Item B: West Eugene EmX Extension Update

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responses to comments from the public and public agencies on the DEIS and a thorough evaluation of impacts and identification of required mitigation. With the completion of the Final EIS, the selected alternative will move into design and construction. Service could be expected to begin in 2014. Amazon Alignment The Amazon Alignment is unique in that, unlike the other alignments, it has no right of way to work with. The general concept of the alignment is to have EmX run adjacent to the channel between th. Garfield Street and where the channel crosses under West 11Avenue. Station locations would most likely be at the point where streets currently cross the channel. Because the City and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are currently engaged in the preparation of an Environmental Assessment (a federally required process similar to the one being used for the WEEE), there are also coordination opportunities with the Amazon alignment. The Amazon Enhancement project is part of the Metro Waterways Study currently underway. This stretch along the Amazon Channel is known as “Reach 5” and has been identified by City staff as a high priority area for restoration. A map of the Reach 5 enhancement strategies is provided as Attachment 6 to this memorandum. One coordination opportunity is shared funding. For example, one of the primary strategies being looked at in the Amazon Enhancement project is to widen the channel through that reach of the Amazon. This would require a lengthening of the spans of the various streets that cross the channel. Because the EmX stations for this alignment would be at the cross streets, there may be opportunities for jointly funding the bridge-widening elements of the Amazon Enhancement project. LTD staff are currently working with Eugene Parks and Open Space staff to determine the extent of these opportunities. The intent is to explore options that would minimize impact to the environment and enhance or support the goals presented in the City’s Metro Waterways Study. There seem to be opportunities, but details that would allow the drawing of design options (such as the exact placement of an EmX alignment in the context of a widening of the channel) remain to be resolved. LTD is approaching the design of this alignment with the following design objectives: • Preserve the multi-use path • Where possible, separate the multi-use path from EmX (opposite sides of the creek) • Incorporate Metro Waterways goals and objectives for the Amazon Channel • Contribute to the enhancement of the channel Wrap-Up To recap, the federally required environmental process being conducted for the WEEE project is intended to provide the Eugene City Council, LTD Board of Directors, and the MPC with a deliberate and robust decision-making process. The cornerstones of that process are extensive public engagement and a thorough analysis of a range of alternatives. The deliberative nature of the process means that it will be at least 9-10 months before the analysis of alternatives is complete and a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) is available for public review. Following public review of the DEIS, the Eugene City Council, the LTD Board of Directors, and the MPC will begin the process of selecting a Locally Preferred Alternative. In the interim, the Council will receive regular updates on the status of the project. 4