02/10/11 - City Council Newsletter

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pedestrians wishing to cross the Beltline corridor must use River Road, a busy arterial street with five lanes of traffic moving approximately 32,000 vehicles a day. When using River Road to cross the Beltline corridor, cyclists and pedestrians must navigate the intersection of Division Avenue, the on- and off-ramps to Beltline Highway, and the intersection of River Avenue/Silver Lane. The extended trail will provide an option that reduces the number of vehicle conflicts with pedestrian and bicycle movements. The project also provides a connection from Eugene’s Bascom Riverbank Trail System to the street system north of Beltline. The project includes constructing a 12-foot-wide concrete shared-use path with pedestrian-scale lighting. Also included in the project is construction of a section of retaining wall to support the path and limit the footprint of the path adjacent to the river. The path alignment will connect to the existing West Bank Trail approximately 850 feet south of Beltline, run north along the bank of the Willamette River under Beltline, and turn west and proceed along the north side of Division Avenue to the intersection at Beaver Street. In addition, the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission has requested that three 12-inch-diameter water lines be constructed within the footprint of the path project to provide for future use as recycled water lines serving the area north of Beltline. These lines would go through additional permitting through the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and Oregon Water Resources Department prior to becoming operational. Recycled water use will benefit aquatic species by helping to mitigate thermal impacts to the Willamette River and by supplanting water withdrawals, allowing more water to remain in-stream. For more information, contact Project Manager Scott Milovich at 541-682-6086. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3 February 10, 2011