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February 25, 2019, Work Session – Item 2 <br />EUGENE CITY COUNCIL <br />AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY <br />Work Session: Franklin Boulevard Transformation Project Update Meeting Date: February 25, 2019 Agenda Item Number: 2 Department: Public Works Staff Contact: Larisa Varela <br />www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-6887 <br />ISSUE STATEMENT The Franklin Boulevard Transformation Project will develop alternatives for redesigning Franklin Boulevard from I-5 to Alder Street with the goal of creating a safe and comfortable street for people walking, biking, using public transportation and driving. This work session is an opportunity for the City Council to learn about the project including the timeline, public involvement plan and draft design concepts. <br />BACKGROUND City of Eugene adopted land use and transportation plans identify Franklin Boulevard as one of six key corridors in Eugene. Key Corridors are streets that have or are planned to have frequent transit service (approximately every 15 minutes or less). Franklin is an especially important corridor because it serves as the spine of the regional EmX bus rapid transit system. The Franklin Boulevard Transformation builds off of the Walnut Station Specific Area Plan. In this vision from the Walnut Station Specific Area Plan, Franklin is transformed by: <br />Providing the retail services needed by residents of a vibrant neighborhood and <br />an attractive and distinctive travel corridor that facilitates safe and efficient <br />movement by all modes of transportation. Residents and visitors experience a <br />unique and welcoming entrance to the city and the University of Oregon, <br />arriving by bike, bus, car and foot. The multiway boulevard encourages use by <br />pedestrians and shoppers by separating through traffic from local access <br />traffic, increasing safety throughout the corridor and providing a quieter edge <br />as well as parking options on the local access lane. Vibrant, green foliage in <br />well-designed landscaping, pedestrian scale lighting and attractive, human- <br />scaled architecture all blend to create a sense of vitality fused with elements of <br />nature.While the multiway boulevard street design concept may change through the Franklin Boulevard Transformation Project, any new design concepts that emerge will retain the values articulated in the Walnut Station Specific Area Plan vision.