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Mr. Poling reported that construction activities on 1-105 were generally completed. He thanked the Oregon <br />Department of Transportation (ODOT), City staff, and all the motorists who put up with congestion during <br />construction. He said that delays during construction at peak hours were generally minimal. While the main <br />closures were over, Mr. Poling wished to remind citizens that the speed limit remained at 40 miles per hour <br />while construction activities continued at the side of the road. <br /> <br />City Manager Taylor discussed a recent visit from friends who he had taken around the community. He had <br />been struck by the number of visitors in Eugene and how many visitors were in town for the Bach and Black <br />Sheep festivals. <br /> <br />B. WORK SESSION: Progressive Corridor Enhancement <br /> <br />The council was joined by Lisa Gardner of the Public Works Department, who introduced Mike Eyster of <br />the Lane Transit District (LTD) Board of Directors, LTD General Manager Ken Hamm, LTD Development <br />Services Director Stefano Viggiano, and LTD EmX Project Engineer Graham Carey. Ms. Gardner recalled <br />the council's joint work session with the Lane Transit District board the previous year to discuss the <br />planning for the Franklin EmX corridor, future corridors, and general service issues. She said that Mr. <br />Eyster was present to provide the council with details about progressive corridor enhancement, a strategy <br />that LTD developed to sustain project momentum and that would lead to eventual Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) <br />implementation. <br /> <br />Mr. Eyster reported that LTD was on schedule with the initial phases of the BRT system. He noted the <br />reauthorization of funding for the second phase of the Pioneer Parkway corridor was included in the current <br />federal transportation funding bill and LTD hoped to have that corridor operational in 2010. Planning for <br />the third EmX corridor was on hold because of the long-term decision making process for funding. He <br />anticipated that LTD would begin planning for that corridor in cooperation with the City when more was <br />known about the funding. In the meantime, Mr. Eyster said LTD was working on its Progressive Corridor <br />Enhancement (PCE) Project in order to ameliorate congestion problems and make public transportation <br />more attractive to the community. <br /> <br />Mr. Eyster called the council's attention to Attachment A in the meeting packet, entitled Progressive <br />Corridor Enhancement: Improving Transit on Key Corridors, which identified four levels of EmX <br />corridor improvements, with Level 4 being full implementation of BRT. The other levels included items that <br />could be accomplished rapidly but were short of full implementation of BRT. He said that on June 15, the <br />board authorized staff to proceed with the first enhancement project, the River Road-Lane Community <br />College (LCC) corridor. He anticipated completion of the PCE project by fall 2006. Other future corridors <br />would be based on staff recommendations and would occur in one-year increments following completion of <br />the first enhancement corridor. Mr. Eyster projected a cost of $3 million for the three future corridors, <br />noting that funding had been requested in the current federal transportation bill. A 20-percent match was <br />required, which LTD had budgeted. <br /> <br />Mayor Piercy called for questions and comments. <br /> <br />Mr. Kelly expressed appreciation for the work of LTD. <br /> <br />MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 27, 2005 Page 4 <br /> Work Session <br /> <br /> <br />