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said the EWEB substation west of Bertelsen Road, along with the Bertelsen - Slough, dictated the northerly shift in the alignment of Alternative #1. The highway would have an impact on the slough even if a bridge was built over it. Mr. Hansen was concerned about the businesses that will be disrupted by the highway. He suggested a 5th/7th one-way couplet as the eastern part of the highway. Jim Gix of the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) responded that some business owners testified that they could not survive on such a couplet. Mr. Gix said those owners would have to relocate. Eventually, other kinds of businesses would locate there, but there would be a great change. Mr. Gix said ODOT hoped to protect the capacity of the 6th/7th Extension and, eventually, have grade separations. A couplet would not do that. He thought couplets work well when the streets are close to each other, but there is a big distance between 5th and 7th. Some business owners would have to drive a mile to get from one side of a business to another. Answering questions from Councilor Bascom, Mr. Gix said the council recommen- dation is important because it indicates community support. However, if the recommendation is very specific, the design of the highway may not be able to conform to it. Advisory statements in the recommendation are appropriate. He said ODOT agreed to consider a grade separation at the east end of the project when the Planning Commission discussed the extension. Ms. Bascom suggested the project be modified somewhat to make it a parkway from Seneca to Green Hill roads. It could be called the Fern Ridge Parkway, and there could be plantings along the highway shoulders. Such a change would e comply with attempts to make the entrances to the city more attractive, she said. Mr. Gix said it was a good suggestion. The plantings must not cause unsafe conditions, however. Responding to a question from Councilor Ehrman, Mr. Gix said State law about billboards would apply. If the City does not want billboards along the high- way, it might have to buy the rights. Answering a question from Councilor Holmer, Mr. Gix discussed freeways in other parts of the state. He said ODOT representatives consider the 6th/7th Extension a "people mover." There will still be some problems because of cross streets. Future access points in the western section can be worked out by ODOT. Discussing the process, Mr. Gleason said the council will chose an alignment for the arterial and ask the voters to approve it. The design will be com- pleted later. Mr. Miller wondered about the impact of eliminating the limited access aspect of the highway for six or seven blocks on the eastern end. He hoped that 11th Avenue will be widened. He wondered if it, Roosevelt Boulevard, and 18th Ave- nue will lessen traffic enough so that the 5th/7th couplet would be suffi- cient. Mr. Gleason responded that much of the community's future growth has been shifted to the western part of the city. Traffic volumes will increase. The road system being built now will be used for 60 or 70 years. If not enough right-of-way if obtained now, other businesses will be negatively e affected in a few years. MINUTES--Eugene City Council Work Session December 4, 1985 Page 2