HomeMy WebLinkAboutAdmin Order 58-25-12 -- Closure of Greenspace Hwy 99 at Roosevelt BlvdAdministrative Order -- Page 1 of 4
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 58-25-12
of the
Traffic Engineer of Public Works Maintenance's Traffic Operations Team
of the City of Eugene
CLOSURE OF GREENSPACE / UNIMPROVED PORTIONS OF
HIGHWAY 99 NORTH ADJACENT TO THE INTERSECTION OF
ROOSEVELT BOULEVARD
The Traffic Engineer of Public Works Maintenance's Traffic Operations Team of the
City of Eugene finds that:
A. Under the provisions of Chapter IV, Section 16 of the Eugene Charter of 2002, the
City Manager is designated as the administrative head of the City and is specifically authorized to
enforce all ordinances of the City. In addition, EC 5.040 authorizes the City Manager or the
Manager’s designee to close or regulate access to and from any street. 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 August 5, 2020, the City Manager issued Administrative Order No. 58-20-17
granting the Executive Director of the Public Works Department the authority to exercise all of
the duties and responsibilities specifically defined as those of the City Manager in Sections 5.040,
5.045 and 5.050 of the Eugene Code, 1971. That Order also granted the Executive Director of the
Public Works Department the authority to further delegate those duties and responsibilities to such
person or persons qualified to perform the delegated duties.
C. On August 6, 2020, the Executive Director of the Public Works Department issued
Administrative Order No. 58-20-18 granting the City Engineer the authority to perform the duties
and responsibilities specifically defined as those of the City Manager in Sections 5.040, 5.045 and
5.050 of the Eugene Code, 1971. That Order also granted the City Engineer the authority to further
delegate those duties and responsibilities to such person or persons qualified to perform the
delegated duties.
D. On August 11, 2020, the City Engineer issued Administrative Order No. 58-20-19
granting the Traffic Engineer of Public Works Maintenance's Traffic Operations Team the
authority to perform the duties and responsibilities specifically defined as those of the City
Manager in Sections 5.040, 5.045 and 5.050 of the Eugene Code, 1971.
E. For purposes of public health, safety, and welfare, it is necessary to close and
prohibit public access to a portion of the Highway 99 North right-of-way, specifically to the
unimproved area or “greenspace” that is adjacent to the functional roadway for Highway 99 North
and Roosevelt Boulevard. The closure is needed to protect green infrastructure and reduce other
impacts and risks from illicit camping including human waste, needles, trash, and cooking and
camping fires.
Administrative Order -- Page 2 of 4
F. In making the decision, I have considered all the applicable criteria set forth in EC
5.055. The following findings support my decision to close the greenspace area shown in Exhibit
A to the public:
(a) Traffic engineering principles and traffic investigations.
The area to be closed by this Order is the greenspace as shown in Exhibit A. It is classified
as right-of-way for Highway 99 North and Roosevelt Boulevard but public access to this
area is not needed and is actually counter to traffic engineering principles.
(b) Standards, limitations, and rules promulgated by the Oregon Transportation Commission or
the Oregon Public Utility Commission or their successors.
There are not recognized traffic control standards at this location.
(c) Other recognized traffic control standards.
Not applicable.
(d) The city’s adopted transportation-related plans and policies.
The City’s adopted transportation-related plans and policies do not require that this area
remain open.
(e) Existing state and local laws regulating use of public ways.
State and City laws regulating use of public ways do not require that this area remain open
to the public.
(f) The efficient use of the public way by the public.
The indefinite closure of the greenspaces in the right-of-way along Highway 99 North and
Roosevelt Boulevard (as shown in Exhibit A) is needed to protect public infrastructure
(street trees and vegetation).
(g) The use of abutting property.
The abutting land use is commercial. No such use requires that this area remain open.
(h) The intensity of use of the street by vehicles and pedestrians.
In addition to vehicular use of the portion of the right-of-way to remain open, the pedestrian
crosswalk on the north side of Roosevelt Blvd will remain open. This order will not impact,
and may improve, accessibility of use by vehicles and pedestrians.
(i) The physical condition and characteristics of the street and abutting property.
Administrative Order -- Page 3 of 4
i. The greenspace located along Highway 99 and Roosevelt Boulevard is located within City
right-of-way. This greenspace within the right-of-way is shown outlined in red on the
attached map (Exhibit A). The Site is a vegetated median with street trees. Highway 99 is
a Major Arterial with the speed limit set at Speed 40. This stretch of Highway 99 has
approximately 35,000 vehicles daily for both directions. Currently there have been 44
Crashes in the last 6 years at the intersection of Highway 99 North and Roosevelt
Boulevard.
ii. The abutting properties on the sides of the streets include one- and two-story commercial
buildings with asphalt surface parking lots.
(j) Emergencies.
i. Emergency service vehicles are accommodated through bi-directional travel on Highway
99 North and Roosevelt Blvd.
ii. Highway 99 North is designated as an emergency ice or snow removal route.
(k) The public health, safety and welfare.
Since January 8, 2025, the area subject to this Order has been closed with a 90-day interval
to address significant amounts of human waste, needles, excessive trash, cooking and
camping fires, and damage to vegetated areas and street trees. While the closures have
reduced the volume of these hazards and the frequency of damage to infrastructure, public
use of the area has persisted and the City has needed to perform regular cleanup activities
in the area to address concerns about public health, safety and welfare.
(l) Special events of community interest including parades and public gatherings.
There are no special events of community interest that occur on the portion of green space
of Highway 99 North and Roosevelt Boulevard as shown in Exhibit A.
(m) Construction within or adjacent to the street.
No construction is currently taking place on the portion of green space of Highway 99
North and Roosevelt Boulevard shown in Exhibit A.
(n) There is no designated parking for this area.
Green Space Hwy 99 and Roosevelt Blvd
Green Space
Taxlots
Streets
0 0.01 0.020 mi
0 0.01 0.020.01 km
1:500
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