CC Minutes - 02/08/11 JEO Public Hearing

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MINUTES OF JOINT PUBLIC HEARING WITH EUGENE CITY COUNCIL, Page 9 METROPOLITAN POLICY COMMITTEE, AND LANE TRANSIT DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS, FEBRUARY 8, 2011 needs EmX. It will provide fast, efficient, accessible transportation to employees, students, and shoppers. Art Robinson, Cave Junction, said Eugene is an outstanding city and home to an outstanding university. It has an excellent public transportation system, which needs to continue to improve. He said the community should consider changes for one or two years and not spend $100 million for projections for 20 years from now. The country is short of money and is having trouble paying for social security, Medicare, and veterans care. The country needs to save money right now. The community may not need buses 20 years from now. Each community needs to do its part and consider how to solve the immediate problems at the lowest possible price. There are lots of other things that are important, and everyone needs to tighten their belts. Lela Trope, Hayden Bridge Road, Springfield, said she has been to lots of meetings but has heard no bottom line numbers from LTD. The bus drivers do not like EmX and do not like the EmX vehicles. She agreed with Mr. Robinson that the country does not have the money now. Eugene is not growing at the rate of Seattle or Portland, and we are driving people out with taxes. The infrastructure funding being offered by Congressman Peter DeFazio for capital improvements will not fund maintenance and other improvement costs. The existing roads cannot handle the added weights. Kono Wong, West 11 Eugene, has been in business for 25 years and has a restaurant on West 11 Avenue. He stated his opposition to EmX expansion. Although it is good and prudent to look out 10 or 20 years, the reality of today's struggling economy makes it unrealistic. He is focused on having to lay off another employee, and whether he has enough money to pay rent. He is struggling to keep up on day -to -day expenses. EmX construction will be devastating to him. It will not be a temporary inconvenience for his business, but will be the final nail in the coffin. Businesses on West 11 th Avenue are not doing well now. We should look at this project when times are better. Jennifer Hayward, University Street, Eugene, stated her support for moving forward with EmX because it would provide quicker and more convenient access to West Eugene. She is a Lane Community College student and believes that EmX would help students going to campus and result in less congestion. Lisa Sansevere, West 18 Eugene, had a letter. She has not talked with people who live and have businesses in West Eugene. She asked where the money would come from. The City of Eugene does not have the money. EmX should not be there. People should look at the West 11 Avenue choke and turning points. EmX will destroy Walmart and Target. Springfield went through the same thing. She advised that the deciding bodies should think before doing something. She does not want EmX, and she believes other people do not want it either. Jon Hinds, 5 th Street, Springfield, stated that he is a preschool teacher and LTD Budget Committee member. He supports EmX. The cost of doing nothing today will be more costly in 10 -15 years. Increased traffic will require a costly realignment of West 11 Avenue. EmX will help with revitalizing the fairgrounds and provide kids in 10 years with a way to travel from the Gateway area to the fairgrounds without transferring. LTD is supporting economic development for the future of the community. He asked where Portland would be without light rail. Betsy Payne, Jefferson Avenue, Eugene said that she would be impacted by EmX as she lives on Jefferson Avenue. She is concerned that 40 percent of the federal money is borrowed from overseas, creating debt for our children and grandchildren. Bus routes have been cut. The promises made to people in Springfield disappeared, and LTD will do what they originally planned. She said that buses cannot run in mixed traffic on Jefferson, and LTD cannot be trusted.