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City Council, LTD Board, and Planning Commission, considered the sections of the corridor and evaluated <br />options. She said the study was not a recommendation; it presented a number of viewpoints and a fair <br />analysis of the complications of a Coburg Road route. She indicated that a major factor in the initial <br />selection of Coburg Road was that it linked the first two corridors to create a full cycle BRT system. <br /> <br />Mr. Poling acknowledged a number of stakeholder group members who were in the audience and described <br />the year-long process through which the group had gone. He said the process was challenging and there <br />were a number of areas of disagreement. In particular, he said, the group discussed the physical constriction <br />of the lower part of Coburg Road and the City's requirements for redevelopment setbacks, which would <br />create major impacts on businesses in order to accommodate BRT. He said another concern was the impact <br />on left-turn access to both commercial properties and neighborhoods. He expressed some disappointment <br />that the group did not make a recommendation on the Coburg Road route or an alternative route. He said <br />there was also some discussion of BRT ;;lite" on the lower end of Coburg Road that would not require a <br />dedicated lane, but acknowledged that the council supported BRT that would have a dedicated lane for a <br />majority of the route. <br /> <br />Ms. Hocken stated that LTD's long-range financial plan matched resources to the timeframe during which <br />they would be spent. She said LTD received both capital funds that required a local match and earmarked <br />funds, and it was earmarked funds that would be used for the Franklin Corridor. She said that earmarked <br />funds were requested for the Pioneer Parkway Corridor as well. She indicated that it was unlikely funds <br />would also be provided for the Coburg Road Corridor and even if they were, accumulating the local match <br />was unrealistic. She said the next funding opportunity would occur in six years and therefore construction <br />was not contemplated until 2010, with the route in service in 2012. <br /> <br />Ms. Wylie said construction of the Springfield Station was well underway and the shape and form of the <br />facility were very visible. She commented that the station would be a beautiful addition to the system and a <br />reminder of the Phase I BRT connection between downtown Eugene and downtown Springfield. <br /> <br />Mr. Pap6 said it was his understanding that the BRT pilot corridor on Franklin Boulevard would go into <br />service and be evaluated during a test period before any additional corridors were considered, but it now <br />appeared that Phase II was moving forward. Ms. Hocken agreed that Mr. Pap6's perception was correct, <br />and said the reason LTD had moved forward in Springfield was because of the opportunity presented by the <br />Pioneer Parkway extension and road construction and the Springfield City Council's interest in having BRT <br />be a part of the new construction and planning for the PeaceHealth facility. <br /> <br />Mr. Pap6 asked if the Springfield corridor could stand alone. Ms. Hocken replied that it would work better <br />with the Eugene loop, but it could work by itself so delaying the next corridor was not an impediment to <br />moving forward with the Springfield corridor. <br /> <br />Mr. Pap6 asked if funding was available for the pilot corridor and if the BRT vehicles were a reality. Ms. <br />Hocken replied that the pilot corridor funding was in place and that New Flyer, the BRT vehicle manufac- <br />turer, had a hybrid vehicle similar to the BRT vehicle design that was in operation in the Seattle transit <br />system. She said the new design aspects of LTD's BRT vehicle were the left-side doors, a larger size, and a <br />guidance system. She said the 60-foot standard articulated buses recently purchased by LTD were similar <br />in feel to the BRT vehicle. Mr. Hamm added that New Flyer produced the standard articulated buses and <br />also produced hybrid electric-powered vehicles and test results were so good that Seattle had just ordered <br />200 of the vehicles. He said the guidance system was still being tested at the University of California- <br /> <br />MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 23, 2004 Page 3 <br /> Work Session <br /> <br /> <br />