05/03/1978 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Obie wondered if consideration had been given to developing 6th and 7th for a greater capacity than today (not a freeway), and also developing the Amazon Expressway. Mr. Porter said the 6th-7th avenue would not ~ become a freeway facility until it got to a certain service level, noting .., it was an II iffy II situation whether it would ever be built. However, he noted there will have to be major improvements to 6th and 7th avenue in any event. However, he said that five years from now, the energy situa- tion might cause that development to be viewed differently. The land-use issue was another factor regarding the 6th-7th avenue area, noting that' facility would not cut through the heart of neighborhoods as would the Amazon or Roosevelt freeway. Also, some neighborhood refinement plans were considered in the decision. In responding to a question from Mr., Obie, Mr. Porter said it was neces- sary to give a high level of service to the central area and the west industrial area, and the 6th-7th facility would create that result. Jim Farah said the plan does propose widening of 6th-7th avenue to accommodate immediate needs. It was felt that by the end of the century, 6th-7th avenue might be broken into two segments. He said it was necessary to think about that facility as street segments, and how it relates to the overall plan. Mr. Obie wondered how much land the State or City owned regarding the proposed Amazon and Roosevelt freeways. Ollie Snowden said, regarding the Roosevelt freeway, the State owns a substantial amount of land between River Road, Highway 99, and to Beltline. As of January 1976, he estimated the amount to be between seven- and eight-million dollars. Mr. Allen said, regarding the Amazon freeway, the City had close to 40 percent of right-of-way from Jefferson Street west. ~ Mr. Obie then said he felt it was necessary for Council to come to grips with the investments already made in the past, noting the change in plans. He was concerned with the starting of new plans every five years, going in separate directions. He questioned the financial logic behind that. Mr. Haws left the meeting. Mr. Delay noted the east-west corridor, with good planning, could be in fact one of the least offensive potential transportation corridors. He saw the lack of major capital commitment to be both the biggest asset and the biggest problem, noting that he did not know how the plan was going to be financed. He felt if the plan were going to be adopted, it might be necessary to start taxing for the projects now to be prepared for them later. He noted he had mixed emotions about the plan and was glad it was a long-range plan, noting the ability of Council to review the projects as they came before it. Mr. Lieuallen saw three-major holes in the plan: 1) Energy resources that will not be available; 2) the lack of financing; and 3) the question of housing density in the downtown area. Regarding the latter, he noted the plan projects an increase in housing need and an increase in employment in the downtown area. He felt the Council was not doing a lot to accom- plish this policy and should keep that in mind. He also encouraged Public Works to continue its consideration of traffic-management techniques. - 5/3/78--12 .311