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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 4670 RESOLUTION NO. 4670 A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE BUS RAPID TRANSIT PILOT PROJECT, EUGENE DOWNTOWN-EAST AND UNIVERSITY OF OREGON/FRANKLIN BOULEVARD SEGMENTS SUBJECT TO CERTAIN CONDITIONS. The City Council of the City of Eugene finds that: A. "Bus Rapid Transit" or "BR T" is a term used to describe an urban transportation system that uses buses in a manner that emulates the positive characteristics of a rail system at a fraction of the cost. B. As described in the draft transportation element ("TransPlan") of the Eugene- Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan ("Metro Plan"), BR T is a critical component of the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area's land use/transportation strategy. If adequate federal funding is made available, the City anticipates that a fully integrated BR T system, providing efficient, attractive and environmentally sound public transportation to all parts of the City, could be installed within the next twenty (20) years. C. BR T will implement Eugene's growth management policies by supporting downtown and nodal growth, and by connecting major education and employment centers, and is also consistent with other goals, objectives, and policies of the adopted Metro Plan. Possible inconsistencies between Metro Plan policies and actual Bus Rapid Transit project function can be substantially mitigated through project design. D. On November 15, 2000, the City of Eugene agreed to establish a joint committee with Lane Transit District ("L TD") called the Eugene/L TD BR T Policy Committee, for the purpose of coordinating the design and development of a BR T system within the City of Eugene. E. L TD has prepared a draft environmental assessment to obtain funding from the Federal Transit Administration for a pilot BRT project (the "Pilot Project") that would create a BRT line between the Eugene L TD station at 10th and Olive and a new L TD station to be built in downtown Springfield. L TD asserts there is sufficient evidence that the Pilot Project BR T will result in an increased percentage of transit ridership at reduced operating costs. F. The final design for the Pilot Project has not been completed, but the proposed route and essential elements of the Pilot Project established by the Eugene/L TD BRT Policy Committee are described in Exhibit A attached to this resolution and include the following elements: Resolution - 1 1. The use of Franklin Boulevard as a part of the BR T route for connection between Springfield and Eugene; 2. The use ofBRT guideways, which are exclusive paved lanes for bus travel from which general vehicular traffic is excluded by the use of curbing or other physical barriers; 3. The placement of BRT guideways in the median portion of street right-of- ways which have existing commercial development along the perimeter; and 4. The removal of some of the vehicle lanes from Franklin Boulevard for use as BR T guideways, in lieu of street widening. G. The proposed Pilot Project is a logical pilot project because it can operate independently as a link between the downtown areas and transit hubs of Eugene and Springfield and can be logically extended in the future. H. Guideways are one of the defining features ofBRT because they protect transit from traffic congestion. Where feasible, guideways should be utilized in all BR T installations. I. The portions of the Pilot Project subject to the jurisdiction of the City of Eugene include those portions described in Exhibit A as the Eugene Downtown-East and University of Oregon/Franklin Boulevard Segments. J. The City has not completed a Franklin Boulevard corridor plan that fully investigates the impacts of the Pilot Project's removal of existing vehicle lanes on traffic patterns. K. Local approval of BR T cannot wait until the City completes a Franklin Boulevard corridor plan, because if the Pilot Project is not locally approved by July, 2001, LTD could lose $4,500,000 in federal BRT funding. The loss of these funds would make the Pilot Project economically unfeasible and would likely create a loss of congressional and Federal Transit Administration support for any future federal discretionary funding of transit projects, including BRT for the Eugene area. L. The Eugene/L TD BR T Policy Committee has drafted a memorandum entitled "Proposed Three-Phased Approach to Project Review," dated February 14,2001, that proposes a phased development of the Pilot Project to maximize the extent to which issues that would be considered in a corridor plan can be addressed and incorporated in the Pilot Project design and implementation. A copy of the memorandum is included as a part of Exhibit A, attached hereto. M. The City of Eugene considers the following objectives to be essential components of the Pilot Project: Resolution - 2 1. The design for the BRT Pilot Project should conform to adopted policies and commonly held beliefs supporting street landscaping. Maintenance of Franklin Boulevard as a grand landscaped gateway to the city, a new and exciting image for transit, and accommodation of comfortable pedestrian and bicycle travel are critical to the successful design of the Bus Rapid Transit system. 2. It is important that the Pilot Project provide an upgraded, complete image along its entire route to the highest degree feasible. Consistency in design and operation throughout the entire Bus Rapid Transit system is important. Eugene encourages L TD and the City of Springfield to pursue optimally efficient transit, including exclusive rights-of-way and an integrated bicycle path network, throughout the proposed and future system. 3. The type of transit vehicles used is very important to the success ofBR T. The City encourages use of vehicles that have great looks, clean propulsion, two-sided entry, roll- on bicycle accommodations, low floors, and that are quiet, comfortable, affordable and easily converted to newer technologies. 4. BRT should be well coordinated with the City's bike lanes, neighborhood bus service, and downtown shuttle. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EUGENE, a Municipal Corporation of the State of Oregon, as follows: Section 1. The City of Eugene approves the Bus Rapid Transit Pilot Project, Eugene Downtown-East and University of Oregon/Franklin Boulevard Segments, subject to the following conditions: 1. The Pilot Project shall be substantially as described in the project description attached to this resolution as Exhibit A; 2. Minor changes and modifications that improve general function and aesthetic attributes are expected and shall be achieved under the policies set forth in the Proposed Three Phased Approach to Project Review memorandum and the findings set forth in this resolution; and 3. Significant changes, as determined by the Eugene members on the Eugene\L TD BR T Policy Committee, will require approval by the Eugene Planning Commission. Section 2. The City Manager is hereby directed to negotiate, prepare and execute, on Resolution - 3 behalf of the City of Eugene, an intergovernmental agreement with LTD (the "BRT Cooperative Agreement"). The BRT Cooperative Agreement shall, at a minimum: 1. Specify the respective roles of the City, L TD, the L TD Steering Committee and the Eugene/L TD Policy Committee in the design and development of BR T; 2. Provides provisions and conditions that assure that the Pilot Project will be designed and implemented in compliance with the conditions set forth in Section 1 of this resolution and in accordance with the findings set forth above; 3. Set forth adequate procedures and provisions to address the following critical elements of the BR T system: a. Cost distribution, including opportunities for the City to receive reimbursement for technical consulting and other services provided by City staff; b. Tree preservation; c. Design of guideway infrastructure, traffic control devices, stations, pedestrian safety, amenities and barriers, lighting, landscaping, and bike parking; d. Right-of-way ownership and use; e. Construction management and guideway management after construction; f. Signal management; g. Property acquisition for additional landscaping; h. Impact mitigation, including resolution of historic issues under Section 106 review and a comprehensive plan to minimize impacts of stormwater quantity and quality; i. Timing and preparation of plans for future improvements along the BR T corridor; j. Expansion ofBRT capacity in the pilot corridor; k. Joint commitment by the City and Lane Transit District to cooperate to pursue full build out of the BR T system in Eugene in accordance with the TransPlan; and 1. Determining goals and criteria for future extensions of the BR T system. 4. Provide for involvement of City staff in project design and construction oversight and require that the Eugene Planning Commission and City Council to be involved in the selection of future routes; 5. Provide that the Bus Rapid Transit Steering Committee should be the body in charge of making a recommendation to the Lane Transit District Board regarding vehicle selection. Vehicle selection should be consistent with the Lane Transit District Board Resolution - 4 resolution approved on September 20, 2000, which states, in part: "LTD is committed to converting its fleet to quiet, more environmentally-friendly vehicles, with the conversion triggered by the cost, availability, and reliability of the new technology. " 6. Provide a commitment by both the City and L TD that the great majority of BR T corridor service within Eugene will feature exclusive busways to provide adequate performance and to attract customers (the goal would be at least 80% exclusive busways); 7. Include such other provisions, terms and conditions as the City Manager deems necessary or convenient to the public welfare and interests of the City of Eugene; and 8. Include a best effort commitment by Eugene and L TD to the current schedule for the pilot project and first extension of the pilot corridor in Eugene. Section 3. The City hereby resolves to pursue a full system build-out of the BRT system within and between all parts of the Eugene/Springfield metropolitan area consistent with the findings set forth above." The foregoing Resolution adopted this 14th day of May, 2001. ,~~~- -- Deputy City Recorder Resolution - 5