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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem B: Process to Identify Transportation Solution for West Eugene ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Work Session: Collaborative Process to Identify a Transportation Solution for West Eugene and the FY06-FY09 Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program (MTIP) Meeting Date: May 25, 2006 Agenda Item Number: B Department: Public Works Engineering Staff Contact: Mark Schoening www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-5243 ISSUE STATEMENT The City Council is being asked to direct the council's representatives to the Metropolitan Policy Committee (MPC) to request the MPC to adopt the proposed resolution shown as Attachment A and that the City Manager direct the City's representatives on the Transportation Planning Committee (TPC) to submit to the TPC a project application for $200,000 in Surface Transportation Program-Urban (STP-U) funds for the collaborative process to identify a transportation solution for West Eugene that has widespread understanding and acceptability and that the council's representatives to the MPC support that expenditure of STP-U money when the matter comes to the MPC. The proposed resolution for the MPC will approve the FY06-FY09 MTIP, except that the funds for the West Eugene Parkway (WEP) will be reprogrammed for FY09, endorse and agree to participate in a collaborative process as outlined in Option II of The Osprey Group’s “Conflict Assessment, Florence- Eugene Highway Project (commonly referred to as the West Eugene Parkway or WEP)” dated May 2006, and request that Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) delay conclusion of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process on the WEP until after completion of the collaborative process and to consider the product of that collaborative process. BACKGROUND At the City Council meeting held on October 26, 2005, the council failed to pass the following motion: To continue to support the West Eugene Parkway as a modernization project priority when the Metropolitan Policy Committee considers the Central Lane Metropolitan Planning Organization modernization project priorities for the 2008-2011 State Transportation Improvement Program and the 2006-2009 Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program. The following subsequent motion was passed by the City Council: To direct the City Manager to consult with the City of Eugene’s inter-governmental partners and community organizations to scope a process to design and build transportation projects in West Eugene to address congestion, safety, and operation for all modes of transportation. L:\CMO\2006 Council Agendas\M060524\S060524B.doc With the direction provided by the failure of the first motion, the council’s two representatives on the MPC voted against the adoption of the FY06-FY09 MTIP at the MPC meeting held on November 10, 2005. The FY06-FY09 MTIP remains un-adopted. In March 2006, the Osprey Group was selected to conduct an assessment of the controversy surrounding the WEP, with a particular emphasis on what, if any expanded community involvement might be helpful. The Osprey Group completed its work and prepared a report titled “Conflict Assessment, Florence-Eugene Highway Project (commonly referred to as the West Eugene Parkway or WEP)” in May 2006. The Osprey Group identified three options for moving forward towards a decision including: ? Proceed with the current NEPA review process ? A collaborative process ? Heightened commitment to public engagement The Osprey Group concluded that a collaborative process can best address the challenge of getting to a transportation solution for West Eugene that has widespread understanding and acceptability. COUNCIL OPTIONS The council may: 1.Direct the council's representatives to MPC to request that MPC adopt the proposed resolution shown as Attachment A and that the City Manager direct the City's representatives on the TPC to submit to the TPC a project application for $200,000 in STP-U funds for the collaborative process to identify a transportation solution for West Eugene that has widespread understanding and acceptability and that the council's representatives to MPC support that expenditure of STP-U money when the matter comes to MPC. 2.Modify either or both the proposed resolution shown as Attachment A and/or the direction to the council’s representatives to the MPC and the City Manager, and then take action. 3.Decline to take any action on the suggested motion. CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION The City Manager recommends that the council direct the council's representatives to MPC to request that MPC adopt the proposed resolution shown as Attachment A and that the City Manager direct the City's representatives on the TPC to submit to the TPC a project application for $200,000 in STP-U funds for the collaborative process to identify a transportation solution for West Eugene that has widespread understanding and acceptability and that the council's representatives to MPC support that expenditure of STP-U money when the matter comes to MPC. SUGGESTED MOTION Move that the council's representative to the MPC request the MPC to adopt the proposed resolution shown as Attachment A and that the City Manager direct the City's representatives on the TPC to submit to the TPC a project application for $200,000 in STP-U funds for the collaborative process to identify a transportation solution for West Eugene that has widespread understanding and acceptability and that L:\CMO\2006 Council Agendas\M060524\S060524B.doc the council's representatives to MPC support that expenditure of STP-U money when the matter comes to MPC. ATTACHMENTS A. Draft MPC Resolution FOR MORE INFORMATION Staff Contact: Mark Schoening Telephone: 682-5243 Staff E-Mail: mark.a.schoening@ci.eugene.or.us L:\CMO\2006 Council Agendas\M060524\S060524B.doc ATTACHMENT A RESOLUTION 2006-__ APPROVING THE FY 06-09 MTIP AS MODIFIED AND ENDORSING A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS FOR ADDRESSING TRANSPORTATION ISSUES IN WEST EUGENE WHEREAS , the Lane Council of Governments (LCOG) Board has been designated by the State of Oregon as the official Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Central Lane region; and WHEREAS , the LCOG Board has delegated responsibility for MPO policy functions to the Metropolitan Policy Committee (MPC), a committee of officials from Eugene, Springfield, Coburg, Lane County, Lane Transit District, and ODOT; and WHEREAS , members of MPC, along with many other interested persons, participated in a Conflict Assessment prepared by The Osprey Group concerning the West Eugene Parkway (WEP); and WHEREAS , The Osprey Group presented its assessment in May of 2006 in which it concluded, in part: “We believe that if the agencies and the community can rise to the challenge, the collaborative process, Option II, can best address the current challenge of ‘getting to a transportation solution for West Eugene that has widespread understanding and acceptability.’ The hurdles, however, are serious. Several are cited in the text that describes this option. It is clear, for example, that without willing and active ODOT participation, such a process should not be pursued.” WHEREAS , MPC agrees a collaborative process as described in Option II of The Osprey Group’s Conflict Assessment should be undertaken as the next step in addressing the transportation issues in West Eugene, and that MPC members, including ODOT, intend to participate in such a process; and WHEREAS , until that collaborative process is completed, the NEPA process for the WEP should not be concluded, in order that the results of the collaborative process can be considered as part of the NEPA process; and WHEREAS , the FY06-09 MTIP was submitted in November 2005 and further, that amendments to the FY05-07 MTIP have made subsequent to November 2005; and WHEREAS , an Air Quality Conformity Determination for the FY06-09 MTIP was prepared; and WHEREAS the above-described amendments do not affect the air quality conformity , determination or trigger the need for a new air quality conformity determination; and WHEREAS, public comment has been provided for the 06-09 MTIP as submitted in November 2005 and the subsequent amendments to FY05-07 MTIP; and WHEREAS , the FY 06 – 09 Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Plan (MTIP) should be approved as drafted, except that in light of the collaborative process noted above (which is expected to take approximately 18 months), funds for the WEP should be reprogrammed to FY 09; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: (1) The FY06-09 MTIP air quality conformity, Exhibit A, is adopted; (2) The FY06-09 MTIP, Exhibit B, as modified by the reprogramming of the WEP to FY09 and by the FY05-07 MTIP amendments, Exhibit C, adopted subsequent to November 2005, is hereby approved; (3) MPC endorses and agrees to participate in a collaborative process as outlined in Option II of The Osprey Group’s May 2006 Conflict Assessment; and (4) ODOT is requested to delay conclusion of the NEPA process on the WEP until after completion of the collaborative process and ODOT’s consideration of the product of that collaborative process. PASSED AND APPROVED THIS __ DAY OF ______, 2006, BY THE METROPOLITAN POLICY COMMITTEE. ATTEST: __________________________ __________________________ George Kloeppel Bobby Green Executive Director Chair Lane Council of Governments Metropolitan Policy Committee