Agenda Packet 2-19-19 Work Session

Home Browse Search

MovingAhead 2018 Outreach Summary 54 decisions in isolation, but rather in the larger context of LTD's overall service. In 2014, we conducted a series of community conversations, leading us to formalize these recommendations and to hold a press conference late that year calling for such a "big look." In late 2016, as you know, we invited Jarrett Walker to speak at a community event. And more recently, we have supported steps LTD is taking with Transit Tomorrow. A few weeks ago, Pat Hocken and Mike Eyster published a guest viewpoint summarizing BEST's thinking about how to improve the transit system: http://www.registerguard.com/opinion/20180708/nows-time-to-chart- transportations-future And tomorrow at the LTD board meeting, we plan to distribute copies of our community conversations report, substantially completed in 2014 and updated in 2016. We have waited until now to do so because we wanted to be able to thank LTD for already substantially adopting the recommendations of that report. Before tomorrow, you can read the executive summary here: http://www.best-oregon.org/ccreport/ In general, BEST strives to be a cautious and deliberative coalition. When we do come out with recommendations, we do our best to first vet these internally. And our recommendations are often more around process than substance, as we prefer to delay any substantive recommendations — for example, our ideas for a preferred MovingAhead investment package — until we have had an opportunity to weigh the available analysis. But for now, I will give you an additional heads up that BEST will be looking for whatever decision to come out of MovingAhead to reflect a strong story — a strong WHY — for making a significant public investment. General speaking, such a story will be rooted less in detailed technical analysis and more in terms of large drivers, in particular, opportunities to significantly increase ridership, and relatedly opportunities to support significant mixed-use and transit-oriented higher-density development. In other words, we will be looking for the results of MovingAhead to significantly advance the outcomes of Transit Tomorrow and Envision Eugene. • Westside Neighbors (JWN) opposes any future segment of EmX or other non-conventional mass transit being located on a street, excepting W. 7th Ave., within or adjacent to the area encompassed by the JWN boundaries." (The full motion is attached.) What is critical is to not misrepresent that the JWN unequivocally "oppos[ed] any EmX improvements within the neighborhood boundaries." A critical element of the JWN's position was the need for "amendments to the Westside Neighborhood Plan that address the implementation of non- conventional mass transit." The Eugene Planning Division has thus far not supported a refinement plan amendment process; however, the organization's official position remains ready and willing to undertake that process. As I'm sure you'll appreciate, there are individuals and at least one organization that feel free to mischaracterize JWN members as "NIMBY's," and it's important that LTD not unwittingly provide misinformation that these parties can promulgate to serve their own interests. * * * * * As a general comment, applicable to all alternatives, on page 3-11, I found the following statement: "For potential indirect impacts (such as supportive of TOD implementation) a 0.25-mile radius from fixed-route stops for the Enhanced Corridor Alternatives, and a 0.5-mile radius from proposed EmX stations for the EmX Alternatives is used. The 0.25-mile study area around proposed fixed-route stops and the 0.5 mile study area around proposed EmX stations are based on the maximum reasonable distances bus and EmX customers are likely to walk to reach transit." I think three things need to be addressed so that the public and decision makers do not draw the wrong conclusions: 1. There needs to be a full and "transparent" description of the justification for why the area from which February 19, 2019, Work Session - Item 1