Laserfiche WebLink
Ms. Arkin stated the Lane County Planning Commission was charged with looking at the growth <br />patterns of many types of cities in Lane County as well as addressing regional transportation <br />issues. She asked why there was a need to increase parking while also looking at the expansion of <br />Junction City facilities for a state hospital and state prison in close proximity to the airport. The <br />Planning Commission had been discussing the role of public transportation in moving people <br />between Eugene and Junction City along Highway 99. She asked what provisions had been made <br />for public transportation, how active Lane Transit District (LTD) had been in the discussions, and <br />if more could be done along the lines of what Portland had done to make it easy to use public <br />transportation, reducing the need for driving and parking. <br /> <br />Mr. Doll explained LTD had not been receptive to expanding bus transportation to the airport, <br />feeling the only people who would use that service to the airport would be employees rather than <br />the general public. Staff would continue to talk with LTD. He added the majority of passengers, <br />especially business travelers, wanted to drive and needed to park. Although the proposal showed <br />new parking facilities, it would only be added when the demand called for it. It was not financially <br />prudent to have unused parking. <br /> <br />Mr. Smith added at the national level, as well as in Eugene, it was not easy to change behavior. If <br />people wished to drive to the airport, lack of parking would not necessarily discourage them from <br />driving to the airport. They were more likely to park on the grass or to drive to another airport <br />where parking was available. The amount of parking recommended by the FAA for a facility <br />similar to that of Eugene correlated with the number of people and the number of cars expected in <br />the future. <br /> <br />Ms. Nichols opined cell phone lots appeared to be efficient although they may not make money. <br /> <br />Mr. Doll responded staff had evaluated a cell phone lot, noting they had been popular in airports <br />nationwide. The popularity had started to fall off. There were already areas outside of the <br />terminal area along the road sides where people parked waiting for flights to arrive. Construction <br />of a cell phone lot would require maintenance, and the use would not justify maintaining the <br />facility. Many cell phone lots at airports the size of Eugene were being converted to other uses. <br /> <br />Mr. Smith added there was space for a cell phone lot at the Eugene Airport if the demand <br />warranted it. <br /> <br />In response to a question from Mr. Belcher, Mr. Noble explained there was a financial element of <br />the master plan update, which may not be related to anticipated growth or capacity, but rather how <br />the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) would be managed. <br /> <br />Mr. Nystrom noted the CIP was updated bi-annually. <br /> <br />Mr. Doll stated the airport had a five year capital improvement program mandated by the FAA, <br />which was used to help generate the City’s bi-annual CIP as well as support grant funding. <br /> <br />Mr. Smith noted not all of the improvements would be borne by the City. Many, including hangers, <br />taxiways and ramps would be borne by the developer of the facility. <br /> <br />MINUTES June 1, 2010 Page 5 <br />Joint Public Hearing of the <br />City of Eugene and Lane County Planning Commissions <br /> <br />