Agenda Packet 2-19-19 Work Session

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MovingAhead 2018 Outreach Summary 64 wonderfully well for these streets for some persons accessing these businesses or for some to continue to downtown. Policy 23.0 in this Section states “Foster the development of attractive and functional commercial areas that not only increase property values, but enhance Eugene’s reputation as a pleasant, productive, and attractive community in which to live or do business. Recognize that innovative building designs and neighborhood-enhancing streetscapes especially those designed to accommodate both pedestrian and automobile users with sidewalks, convenient bus stops, and adequate parking are key factors in the success of such developments. An EMX corridor on Oak and Pearl Street would be antagonistic to achieving the goals of this mandate. In fact the existing condition of this area is in perfect compliance with the policy premises already. That’s why this mandate should not be disregarded now for questionable priorities involving efficiency. The reasons behind the LLC corridor are ostensibly to serve the LLC transit rider population. The projects time savings for this ridership population was stated by MovingAhead to be about one minute for the enhanced option and two minutes for the EMX option. In many respects this terribly expensive and disruptive EMX alternative for the LLC corridor is a solution looking for a problem. There is no serious problem with the existing adequate LLC transit regular bus system and with the large Amazon transfer station with park and ride it has worked just fine for south downtown and Civic Stadium. LLC student enrollment has been declining for the last 6 consecutive years. This enrollment may again increase to the earlier levels if the economy declines but still the projection is not for significant long term enrollment increases in the foreseeable future. Associated with the fact that LLC in its rural setting has many acres of onsite parking for the distributed automobile oriented population and has room for unlimited expansion if ever necessary. It is not only the contention of this commenter that the LLC EMX corridor is a overreaching solution for a non-existent problem but the proposal is devoid of a comprehensive understanding of other very important Eugene planning goals. The current proposal is a myopic vision of what makes Eugene more livable. It is simply thinking that moving a particular group of people faster is automatically a more desirable thing compared to other planning goals. It is acknowledged that the lure of free money from the Feds is worth consideration for community improvements to infrastructure. This was apparent in the extreme case for freeway overbuilding in the 50’s and 60’s supplanted by Dwight Eisenhower. Many have heard the LA heartache of please no freeway in my back yard. The myopic perspective of efficiency trumping livability is not new and must be questioned when seen for what it is. It is important to realize that the current LLC EMX proposal substantially changes the character of the last two remaining great streets in Eugene to save LLC student ridership two minutes. This proposal removes 56 metered on street parking spaces on Oak Street and approximately the same on Pearl Street. All total this is well over a hundred on- street parking spaces in front of businesses to be removed and replaced with dedicated EMX travel lanes and transit stops. This proposed corridor also removes street trees and landscaping in 7 long stations on the 8 blocks of Oak and Pearl Streets. This corridor February 19, 2019, Work Session - Item 1