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LOC Report Chronicles Deterioration of City Streets in Oregon <br />A new report by the League of Oregon Cities (LOC) makes a strong case for significant state investment <br />in the maintenance of local transportation systems. The report, titled “City Streets: Investing in a <br />Neglected Asset,” includes case studies from Eugene and 18 other cities throughout Oregon. <br /> <br />In every case, additional revenue is needed to operate, maintain and preserve local streets. Eugene’s <br />$2 million to $3 million annual operations and maintenance shortfall and backlog of more than $100 <br />million in pavement preservation projects is comparable to Salem’s problem, where nearly $10 million a <br />year is needed to address a backlog estimated at $97 million. According to the report, Portland is facing <br />a backlog of more than $325 million. <br /> <br />A common problem for all cities surveyed is a lack of revenue to keep up with deteriorating road <br />systems. “Despite enormous efforts by cities, Oregon’s local road system is deteriorating,” the LOC <br />report concludes. “Facing rapidly rising construction costs and working to accommodate rapid population <br />and infrastructure growth, local governments cannot make up for the loss of purchasing power in the <br />state highway fund.” <br /> <br />Eugene Public Works staff worked closely with LOC staff to provide statistical information for the case <br />study portion of the report. While the report in places struggles to find commonality in complex financial <br />analyses (for example, comparing Eugene, John Day and North Plains), the overall conclusion is <br />fundamentally sound: “Without a significant new investment in city road maintenance, this vital <br />infrastructure asset will continue to deteriorate and create enormous future repair costs.” <br /> <br />The report is available at the LOC website: www.orcities.org. For more information about the Eugene <br />facts and figures, contact Becky Carlson, Public Works Administration Division manager, at 682-8476. <br /> <br />Online City Code Improvements <br />After consultation with neighborhood leaders and the public, an alternative version of the <br />Eugene City Code is now available online at http://www.eugene-or.gov/citycode. While the <br />official City Code will still be maintained in the Weblink document management system, the <br />new version in Word provides solutions to needs identified by both groups. The objectives included: <br /> <br />? <br /> Download: Provide a lightweight, downloadable file copy of Code chapters; <br />? <br /> Search: Enable Code search using the Word application "find" command; <br />? <br /> Copy/Paste: Provide a vehicle to more easily copy/paste text; <br />? <br /> Quick Link: Provide a short web address to access both versions of Code; <br />? <br /> Maintenance: Ensure that the Word version of Code could be maintained without undue burden <br />on the City Recorder. <br /> <br />ISD and CMO staff will continue working on ways to improve access to all City materials on its website, <br />including the City Code. The input from the public and neighborhood leaders was greatly appreciated. <br />For more information or questions, please contract Randy Kolb, Information Services Director via e-mail <br />or at 682-5070. <br /> <br />TravelSmarT Presentation on April 12 Offers Insights into Changing Travel Behaviors <br />An opportunity to learn about one of the most powerful tools for changing individual travel behavior and <br />encouraging people to walk, bike, carpool and use transit will be offered on Thursday, April 12, at <br />5:30 p.m. at the Eugene Public Library (Bascom/Tykeson Room). Snacks and drinks will be provided. <br /> <br />TravelSmart is an innovative travel behavior change program that has seen great success internationally <br />by promoting the use of sustainable transportation options. In October 2005, the Oregon Department of <br />Transportation hired an international transportation research firm, Socialdata, to conduct individualized <br />marketing pilot projects called TravelSmart in Eugene, Bend, and Salem/Keizer. In each city, <br />researchers worked with randomly selected households to encourage a reduction in single-occupant auto <br />use and encourage more sustainable transportation options. This is accomplished through individual <br />outreach and assistance by providing project participants with informational brochures, personalized <br />timetables, maps, incentive items, and an array of transportation option services. The TravelSmart pilot <br />program in Portland was so successful that the Portland Department of Transportation decided to launch <br />its own version of TravelSmart targeted to specific neighborhoods. <br /> <br />EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 <br />April 5, 2007 <br />