11/24/10 - City Council Newsletter

Home Browse Search

The poet laureate position is a collaborative project of the state's five statewide cultural partners: Oregon Arts Commission, Oregon Heritage Commission, Oregon Historical Society, Oregon Humanities, and the State Historic Preservation Office. The position is funded by the Oregon Cultural Trust and managed by Oregon Humanities. For more information, contact the Eugene Public Library at 541-682-5450 or http://www.eugene-or.gov/library. Comments Sought on Eugene’s Future Transportation System The future of Eugene’s transportation system is open for comment. The Eugene Transportation System Plan will look at all transportation modes, including freight, pedestrian, bicycle, transit, rail networks, airport and personal vehicles, to see what changes could be made to better meet the long- term needs of Eugene’s residents, businesses, and visitors. Public involvement is crucial to the success of this project, to understand the goals of the community for the development of Eugene over the next 20 years. A survey has been created to gather public input about the future of local transportation. The survey, called Central Lane Transportation System Plans, is intended to gather information to be used by a number of local agencies, including the cities of Eugene, Springfield and Coburg, Lane Transit District, and the Lane Council of Governments. Soon an interactive map will be provided on which comments can be “pinned” directly to a regional transportation map. A link to the survey can be found on the Eugene Transportation System Plan website at www.EugeneTSP.org. The website also provides background information, links to various transportation planning documents, and places to sign up for email alerts and submit online comments. For more information about Eugene’s Transportation System, contact Transportation Senior Planner Kurt Yeiter at 541-6828379 or kurt.m.yeiter@ci.eugene.or.us. Winter Storm Update While most Eugeneans were still in bed early Tuesday morning, Public Works Maintenance (PWM) opened its Emergency Command Center at the Roosevelt Yard and began dispatching crews and equipment to deal with slippery streets and a skiff of snow. Beginning at 5 a.m., Tuesday, maintenance staff had six sanders and a de-icing truck in operation. Crews worked throughout the day, focusing on priority 1 and priority 2 routes and making some headway on priority 3 streets in the higher elevations. Based on current forecasts, PWM anticipated that crews would continue to sand and de-ice streets overnight and on Wednesday. As of Tuesday afternoon, it was not necessary to declare an ice-snow emergency. However, notice has been provided to residents per the Eugene Code, and staff is maintaining current information on the internet at www.eugene-or.gov/snow. For more information, contact Surface Operations Manager Eric Johnson at 541-682-4800. City of Eugene Awarded Grant for University District Streetscape Improvements On November 16, the Oregon Department of Transportation announced Eugene’s successful award in the amount of $707,000 for pedestrian and bicycle enhancements to streets in the University District area. Public Works Engineering staff sought grant funding to make needed pedestrian and bicycle th improvements on Alder Street (Franklin Boulevard to 19 th Avenue) and 13 Avenue (Alder to Kincaid streets) in combination with a street reconstruction project scheduled for summer 2011. Key components of the streetscape improvement project include the construction of a new north and southbound bicycle facility on Alder Street, a new signalized crossing at Franklin and Alder, th on-street parking reconfiguration on 13 Avenue, increased bicycle parking capacity, and significant pedestrian enhancements in the small business district. The grant-funded portion of the project is designed to meet social, economic and environmental objectives. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 November 24, 2010