Item B: West 11th Transportation Corridor Study

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Implementation of the strategies in the corridor will depend on staff resources, funding availability and coordination with the City’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The potential for extension of West Eugene EmX transit service in the corridor may affect the timing of many improvements. It is unlikely that corridor investments will be made until a decision is reached on the extension of West Eugene EmX. Absent the EmX extension, improvements would be prioritized through the CIP. If the West Eugene EmX Extension project moves forward, that project presents the best opportunity to implement many of the corridor improvement strategies in a cost effective manner. Sidewalks necessary to reach transit stops could be built. In some cases, driveway accesses could be modified as necessary for transit station construction. Traffic signals that would need modification to accommodate EmX transit operations could also be modified to optimize traffic operations. The West Eugene EmX extension provides a win-win opportunity for corridor transportation improvements. Bicycle and Pedestrian System The Fern Ridge Path provides the main bicycle facility in the corridor. The study identified opportunities th to improve connections between the Fern Ridge Path and West 11 Avenue as well as filling in missing th sidewalk segments on West 11 Avenue itself. Sidewalks in the corridor are mostly adjacent to the road and are set back with a planter strip in areas of newer road construction. The study documented transit services in the corridor and gaps in sidewalk connections to transit stops on side streets. The community showed consistent support for improving the bicycle and pedestrian system along the corridor. Completion of missing sidewalks and pedestrian connections to transit stops may be most effectively constructed in combination with potential extension of West Eugene EmX transit service. Bicycle and pedestrian system improvements identified in the corridor study may also inform the Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan currently under development. Corridor Safety The study examined recent crash history in the corridor and followed up with field observations at locations with high crash rates. Many of the crashes and safety conflicts identified in the study are due to motorist and pedestrian behavior associated with private driveways near intersections. Safety recommendations suggest ways to reduce conflict points near intersections mostly by closing, combining or modifying driveways. Such changes could occur over time through access management techniques consistent with recently adopted access management policies. Access Management th The West 11 Avenue corridor has a very high frequency of driveway accesses along its length, particularly on the east end. The study inventoried the access points and objectively suggested ways that accesses could be modified, combined or eliminated to improve safety and reduce congestion. It is possible that the frequency of driveway accesses contribute to the perceived congestion in the West th 11 Avenue corridor. These numerous driveways create points of conflict (or potential for collision) for motorists, cyclist and pedestrians. When travelling through the corridor, driver attention is necessarily given to vehicles turning to enter and exit driveways. These conflicts can create stress for drivers, resulting in friction within the traffic flow and cause drivers to slow. The increased stress of driving through a corridor like this may take more driver energy and seem to last longer than it otherwise would. These driveway conflicts may help explain why many people anecdotally complain about traffic in the corridor while the analysis reveals moderate levels of congestion. Z:\CMO\2010 Council Agendas\M100712\S100612B.doc