate that Willamette Street is the major entrance to the downtown, to provide access to the Athletic Club, and to enhance Willamette Street's role as the City's main street. The project is to be started in mid-April of this year and finished by the end of the construc- tion season. e Mr. Schwartz said the turn-out space for the Athletic Club and the re-location of the LTD transit stations need additional study. He did not understand why the location of the transit stations is a problem. He said the original plan for the pedestrian mall did not include the block from 10th to 11th. When that block was added, the staff indicated the mall would be too large and that opinion has proven to be true. Mr. Schwartz asked the council to approved the design recommended by the Downtown Commission. The commission indicated that the wide sidewalk will detract from the entrance to the downtown, will make the area look congested, and will make parking difficult. Dorothy Anderson, 939 East 21st, is president of the Planning Commission and represented the Planning Commission. She said the commission voted 4:2 to forward its recommendation to the council. Three commissioners who voted in favor of the recommendation asked her to emphasize their concerns to the council. The commissioners were concerned about timing, the cost of the whole project, the cost of moving the LTD transit stations and how the move will be funded, signalization, and how continued contact between LTD and the City can be assured. She said the concern about signalization included both cost and timing. Buses and cars will be turning and going straight at the intersection of 10th and Willamette and pedestrians will be crossing the streets. The commission was told a computerized signal system will be installed in a year or two, but the interim system will not be as good. The commission had been persuaded that the sidewalk bulges are important to indicate a transition to the pedestrian mall and to increase pedestrian space especially for LCC students. Janet Calvert, 1962 Woodside Drive, is president of the Lane Transit Board of Directors. She represented the Board. She said LTD was concerned about the impact of the street opening on operations and passengers. The concerns involved the conflicts and safety problems of buses, cars, and passengers; possible delays for transferring passengers and continuing schedule and operation disruptions; and projected costs for resolving the conflicts, delays, and disruptions. She pointed out that passengers who miss a bus when transferring usually have to wait 30 minutes. Ms. Calvert said the effect of bisecting the transit station has not been resolved by the recommended design. An alternative must be implemented simultaneously with the street opening to maintain the effectiveness of the transit system and the City and LTD investment in the Mall Transit Station. In a letter, the LTD Board asked the council to approve a joint LTD/City Design Task Team to review the design for moving two bus stations from the south side of 10th east of Willamette to 10th Avenue and Olive Street, to e MINUTES--Eugene City Council April 8, 1985 Page 3