Draft EUG Master Plan Update, February 2010

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CHAPTER 4 ALTERNATIVE PLAN CONCEPTS Considerations As the main automobile parking lot is expanded, it will approach Douglas Drive. In order to prevent passenger foot traffic from having to cross active roadways to access the passenger terminal, it is necessary to keep parking areas contiguous to each other and to the passenger terminal, and within the boundary roadway. Passenger foot traffic does cross the active roadway at the terminal building entrance/exit area, but the automobile traffic at this location is slowed to accommodate pedestrian loading and crossing. Introducing a pedestrian overpass or underpass is one way to move passenger foot traffic across an active roadway. Such structures, often having extensive stairways, are generally perceived by the traveling public as lengthy and difficult, especially to travelers who are hurried and carrying luggage. Such a structure may also require an elevator on each side of the road, a feature that would increase cost and maintenance. The perception of the traveling public is more user-friendly if parking stalls provide access to the passenger terminal by way of a direct walk. As it is beneficial for EUG to be welcoming and user-friendly, pedestrian travel routes beside those provided at-grade are not otherwise considered at this time. To keep the automobile parking within the loop access road (Douglas Drive), and to also add the required parking stalls, requires a relocation of Douglas Drive. The space exists to relocate Douglas Drive to accommodate the expanded parking, and the existing intersections can be adjusted to provide a safe and continuous traffic circulation pattern. This realignment of Douglas Drive will shift access to the main lot from the existing eastern entrance to the northern side of the lot. This improvement will remove the need for passenger automobile traffic to make a left turn across oncoming traffic to enter the lot, which is required by the current road configuration. The realignment of Douglas Drive will introduce one way traffic (west of Northrop Drive), so the only traffic movement requiring left turns will be by automobiles from southbound Northrop Drive turning onto southbound Douglas Drive. As passenger automobile traffic is not expected to use Northrop Drive, left turn movements across oncoming traffic should be reduced. Introducing an elevated, underground, or multi-story parking facility is one way to provide increased parking. Such structures are generally best suited for airports with constrained space, and with multi- story terminal access, and such a structure would likely increase cost and maintenance. As EUG is not in this situation, has available land, and does not desire such complication and extra cost, parking facilities besides those located on the surface are not otherwise considered at this time. Land between existing Douglas Drive and Taxiway B which would otherwise be available for airside development is instead restricted in use by the visibility requirements of the Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT). As surface automobile parking does not affect ATCT visibility to the extent of hangars and terminal structures, automobile parking is expected to be a good use for this land. This compatibility was considered in the siting of the existing overflow lot, and gives support to the proposed locations of automobile parking and circulation improvements. Additional parking in the main lot should be phased as needed. Initial additions will likely be able to occur without the relocation of Douglas Drive. Relocating the rental car service facility and storage lot to the 4-39 Eugene Airport Master Plan Update (February 2010)