HomeMy WebLinkAboutAdmin Order 58-20-23ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 58-20-23
of the
Traffic Engineer of the City of Eugene
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF 5TH A VENUE BETWEEN PEARL STREET AND
HIGH STREET EVERY WEEKEND FROM AUGUST 7, 2020, TO NOVEMBER 1,
2020.
The Traffic Engineer of the City of Eugene finds that:
A. EC 5.040 authorizes the City Manager or the Manager's designee to take administrative action to
close or open any street to vehicular or pedestrian traffic. EC 5.055 sets forth the criteria the City Manager or
the City Manager's designee should consider when taking administrative action authorized by EC 5.040.
B. On September 24, 2009, the City Manager issued Administrative Order No. 58-09-14 granting the
Traffic Engineer and the Public Works Department the authority to exercise all of the duties and
responsibilities specifically defined as those of the City Manager in Section 5.040 and 5.050 of the Eugene
Code, 1971.
C. By Administrative Order No. 58-17-08, the City Manager appointed me as the City's Traffic
Engineer and delegated to me authority to exercise all duties and responsibilities granted to the City Manager
by EC 5.040 and 5.050.
D. On May 22, 2020, the City Manager issued Administrative Order 56-20-02 allowing for temporary
permits for outdoor seating within the public right-of-way.
E. Pursuant to the above-authority, I intend to close 5th A venue between Pearl Street and High Street
to vehicular traffic every Friday at 9 a.m. through Sunday at 11:00 p.m. from August 7, 2020, to November 1,
2020. In making this decision, I considered all of the applicable criteria set forth in EC 5.055 (a-n), including
the consideration of traffic engineering principles and traffic investigations. Based on consideration of the
applicable criteria set forth in EC 5.055 (a-n), the following findings support my decision:
1. Temporary closure to vehicular traffic on 5th Avenue for cafe seating is consistent with the Eugene
2035 Transportation System Plan, adopted by City Council on June 26, 2017:
Goal 3: Strengthen community resilience to changes in climate, increases in fossil fuel prices, and
economic fluctuations by making the transportation networks diverse, adaptable, and not reliant on
a single mode.
System-Wide Policy 1: Foster neighborhoods where Eugene residents could meet most of their
basic daily needs without an automobile by providing streets, sidewalks, bikeways, and access to
transit in an inviting environment where all travelers feel safe and secure.
System -Wide Policy 3: Improve community health by designing streets and paths to encourage
increased physical activity by the public.
2. The use of abutting properties on 5th Avenue between High Street and Pearl Street includes several
restaurants.
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3. 5th Avenue is a medium-traffic volume local street in the Eugene's downtown commercial core. It
is a common travel route for people walking and biking. People biking on 5th A venue currently
use the bike lanes in either direction. During the period this administrative order is in effect, a
single, center travel lane will be created as public bike and pedestrian area, prohibiting anyone from
impeding access to any adjacent private or public building (i.e. leaving less than a twelve-foot wide
travel lane clear for pedestrian use). This center travel lane may also be used by micromobility
devices. People traveling on bikes and micromobility devices on 5th A venue are required to yield
to pedestrians.
4. 5th Avenue between High Street and Pearl Street is a local street with a speed limit of 20 mph. This
street segment has a paved width of approximately 42 feet, with a l 0-foot wide travel lane in each
direction, 6-foot wide bike lanes in each direction, and 7-foot wide parking lane on the south side
of the street. Sidewalks are present on each side of the street.
5. The 12-foot wide center travel lane for bicycles and pedestrians will be accessible to emergency
vehicles during the dates of this administrative order.
6. Closing 5th Avenue between Pearl Street and High Street to people driving creates a safe place for
outdoor seating free from conflict with automobile traffic is in support of public health, safety and
welfare. Executive Orders of the Governor of Oregon have declared a statewide emergency due to
COVID-19, through September 4, 2020. On May 14, 2020, Governor Kate Brown approved Lane
County's application to begin Phase 1 of her reopening plan for Oregon. Phase 1 includes the
Governor's guidance for restaurants that requires, among other things, tables (both indoors and
outdoors) to be spaced at least six (6) feet apart. It would be in the public interest to close this
portion of the public street so that adjacent restaurants may apply, pursuant to Eugene
Administrative Order 56-20-02, to use the public right of way for the temporary placement of tables
and chairs in compliance with the Governor guidance.
7. Enabling the City to permit cafe seating in the street area is an economic response strategy to the
COVID-19 pandemic as a special event of community interest.
On the basis of these findings, I order that:
l. During the operative dates and times described in Section 2., 5th Avenue between Pearl Street and
High Street is closed to motor vehicle traffic. This closure does not apply to micromobility devices.
2. The closure described in Section 1. shall be effective each Friday through Sunday, from August 7,
2020, to November 1, 2020 as follows: On each Friday, the closure shall become operative at 9
a.m. and shall continue to be operative until 11 :00 p.m. on each Sunday.
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Dated and effective this _±_ day of August, 2020
Mafile~
Traffic Engineer
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