Ordinance No. 20258 - Laserfiche WebLink

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W~$T E~NE PARKWAY ~F~D PROJECT-~-~ONSISTEN~ WITH THE STATEWtDE PLANNt~tG GOALS AND TRANSPORTATION PLANN!NG RUL~ reduce reliance on the automobile, including Bus Rapid Transit, transpo~tion demand management, and encouragement o£travel by fbot and bicycle. Moreover, the City of Eugene has amended its land use regulations to comply with OAR 660-012~0045 to support and encourage travel by bike, foot and transit~ Still, for the reasons spelled out below in the discuss[on o£ compliance with OAR 660-0 I2- 0070(4) and incorporated herein by this reference, these measures do not eliminate the need for the WEP. Under O~ 660-012~0030(4), calculations of local and regional transportation needs are to be based upon accomplishment of the requirements in OAR 660-012~0035(4) to reduce reliance on the automobile. Specifically, OAR 660-012-0035¢) requires Eugene-Springfield area l~al governments to design their TSPs to achieve a 5 pemem reduction in vehicle miles traveled per capita (VMT) within 20 yem of TSP adoptiom However, under OAR 660~012~0035(5)~ the Eugene-Springfield region may seek authorization from LCDC to use alternative standards in place of the VMT standards to demonstrate progress to'wards achieving reduced automobile reliance through means identified in that rule section. It currently appears to be the region's intention to do so. A Eugene~Spfingfield trans~rtation plan constituting a "TSP' meeting TPR requirements has not yet been adopte& When these jurisdictions adopt that TSP, they will apply the VMT standard (or an altematN¥) on a regional system planning b~is rather than an individual project development basis. ~e aim is to develop a trans~rtation system that, overall, meets the VMT or alternate standard. Nothing in the standard precludes a single project from increasing VMT, provided that the TSP, as a whole, has an overall effect of reducing VMT or making progress towards achieving reduced automobile reliance tbxough other approved means. It is likely that local land use approval for the Modified Project will precede local TSP adoption. The question of how the VMT standard applies prior to adoption of a regional TSP is addressed in a December 9, 1991 letter from Larry gmudsen, Assistant Attorney General, to Michal A. Wert, Highway Division. "OAR 66042~035(4) establishes objectNes for the reduction of vehicle miles tmveted (VMT) ~n Metropolitan Planni~ Organization (MPO) areas. ~ere has been some question about whether the numerical reduction objectives apply to individual transportation projects and whether they apply at all to ('_)DOT. "In my opinion, the objectives do not apply directly to individual projects. Rather, they are to be applied over an entire planning area and over a specific (JO and 20 year) time period tn other word& a TSP ma3, include a project that fails to reduce (or even increases) VMT so long as the plan, as a whole, is designed to achieve the objective. "The role does not expressly apply to ODOT. By its terms, only 'regional and local TSPs shall be designed to achieve' VMT reduction o~ectives. Indirectly, however, the rule does affect ODOT~ For example, VMT reduction objections isleI must be considered when calculating local and regional needs in the preparation of a plan. OAR 660-t2-030(4). Similarly, under the state agency coordination program, ODOT's actions (with respect to programs affecting land use) must comply with the storewide goals and be compatible wkh local land use plans. Unless a project is authorized by acknowledged local plan provisions, ODOT should consider whether a proposed land use action would make it impracticable for the MPO to achieve its Vl~ objectives." (Emphasis added.) Here, the West Eugene Parkway is authorized by acknowledged comprehensive plan provisions. Given that fact, plus the fact that the Modified Project alters only the project location rather than its need, it would appear that OAR 660-012-0035(4) need not be further considered. It is EXHtBff C4 - F~NDINGS 27