03/12/09 City Council Newsletter

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of inspectors to help evaluate buildings in their own communities and communicate critical safety information to their neighbors. Participants appreciated the training and the CERT program looks forward to offering it each year. For more information, contact Steve McGuire at 682-6800 or steve.w.mcguire@ci.eugene.or.us. Economic Stimulus Funds Flow to Eugene Federal economic stimulus money related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has begun to flow to Eugene. The Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC) on February 27, approved stimulus funding in the form of Federal Highway Administration transportation enhancement (TE) grants for two Eugene projects. The OTC allocated $2.25 million in TE grants to construct a 1,000-foot-long elevated pedestrian/bicycle path over the Delta Ponds and Delta Highway. This project will connect the well-used Ruth Bascom Riverbank Trail to the Cal Young neighborhood in north Eugene. The $6 million project is scheduled to be bid in May and be under construction this summer, providing an estimated 85 construction jobs. Additional funding for the Delta Ponds Bridge project includes $3.65 million in other federal transportation funds and a small amount of local transportation SDC funding. Rendition of what the Delta Ponds Bridge will look like when completed The OTC also approved an $180,000 TE grant to fund pedestrian facilities, traffic calming and bicycle-related components as part of a larger site improvement project at the Eugene Train Depot at the north end of Willamette Street, operated by Amtrak. The site work project will improve site features for ease of access, safety, and durability. The train depot building, renovated in 2004, was listed in 2007 in the National Register of Historic Places. With approximately 95% of design complete, the TE stimulus funding will allow the City to have a more successful transportation facility better supporting energy efficient and economical passenger rail travel. Approximately 17 jobs will be provided by this $1.25 million project, scheduled to be bid in June and under construction this summer. Additional funding for this project includes $874,000 from previous federal transportation funds, and $200,000 in City of Eugene funds. Both projects were awarded grants under a provision of the federal stimulus act that required a portion of the funds be set aside for the transportation enhancement program. This program is restricted to certain types of projects including historic transportation facilities, bicycle/pedestrian facilities and a few other unique types of transportation related projects. These two projects rose to the top because they were already federal aid projects with existing agreements with ODOT and are “shovel ready” in that both projects have completed their environmental documentation, have or soon will secure all necessary right-of-way, and are ready to be bid in the next two months. Additionally, both projects have completed public involvement processes and are consistent with adopted plans and policies including TransPlan and the City’s six-year CIP. On a broader level, the City is currently reviewing the stimulus legislation and the still emerging rules and requirements for each funding source, to identify good matches for projects that: ? Could move forward quickly enough to meet the legislation’s “shovel-ready” requirements. ? Align with the City’s existing plans and priorities. Significant time, planning and public input have gone into developing a number of projects that don’t yet have a funding source; the City hopes to find good funding matches for as many of those projects as possible. ? Simultaneously meet critical community needs and meet the specific rules and requirements of the funding source. Because a coordinated and mutually-supportive response might better position the community as a whole to receive the greatest benefit from the stimulus funding, the City and its regional partners have been looking for ways to support each other’s goals, and in some cases, join forces to build a stronger and broader case for funding. For more information about the Delta Ponds Bridge project, contact Project Manager Patrick Cox at 682-6854. For more information about the depot project, contact Project Manager Russ Mecredy at 682-6024. For more information about the broader opportunities provided by the stimulus act, contact Terrie Monroe at 682-5412. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 March 12, 2009