05/03/1978 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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- - John Porter said if the 6th-7th freeway were not built, then some other freeway would need to be built in its place, i.e., the Amazon Parkway or Roosevelt facility, both of which would go through major residential areas instead of on the fringe of neighborhoods. He noted there would also be some major land-use conflicts. The 6th-7th freeway would make more sense because it would link the major industrial area with the major center of Eugene, which is felt to be very important. Also, there could be densities built along that corridor and it was felt to be in a better location. Mr. Lieuallen was not convinced this plan was the answer to the dilemma. Given the projected fuel shortage and level of increase in traffic the system addresses, he wondered if the City could support that level of traffic at that time. He felt that this would be planning for a life style and energy sources that will intensify. Mr. Porter said that along the five-year increment phasing, there would b~ areas wherein the plan could be increased, decreased, or adjusted. The plan was the best which could be produced given the known technology to date, and it does preserve some options which staff feels to be very crucial to future decisions. e Mayor Keller felt some of those outside issues are relevant to deciding 15-percent could be a reasonable transit goal. He said it has to be realized that there will be an increase in population, and in the past year there probably has been an increase in cars on the roads. He felt it necessary to do some type of planning. Mr. Obie questioned why not pass a five-year plan? Mr. Porter said it was necessary to start developing transportation corridors relative to land-use planning, which makes it necessary to look beyond five years. He said one thing working in the favor of the transportation goal was the cost of transportation which is going up at a rate faster than other things. He hoped people would soon use pedestrian ways, and noted the increased percentage of use of bicycles. He said it was necessary to use the year 2000 for land-use planning and the plan fits in with those goals and policies. Mr. Obie then wondered if it might be better to simply upgrade the major arterials rather than building more freeways. Mr. Porter said that might work for the next five years, and that was exactly what the plan was proposing. However, he noted if the additional funds were not received, the plan would not even reach those programs. He noted traffic-management programs are the key to the next five years. Mr. Obie wondered what had happened to the Amazon Expressway. Mr. Porter said it was found that 6th-7th avenue would be a better facility than either Roosevelt or Amazon together. One major facility could be built rather than two major facilities. He noted also that it was necessary to provide access to the west industrial area of the city. e 5/3/78--11 3~