12/04/1985 Meeting (3) - Laserfiche WebLink

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The league had additional questions about project 314, the new bridge over the e Willamette River (Page 13). Ms. Rombach said more data was wanted concerning impacts on traffic patterns. She said the league was willing to assist in developing funding for the projects and favored fuel taxes and motor vehicle taxes as the most equitable methods of raising money. She added that Oregon had a low vehicle tax rate compared to other states, and she suggested something other than a flat rate, such as basing rates on age and cost of vehicles. The league's concerns also were outlined in a letter of November 20, 1985, included in the information packet. ~?h~l~a~a~d, 4038 Alder Street, Eugene. representing Sacred Heart Hospital, 19 19 te testimony included in information packets from the November 7, 1985, Joint Planning Commission hearing. He said Sacred Heart endorsed the general thrust of the plan, but the eight percent transit assumption for the area translated to a goal of about 25 percent for Sacred Heart employees, which he said they felt was extremely ambitious, although alternative modes would inevitably playa greater role. Mr. Hayward said changes in the health care industry were causing greater numbers of outpatients seeking minor treatment ranging in length from two to eight hours, adding that many were too sick to ride the bus or a bicycle, and indications were that the growth of outpatient services would continue. He said the number of inpatients also had increased in the past six months, placing additional pressure on parking and transportation facilities serving Sacred Heart. e Mr. Hayward cited the challenge of competing with major hospitals in the Portland area which, in most cases. included convenient access, and free or low-cost parking for employees and patients, and that of maintaining a livable, economically stable community. He said more than 20 percent of patients came from outside Lane County, up from 15 percent three years ago. adding that access and convenience were critical factors for that group, which he said also had an impact beyond the hospital. Mr. Hayward urged adoption of the changes recommended by the Eugene Planning Commission to provide for a clear amendment process. He said TransPlan did not address the current parking shortage at the hospital. He said approxi- mately 1500 people visited Sacred Heart during a typical business day, not including the second shift arriving at 2 p.m., and they vied for 813 permanent parking spaces, 391 of which were on surface lots that would disappear with more development. Mr. Hayward suggested that the statement in the Parking Element (Page 24), ". . . high prices or shortage of parking spaces can encourage transit and alternative modes use," was inaccurate, adding that those incentives also could cause problems between administrators and angry employees. He said Sacred Heart was the only major hospital in Oregon to charge employees a significant rate for parking, and he suggested the challenge was to provide incentives for alternative mode use and to acknowledge that change in attitudes and lifestyles occurred slowly. e MINUTES--Joint Elected Officials Hearing--TransPlan December 4, 1985 Page 6