HomeMy WebLinkAboutAdmin Order 58-20-16ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 58-20-16
ofthe
Traffic Engineer of the City of Eugene
TEMPORARY PARTIAL CLOSURE OF BELL A VENUE BETWEEN
BAXTER STREET AND BON VUE DRIVE TO PROHIBIT THROUGH
MOTOR VEHICLE TRAFFIC.
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. Pursuant to the above authority, I intend to temporarily close Bell Avenue between
Baxter Street and Bon Vue Drive to motor vehicle traffic, except for motor vehicle traffic which is
either initiated at or destined for a point located on Bell A venue between Baxter Street and Bon
Vue Drive and except for micromobility devices. 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. This action is consistent with the following policies contained in the Eugene 2035
Transportation System Plan, adopted by City Council on June 26, 2017:
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.
Administrative Order --Page 1 of 3
Pedestrian Policies 1: Encourage walking as the most attractive mode of transportation
for short trips (e.g., within one half miles) within and to activity centers, downtown, key
corridors, and major destinations, and as a means of accessing transit.
Bicycle Policies 1: Create conditions that make bicycling more attractive than driving for
most trips of two miles or less.
Bicycle Policies 2: Develop a well-connected and comfortable bikeway network. Ensure
that there are safe, comfortable and direct bikeway connections between residential areas,
major destinations, and transit stops and provide secure bicycle parking facilities at these
destinations.
2. This action will create more space for residents to walk and bike for recreation as well as
for transportation to nearby destinations making more efficient use of the public way.
3. The abutting property use is residential, and this action ensures that residents can use Bell
A venue for ingress and egress.
4. Bell A venue is a low traffic volume local street.
5. This street segment has a paved width of approximately 24 feet. As there are no
sidewalks or bike lanes, people walking and biking on Bell A venue share the travel lane
with people driving cars.
6. Bell A venue is not a commonly used path for emergency vehicles. If an emergency
occurs during the dates of this administrative order's effect, emergency vehicles will be
able to use the street to get to their destination.
7. Executive orders of the Governor of Oregon have declared a statewide emergency due to
Covid-19, requiring Oregonians to adhere to social distancing measures that can make it
difficult to safely travel on foot and bike paths. By reducing the number of motor
vehicles using this street segment, this action creates a safer space for residents to
recreate and travel on foot and bike, having a positive impact on the public health, safety
and welfare.
8. This action is part of a special community program in response to the COVID-19
pandemic. Due to the Governor's social distancing requirements and restrictions on group
gatherings, the City of Eugene is no longer able to host its summe1iime active
transportation programs that draw large crowds. The Open Streets Program, of which this
order is a part, was developed to further the City of Eugene's Transportation System Plan
goals without drawing large crowds.
Administrative Order --Page 2 of 3
On the basis of these findings, I order that:
1. During the operative dates described in Section 2., Bell Avenue between Baxter Street
and Bon Vue Drive is closed to through motor vehicle traffic (motor vehicle traffic that is neither
initiated at nor destined for a point located on Bell Avenue between Baxter Street and Bon Vue
Drive). This closure does not apply to through traffic on micromobility devices.
2. The closure described in Section 1 shall be operative upon the City's installation of
instructive signs on the affected streets and shall continue until such signage has been removed,
no later than October 31, 2020.
Dated and effective this ~ day of August, 2020.
Traffic Engineer
Administrative Order --Page 3 of 3