HomeMy WebLinkAboutAdmin Order 58-20-20ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 58-20-20
ofthe
Traffic Engineer of the City of Eugene
TEMPORARY PARTIAL CLOSURE OF BAXTER STREET BETWEEN
HAWTHORNE AVENUE AND ALVA PARK 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 Baxter Street between
Hawthorne A venue and Alva Park Drive to motor vehicle traffic, except for motor vehicle traffic
which is either initiated at or destined for a point located on Baxter Street between Hawthorne
A venue and Alva Park 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.
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.
Administrative Order --Page 1 of 3
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
Baxter Street for ingress and egress.
4. Baxter Street is a low traffic volume local street.
5. The northern street segment of Baxter Street, from Hawthorne A venue to Elmira Road,
has a paved width of approximately 24 feet. The southern street segment of Baxter Street,
from Elmira Road to Alva Park Drive has a paved width of approximately 20 feet. As
there are no sidewalks or bike lanes on either street segment, people walking and biking
on Baxter Street share the travel lane with people driving cars.
6. Baxter Street 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 summertime 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.
On the basis of these findings, I order that:
1. During the operative dates described in Section 2., Baxter Street between Hawthorne
A venue and Alva Park Drive is closed to through motor vehicle traffic (motor vehicle traffic that
Administrative Order --Page 2 of 3
is neither initiated at nor destined for a point located on Baxter Street between Hawthorne
A venue and Alva Park 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.
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Dated and effective this _£_ day of August, 2020
Administrative Order --Page 3 of 3
Matthew J. Rodrigues
Traffic Engineer