03/14/1977 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Transit District and a member of the Lane Council of Governments. Mr. Dave Reinhard, Public Works Department, reviewed the environ- mental impact statement and the process to date. He noted that the request before the Council was for authorization of the environmental impact statement to be completed and sent to the federal and state authorities. Mr. Reinhard then proceeded with a slide presentation in which he noted on the flow chart the various steps which had been taken in reaching this public hearing for the enviromenta1 impact statement. He said there was a need for improvement in this intersection to alleviate the rush-hour congestion. An opinion survey had been conducted, both for house- holds in the area, automobiles passing through the area, noting the results were in the report distributed to Council. He said that 70 percent of those surveyed had favored the widening project and there was no proposed major arterial for this area. Also the need for the widening of this street intersection seemed to be the only viable alternative to the major congestion problem in the area. One alternative had been suggested, to stagger work hours, but no exten- sive investigation had been made of this alternative, as the potential would be limited. He noted that LCC and the University of Oregon were the major employers for people passing through this intersection and that their hours were quite scattered already because of the variety of schedules. Mr. Reinhard reviewed the environmental impact statement in which the following issues were addressed: 1) traffic will increase in the area, most from residential streets; 2) it is projected that the air quality will improve, with the auto emission controls, and the traffic flow will be somewhat smoother; 3) noise probably will increase because of the traffic increase, but the traffic will increase whether or not the improvement is undertaken; and 4) the impact on the park land would be that 16,000 square feet of Amazon would be taken out, but that 21,000 square feet would be put back in with the closure of 29th Avenue, and there will be other de- velopments in conjunction with the Parks Department in the area. Mr. Reinhard concluded that the Public Works Department felt the project was needed at this time. He noted the project is far from being completed in specific design, that Council would have the option on all the final details. He noted again that the project widening was an attempt to alleviate congestion. He said there was some sentiment against the improvement in the road widening, and that Council would have to face the issue of either approving the projected road widening, or take a look at the later use decisions of the area, that growth in that southeast section of town will bring higher traffic loads and more congestion in the intersection. Public hearing was opened. Sharon Posner, 2473 Columbia Street, spoke as a representative of the League of Women Voters of Central Lane County. She noted March 14, 1977--page 10 ~Ob -- e -