Item 1: Southbank Bike Viaduct: Metro Plan Amendment

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Meeting Date: AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY September 22, 2009 Meeting Type: Regular Meeting Staff Contact/Dept.: Mark Metzger StaffPhoneNo: 726-3775 EstimatedTime: 30 Minutes S P R I N G F I E L D Council Goals: Maintain and Improve C I T Y C O U N C I L Infrastructure and Facilities ITEM TITLE: SOUTH BANK VIADUCT METRO PLAN AMENDMENT ACTION Conduct a first reading and public hearing on AN ORDINANCE AMENDING REQUESTED: THE EUGENE-SPRINGFIELD METROPOLITAN AREA GENERAL PLAN TEXT, CHAPTER III, SECTION D, POLICY # 11; ADOPTING AN EXCEPTION TO STATEWIDE PLANNING GOAL 15 WILLAMETTE RIVER GREENWAY; ADOPTING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ISSUE A Metro Plan text amendment and an exception to Statewide Planning Goal 15— STATEMENT: Willamette River Greenway are necessary for the construction of a bicycle/pedestrian viaduct structure (South Bank Viaduct) beneath the Willamette River I-5 Bridges. The viaduct will allow the future development of a riverfront path on the south bank of the Willamette River, connecting Eugene and Springfield through Glenwood. Metro Plan policy #D.11 of Chapter III-D (Willamette River Greenway, River Corridors and Water Ways Element) requires the taking of an exception “if a non- water dependent transportation facility requires placing of fill within the Willamette River Greenway setback.” Viaduct construction may require fill to be placed within the Willamette River Greenway setback. ATTACHMENTS: Attachment 1: Adopting Ordinance Attachment 2: Staff Report (Exhibit A to the Adopting Ordinance) Attachment 3: Planning Commission Recommendation and Draft Hearing Minutes DISCUSSION/ Eugene-Springfield has one of the largest networks of riverfront bicycle and FINANCIAL pedestrian facilities in the state. The current connection between Eugene and IMPACT: Springfield is limited to the north side of the Willamette River. The extensive south bank Willamette River path system in Eugene ends at Interstate 5 because of the physical barriers created by both the existing I-5 bridges and the proximity of Franklin Boulevard (OR 126B) to the Willamette River. Users traveling between the two cities along the south side of the Willamette River must cross to the north side of the river near the I-5 bridge or divert to the shoulders of Franklin Boulevard (OR 126B), a high speed arterial street. An ODOT Transportation Enhancement Grant of almost $1 million, together with $250,000 in OTIA funds and about $140,000 in donated materials will be used to fund the South Bank Viaduct project. The timing of the project will allow reuse of several concrete box beams from the Willamette River Detour Bridge on the viaduct project. As the I-5 replacement bridges are completed, and the detour bridge is removed, the South Bank Viaduct will be constructed. The Central Lane MPO Regional Transportation Plan, TransPlan, the Glenwood Refinement Plan and Willamalane Park and Recreation District Comprehensive Plan, call for the continuation of the Willamette River “South Bank Path” through Glenwood to Springfield. Construction of the South Bank Viaduct is essential to the continuation and development of the South Bank Path.