08/10/1981 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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signs, the new Federal Highway Administration speedbumps, walkways, and improving the 3rd-4th connector. The problems with the diverter were no surprise, and . they have been discussed before. The diverter is an inconvenience, but he believes it is worth it. The barrier would be much less capital-intensive than other solutions. He feels the traffic pattern has been changed and people do not now drive through the park. Initial resistance to the barrier has been overcome. A positive solution can be reached. Speaking in favor of removal of the diverter: Wen Evans, 1031 Leigh Street, stated that he has been a businessman in the Whiteaker area for about 20 years. It is difficult to get from the Ferry Street bridge area into the River Road or Whiteaker areas because of the traffic volume and the trains. Now, he is using the 4th Avenue "trail" and it works well until one has to get off onto Lincoln Street where it becomes dangerous. Unfortunately, the City has chosen for the main road to connect these areas to go through the park. He objects personally and professionally to this diverter. Whenever business traffic goes down, it is a concern. He would like to know what the volume of traffic is during different periods of the day and not just during rush hour. He would like to see the diverter removed, as well as other diverters because he thinks diverters are negative. He does not like to be told he is not welcome in neighborhoods he supports with his personal and business taxes. Leslie Smith, 2553 Terrace View, stated that he owns a business at 3rd Avenue and Mill Street and lived in the Willakenzie area for about 28 years. This used to be the only way to get to River Road, and he has traveled it for more than 30 years. This is closing down access and moving problems from one neigh- . borhood into another neighborhood. He can understand improving neighborhoods, but he thought that was done with bridges, not barriers. How can neighborhoods say they only want to have traffic in other neighborhoods, but not in theirs? Accidents have increased at 3rd Avenue and Mill Street, though no records have been kept. Two thousand people have been diverted from one place to another, 'and it is just moving the problem from one place to another for someone else to dea 1 with. There being no further testimony, public hearing was closed. A break was called. Mr. Hanks stated that Mr. Urso had asked what had happened to various other options. Stop signs would have to be addressed as separate issues. The Federal Highway Administration is conducting studies on speed bumps to see if they can overcome the liabilties and there is an experiment under way in Sacramento. Improving the 3rd-4th connector would be a difficult project and is dangerous now because the streets do not align. Traffic counts are done during peak times and 20 percent of the traffic goes through during those times. The number of accidents has increased from four to five (January 22, 1980, to June 30, 1980, and January 22, 1981, to June 30, 1981). . MINUTES--Eugene City Counci1 August 10, 1981 Page 8