Item A: LTD-EmX Presentation - Laserfiche WebLink

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the City of Eugene, Oregon Department of Transportation, and staff of other agencies; and monthly presentations to the project corridor committee. The conceptual design of the proposed alternative BRT alignments and stations will be documented in the Detailed Definition of Alternatives Report and Conceptual Engineering Plan Set, which will form the basis of the project’s environmental analysis. Throughout the design refinement process, LTD has remained in consult with City and LCOG staff focused on the Amazon Alignment, endeavoring to meet both the BRT’s operational and ridership objectives while contributing to the Amazon’s enhancement. Most recently, LTD and FTA removed the proposed BRT alignment adjacent to the Amazon west of Buck Street from further consideration in the project Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). The design change to the Amazon Alignment is being made because it appears to be highly likely that the th proposed extension of West 13 and the potential associated land use changes will not occur within the timeline of the WEEE’s Project Development process. As such, the current roadway network and land uses (generally industrial) are most likely to be in place over the near to mid- term. It is reasonable to conclude that the benefits of serving those land uses with EmX would not warrant the costs and potential environmental impacts that would be associated with an Amazon Alignment west of Buck Street. th Instead, the Amazon Alignment would connect with the West 11 Avenue Alignment Alternative, th generally at Seneca Street (as does the West 7 Place Alignment Alternative). The details of the design for that connection are still being developed, with several options being evaluated for a connection at a location somewhere between Conger and Seneca streets. Because the EmX stations for this alignment would be at the cross streets, there may be opportunities for jointly funding restoration and bridge widening enhancements currently being studied by the City in cooperation with the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The intent is to explore options that would minimize impacts to the environment and enhance or support the goals presented in the City’s Metro Waterways Study. The design objectives of this alignment include: • Preserve the multi-use path • Separate the multi-use path from EmX (opposite sides of the creek) where possible • Incorporate Metro Waterways goals and objectives for the Amazon Channel • Contribute to the enhancement of the channel Schedule Update and Process Remaining Attachment C provides a graphic showing the schedule and process from this point to the selection of the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA). Under the current schedule, the greater part of the alternatives analysis and the preparation of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) would commence in May and June of this year, respectively; a DEIS document would be ready for public review in January 2010; and decision-making on the LPA would take place in May and June of 2010. LTD, its consultant team, and various resource agencies are now preparing to study and evaluate the alternatives and their impacts, costs and benefits. A key effort of LTD and LCOG has been the refinement of the LCOG travel demand forecasting model to include EmX as a mode of travel Memorandum to Eugene City Council Subject: West Eugene EmX Extension Project Update May 13, 2009 Page 2