Item B: Update on Transportation System Plan

Home Browse Search

• The TSP should do its best to meet the goals set forth in the local Climate and Energy Action Plan and Oregon Sustainable Transportation Initiative. • Increases in fuel prices create increased demand for alternatives to single-occupant automobiles, such as public transit, safe and convenient bike facilities, and housing located nearer stores and employment. • Money not spent on transportation is money spent locally. • There will be significantly less state and federal money available in the future for transportation projects. ODOT will focus its spending on maintaining and preserving the highway system. • Transit funding fluctuates. When revenues go down, demand goes up. • Envision Eugene’s “Key Transit Corridors” are both the most vibrant and congested commercial areas. • Successful transit depends on the character of the built environment (e.g., connectivity, mix of uses, design, and amenities). • The streets are not wide enough to accommodate all travel modes all the time, for everyone. • Freight movement is important. • Equity and access matter. • Congestion is probably unavoidable, and consideration should be given to tolerance for more congestion. • The transportation future may be very different due to new technologies and trends. • True sustainability is very difficult to achieve, but sensible steps should be taken soon. • Resiliency to rapid changes is very important. Where is the community now? Based on these lessons, the TCRG has released draft goals, objectives, and policies for public review and feedback (see Attachment A). The goals and objectives will eventually be used as criteria for evaluating potential transportation projects and programs, winnowing down a universe of potential projects to those recommended for funding in the TSP. It is therefore important that the goals and objectives truly reflect community values. The City is also currently accepting recommendations of potential transportation projects to be considered for further study. Already included on the list are projects in TransPlan and the new Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan, and other ideas generated in the TCRG meetings. The draft goals and objectives, and a summary project list were featured at all six community forums sponsored by Envision Eugene and are available with feedback forms and interactive maps on the project website: www.EugeneTSP.org. The website surveys will remain active through April 30. The Lane Council of Government’s regional traffic model has been updated to better reflect the land use and potential development studies from Envision Eugene’s technical resource group. Once approved to move forward towards adoption, the Envision Eugene vision for future land use and growth will be integrated into the traffic model to inform future transportation decisions. The Transportation System Plan was funded by ODOT in phases. Phase One provides an evaluation of existing conditions, review of current policies, crafting of draft goals and objectives, and coordination with Envision Eugene’s land use analysis. Phase One will be completed mid-2012. Phase Two will identify the preferred package of transportation projects for adoption, implementation strategies, and cost estimates. S:\CMO\2012 Council Agendas\M120418\S120418B.doc