AMENDED Agenda Packet 5-28-19 Work Session

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May 28, 2019, Work Session – Item 2 EUGENE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Work Session: Franklin Boulevard Transformation Project Update Agenda Item Number: 2 Staff Contact: Larisa Varela Meeting Date: May 28, 2019 Department: Public Works www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-6887 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. 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: Providing the retail services needed by residents of a vibrant neighborhood and an attractive and distinctive travel corridor that facilitates safe and efficient movement by all modes of transportation. Residents and visitors experience a unique and welcoming entrance to the city and the University of Oregon, arriving by bike, bus, car and foot. The multiway boulevard encourages use by pedestrians and shoppers by separating through traffic from local access traffic, increasing safety throughout the corridor and providing a quieter edge as well as parking options on the local access lane. Vibrant, green foliage in well-designed landscaping, pedestrian scale lighting and attractive, human-scaled architecture all blend to create a sense of vitality fused with elements of 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. The purpose of the project is to: •Transform Franklin Boulevard from an automobile-oriented state highway arterial to apleasant, safe, comfortable, high-quality walking, biking and transit street while providingfor motor vehicle traffic.