Item B: West Eugene EmX Extension

Home Browse Search

Tree removal and replacement on the Gateway project involved the removed trees ranging in size, age, species and health over a seven-mile distance. Prior to beginning tree felling for the Gateway EmX project, we estimated that LTD would remove 286 trees along the Pioneer Parkway median. There were some trees we did not need to remove (notably the large sequoia at the corner of Pioneer Parkway East and Centennial). Sixty-five percent of the Pioneer Parkway trees were less than 10 inches in diameter; 40 percent were less than five inches in diameter. Along International Way, LTD removed 98 trees. LTD planted more trees than were removed in addition to adding new landscaping and art. The trees removed (and replaced) as part of the project represented only a very small fraction of the total number of trees along the corridor. For the new trees planted, LTD pre-purchased saplings still in the ground at the nursery prior to construction. This did two things: saved project funding, and guaranteed appropriate aged/sized trees for replanting. Trees have a better chance for survival after replanting, and grow stronger and faster if they aren’t too big or too small according to LTD’s landscape architect and arborist advisors, and our experience. For replanting, LTD typically uses two to three-inch caliper tree to meet this standard. th Recently in Eugene, LTD removed five street trees for the new 11 Avenue curbside stations located adjacent to SELCO Community Credit Union and the LTD Eugene Station. LTD paid the City of Eugene an amount equal to the value of the removed trees; this money enables the City to plant new street trees in suitable locations of their choosing. 6.It was claimed that you have not accounted for one million/annually in operation costs. Please respond. Response Please see response to question 7, below. 7.Bob Macherioni says you “cooked the books” regarding reported ridership numbers. Please respond. Response All analysis for the project ridership and cost estimating has been completed in accordance with national standards defined by the Federal Transit Administration. The modeling completed for the alternatives analysis utilized the network of routes that existed in 2007. This network was revised to reflect the level of service and routing that might be expected in 2031. The model generated a ridership forecast and estimated high level system-wide costs. This level of analysis is typically used to make preliminary locally preferred alternative decisions. February 28, 2011West Eugene EmX Extension 5