|
EST EUC~NE PARKWAY MOD~F~EID PROJECT--CONStS~NCY WITH THE STATEWIDE PLANNING GOALS AND TRANSPORTATI~ ~NNt~ RUG
<br />
<br />the WEWP. Hence, auto-dependent uses such as shopping centers built alongside freeways, creating
<br />tremendous incre~es in automobile reliance, cannot occur in the vicinity of the Modified Project.
<br />Instead, adjoining properties west of Bekline Highway inside the UGB will remain predominantly
<br />vacant.
<br />
<br />inadequacy of Alternative Modes, Traffic ~tanagement ~leasures, and Improvements to Existing
<br />Transportation Facilities
<br />
<br />OAR 660~012-0070(4) requires consideration of whether the identified transportation need can be
<br />reasonably accommodated through one or a combination of measures not requiring goal exceptions,
<br />considering (1) alternative modes of transportation, (2) traffic management measures, and (3)
<br />improvements to existing transportation facilities.
<br />
<br />As part of the Transplan update process now underway, LCOG, Lane County and the cities of
<br />Eugene and Springfield have been carefully analyzing the regional ~sportation network, land use
<br />patterns and population and employment projections to identify future transportation system needs
<br />throughout the region. As part of this process, and consistent with TPR requirements, considerable
<br />attention has been given to the ability of transit, transportation system management, transportation
<br />demand management and transportation modes other than the automobile to meet identified
<br />transportation needs.
<br />
<br />The draft TransPlan includes consideration ofa~ressive transit and Transportation Demand
<br />Management (TDM) improvements that would reduce reliance on the automobile. As described in
<br />mom detail below, the analysis shows that with Bus Rapid Transit, overall transit ridership likely
<br />would increase by 50 pement by the year 2015. This is a significant rate of growth for transit. Further,
<br />~M measures such as employer support strategies, transit fare reductions, family car incentives,
<br />ridesharing, group transit p~ses, parking management measures, special user fees, and other
<br />techniques could reduce total per capita VMT by nearly t 0 percent. See Alternatives Memorandum at
<br />8-I2. However, even with these and other measures, the analysis shows that construction of the WEP
<br />still is needed to meet overall identified statewide and regional transportation needs.
<br />
<br />Alternative [~odes of Transportation
<br />The ongoing TransP[an update process is an extensive technical and public ef~brt to develop,
<br />evaluate, refine and recommend a balanced transportation system. As pa~ of that process, LCOG has
<br />carefully considered the ability of alternative modes of transportation, including pedestrian, bicycle,
<br />~sit, and fide sharing and vanpool programs, to meet regional and local transportation needs.
<br />According m information contained in the draft TransPlan Update (May 1999), under the fiscally
<br />constrained 20l 5 TransRlan, non-auto trips am estimated to increase from 13.0 percent to
<br />15.6 pement of totaI ~ips between 1995 and 2015, with pedestrian ~ps increasing from 8.6 percent to
<br />9.4 percent, bus ~ips increasing from 1.8 percent to 2.7 pement, and bicycle trips decreasing from
<br />3.6 percent to 3.5 percent. Shared anto trips also are expected to increase slightly, from 42.3 pement
<br />to 42.9 pement of trips, while single occupancy automobile trips decrease from 43.7 percent to
<br />41.6 percent of total trips. Alternatives Memorandum, Table 1.5~
<br />
<br />~e cities of Eugene and Springfield already have one of the best and most extensive bicycle path
<br />networks in the State of Oregon. The percentage of bicycle ridership in the region is substantially
<br />higher ~an in most other urban areas of the state. The region will continue to encourage bicycle as
<br />well ~ pede~ian usage through construction of new bicycle lanes and sidewalks and through
<br />implementation of the measures required by OAR 660-012-0045 to provide for safe and convenient
<br />
<br />56 These ~rcentages ink.orate changes to ~and use designat!OnS, dens,ties and designs to a~mm~ate
<br />~d~y m~ed use deve~op~n~ These ~n~ges ~n~omte ~anges to ~and use d~{g~at~ons, dens~ies and desk,s to
<br />a~m~ate p~estr~an-~e~d~y m~ed use developments.
<br />
<br />EXH~B~ C~i - F~ND~NGS 29
<br />
<br />
<br />
|