CC Minutes - 02/23/11 Work Session

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Mr. Pryor thanked LTD for its willingness to be flexible. He said the JLPAC forwarded the West 6 th /7 l Avenue option because Eugene was in the middle of a significant discussion of land use in that area, and he believed to limit the transit options before that discussion concluded would result in a less productive conversation. He agreed that a choice was needed as soon as possible. Responding to a question from Mr. Farr about tree removal and replacement, Mr. Schwetz anticipated that LTD would plant more trees than it removed along the route. Mr. Pangborn added that LTD would work with the City's Urban Forester on tree replanting. He said that trees were relatively expensive in the context of the project. He referred the council to the landscaping installed in connection with the Pioneer Parkway segment of the Gateway EmX route to demonstrate how LTD addressed the issue of tree removal and replacement in that context. Mr. Farr determined from Mr. Schwetz that LTD would consider the concept of running both EmX lanes on the south side of the power poles on West 13 Avenue, which would require LTD to acquire property but would create more of a buffer. Mr. Poling was pleased that the JLPAC forwarded the West 6 th /7 /l I Avenue option. He looked forward to more discussion of the merits of the two routes. Mr. Clark asked if the council was precluded from selecting the Transportation System Management (TSM) option. Mr. Schwetz clarified that the TSM option was intended to provide an analysis of a less capital - intensive project. TSM was not an EmX corridor. From LTD's standpoint, TSM was essentially a "no build" option. Mr. Eyster indicated the council could select the "no build" option. Mr. Clark asked if the anticipated $30 million in State funding was in the form of lottery- backed bonds. Mr. Eyster said yes. Mr. Clark asked how the State budget deficit and the State Treasurer's recent declaration that it would recommend placing several State projects on hold affected that element of project funding. Mr. Schwetz indicated that LTD hoped to secure the needed funding over the next three legislative sessions. LTD had requested $8.4 million from the current legislature. Ms. Taylor asked if the money mentioned by Mr. Clark could be used to fund education. Mr. Schwetz acknowledged the legislature could redirect the funds to education. Ms. Taylor recalled that the presentation indicated additional money saved by the West l l /13 Avenue option could be used for additional services, but she had been told the funding for the route could not be used for other services. Mr. Schwetz clarified that the reference in the presentation was to operating costs, not capital costs. Ms. Taylor asked if it was true that EmX buses cost more to operate than a traditional bus. Mr. Schwetz said the cost per boarding demonstrated that EmX was more efficient that a traditional bus. Ms. Taylor asked about the number of jobs created for the earlier system phases. Mr. Schwetz said the costs for those phases were less and jobs were fewer in number. Ms. Taylor asked where the construction workers went when the jobs were completed. Mr. Schwetz suggested that such workers were often local and moved onto other local construction jobs. Mr. Brown said he would like to see the TSM option advance along with the "no build" option. He acknowledged that most of the groups surveyed by LTD had favored West 11 /13 avenues over the West 6"77 Avenue option but he did not understand why. He suggested the greater number of businesses along 6 th /7 avenues justified selection of that option. Referring to the information provided to the council about employment along both corridors, Mr. Brown questioned where the figures were MINUTES — Eugene City Council February 23, 2011 Page 2 Work Session