HomeMy WebLinkAboutDecember 10, 2015 - City Council Newsletter
City of Eugene
125 East 8 Avenue, 2 Floor
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Eugene, Oregon 97401
(541) 682-5010
(541) 682-5414 (FAX)
www.eugene-or.gov
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
December 10, 2015
IN THIS EDITION
NEW: MOBILE PRINTING AT EUGENE PUBLIC LIBRARY
FAST ACT PROVIDES GREAT BENEFITS FOR EUGENE TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS
DON’T LET A CRIMINAL GRINCH STEAL THE SEASON’S HOLIDAY CHEER
DRAFT EUGENE 2035 TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM PLAN AVAILABLE
AROUND THE CITY
New: Mobile Printing at Eugene Public Library
Print on the go! Eugene Public Library now offers mobile printing: the ability for anyone to print documents on the
Library’s printers, wirelessly and directly from their personal laptop, tablet, smartphone, or other Internet device. No
library card is needed.
Mobile printing is available at all locations of the Eugene Public Library: the Downtown Library, Bethel Branch, or Sheldon
Branch. The service can be used while visiting the Library, from home, or from anywhere. Once ordered, prints are
immediately available to pick up at the chosen location and will be held until closing that day.
Prints can be ordered by using an online form to upload documents, or by e-mail. To begin, visit the webpage for the
desired pick-up location: bit.ly/PrintDowntown, bit.ly/PrintBethel, or bit.ly/PrintSheldon.
Black and white printing is available at all locations. Additionally, color printing is available at the Downtown Library. The
price is the same as for traditional prints: black and white costs 10 cents per sheet and color costs 50 cents.
In the past, visitors had to use the Library’s computers in order to print documents, even if they had a device of their own
in hand. Mobile printing will greatly increase speed and convenience for many users. For more information, contact the
Eugene Public Library at www.eugene-or.gov/library or 541-682-5450.
FAST Act Provides Great Benefits for Eugene Transportation Projects
The recent passage of the “Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act” (FAST Act) provides certainty for highway funding
through 2020, including infrastructure that supports active transportation. U.S. Representative Peter DeFazio, who helped
craft the $281 billion transportation funding bill, listed the act’s major benefits on a Fast Act – Oregon fact sheet: $2.6
billion to rebuild and replace crumbling state highways, $500 million in Oregon transit funding, and $850 million for
Oregon bicycle/pedestrian projects.
While Eugene relies primarily on locally controlled funding from voter-approved bond measures and the local gas tax to
keep its streets in good repair, the City of Eugene benefits greatly from federal transportation funding. In October, the
Metropolitan Policy Committee approved federal Surface Transportation Program funding for the following five City of
Eugene projects:
South Willamette Street Improvement Plan implementation: $2 million to reconstruct sidewalks and driveway
aprons, upgrade traffic signals, enhance the streetscape with trees, pedestrian-scale lighting, and benches and bike
racks on Willamette Street from 24 to 29 avenues. Implementation will take place when the street is reconstructed
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in 2018.
13 Avenue Protected Bikeway: $450,000 will help construct a two-way protected bikeway on 13 Avenue from
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Olive to Alder streets. This project is not yet fully funded. The City is waiting to hear back on a grant application to the
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1
December 10, 2015
Oregon Department of Transportation that would bring the project closer to full funding. It should be known by June
2016 whether the funding has been received.
EWEB Riverfront Path: $943,000 to reconstruct the South Bank Path along the EWEB frontage consistent with the
Riverfront Master Plan. Construction is anticipated to happen in 2017.
Franklin Boulevard Design and NEPA: $425,000 to redesign Franklin Boulevard as a more walking- and biking-
friendly street, with one EmX lane in each direction. The redesign will be more conducive to the walkable mixed-use
development envisioned in the Walnut Station Specific Area Plan and will consider the multiway boulevard design that
is part of that plan. Design work is anticipated to begin in 2016.
MovingAhead: $300,000 to Lane Transit District and the City of Eugene for additional planning and public outreach
for the MovingAhead process that is re-envisioning major corridors in Eugene for improved transit, walking and
biking.
The MPC also approved federal funds for several other projects in the Eugene area:
18 Avenue and Oak Patch traffic signal: $634,806 to Lane Transit District to construct a new traffic signal at the
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intersection of 18 Avenue and Oak Patch Road to enable buses to much more easily turn.
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Safe Routes to School: $307,840 for Safe Routes to School programs in the Eugene, Bethel and Springfield school
districts.
Permanent Bicycle Counters: $100,000 for permanent bicycle counters in Eugene and Springfield. These will be
added to an earlier grant to fund bicycle counters that are part of the Central Lane MPOs bike count program.
For more information, contact Transportation Planning Manager Rob Inerfeld at 541-682-5343.
Don’t Let a Criminal Grinch Steal the Season’s Holiday Cheer
Eugene Police Patrols and Crime Prevention are doing a winter break outreach to help Eugene residents protect their
property over the holiday break and raise awareness of property crime issues in their area. It is important to know the
avenues to use to report suspicious behavior to help protect against property crime.
Statistically, the Eugene Police Department is aware that property crime spikes during the weeks of winter break when
many take the opportunity to visit family, friends and warmer weather. The Crime Prevention Unit is hoping that everyone
can help each other to be aware of the risk and take the easy steps necessary to make homes and vehicles “harder targets”
while occupants are away.
Simple steps to prevent being a victim, and a short video on the topic are at: You Tube -http://bit.ly/1lqL8JF.
BURGLARY PREVENTION
Lock doors and windows.
Don’t leave valuables visible through windows.
Do not leave valuables at home when leaving for the holidays.
THEFT FROM VEHICLE PREVENTION
Never leave ANYTHING in view, even when a car is locked.
Park in busy and well-lit areas.
THEFT OF VEHICLE PREVENTION
Use a steering wheel locking device.
Use a vehicle security system.
DON’T ADVERTISE VACATION PLANS - It’s risky to change an answering-machine message to say one is on vacation or
for a home to look unoccupied while the owner is away. Share vacation information on a “need-to-know” basis.
For emergencies and crimes in progress call 9-1-1. To report crimes that have already occurred that are not emergencies,
call the non-emergency line at 541-682-5111. There is also an online reporting tool at http://www.eugenepolice.com
(report a crime). Using this online citizen police report system allows one to submit a report immediately for vandalism,
criminal mischief, graffiti, hit and run, illegal camping, and to provide anonymous drug/crime/behavioral activity tips.
For more information, contact Debbie Janecek at 541-682-2746.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2
December 10, 2015
Draft Eugene 2035 Transportation System Plan Available
The Eugene 2035 Transportation System Plan (TSP) will serve as the transportation chapter of the City’s long-range
Envision Eugene Comprehensive Plan. A new draft of the TSP is available on the project website: www.EugeneTSP.org.
This TSP will replace the Eugene Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan (2012) and TransPlan (2002) for local transportation
planning by providing updated goals and policies describing how Eugene’s transportation networks should change to
accommodate growth, improve livability, and support economic vitality.
The 2035 TSP includes a list of projects and activities that should be funded over the next 20 years to keep the City on track
towards meeting its goals. There are preliminary cost estimates for all the proposed projects and a discussion of potential
sources of funds to pay for these improvements.
The Eugene 2035 TSP promotes a balance between community growth and neighborhood character, increased traffic
congestion and demand for better biking and walking facilities, economic vitality and freight movement, costs and
revenues.
In early 2016, the City will begin a formal review period leading to TSP adoption. The City will host public hearings and
other opportunities to comment during the formal review period.
More background information is available at www.EugeneTSP.org. Maps and other materials will be added soon.
Comments and questions on this draft Eugene 2035 Transportation System Plan may be sent to Senior Transportation
Planner Kurt Yeiter at kurt.m.yeiter@ci.eugene.or.us or 541-682-8379.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3
December 10, 2015