Agenda Packet 3-9-20 Work Session

Home Browse Search

EUGENE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Work Session: Franklin Boulevard Transformation Project Update #2 Meeting Date: March 9, 2020 Agenda Item Number: 2 Department: Public Works Staff Contact: Larisa Varela www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-6887 ISSUE STATEMENT The Franklin Boulevard Transformation Project has developed a preferred alternative for redesigning Franklin Boulevard from I-5 to Alder Street, with the goal of creating a safe and comfortable street for people walking, biking, rolling, using public transportation and driving. This work session is an opportunity for City Council to receive an update on the project and view the preferred alternative. BACKGROUND The City of Eugene’s 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 project has built 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 will not move forward through the Franklin Blvd Transformation Project, the new design concept that has emerged through public involvement retains the values articulated in the Walnut Station Specific Area Plan vision. The purpose of the project is to:  Transform Franklin Blvd from an automobile-oriented state highway arterial to a pleasant, safe, comfortable, high quality walking, biking and transit street while providing for motor vehicle traffic. CC Agenda - Page 59