HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem A: West Eugene EmX Update
ECC
UGENE ITY OUNCIL
AIS
GENDA TEM UMMARY
Work Session: West Eugene EmX Extension Update
Meeting Date: September 30, 2009 Agenda Item Number: A
Department: Public Works Staff Contact: Rob Inerfeld
www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-5343
ISSUE STATEMENT
At this Council Work Session, Lane Transit District (LTD) staff will provide an update on the
West Eugene EmX Extension (WEEE) with an emphasis on the public involvement approach for
the remainder of the process of choosing a locally preferred alternative and the role of the Locally
Preferred Alternative Committee.
BACKGROUND
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The City Council voted on October 9, 2006, to identify West 11 Avenue as the City’s priority
for the next EmX corridor study. At its October 18, 2006, meeting, the LTD Board of Directors
endorsed the Eugene City Council action. Based on this direction, staff began work on planning
for the West Eugene EmX Extension. LTD staff last provided an update to the council on the
WEEE process at the May 13, 2009, Council Work Session. Since the council work session, LTD
staff have also provided the City Council with both a memo responding to comments made at the
May work session and a memo responding to concerns that were raised by residents and business
owners at a council public forum on July 27.
At the May work session, LTD staff provided an update on the WEEE process to date and
remaining, discussed connections between the WEEE process and the West Eugene
Collaborative process and report, and described the relationship between the build-out of the
EmX system and regional and community goals.
One of the concerns that have been raised both by members of the council and the community
has been about how important it is for LTD and the City to engage as many stakeholders as
possible in the different corridors that are under consideration. LTD has taken a number of steps
to address these concerns including adding business representatives to the West Eugene EmX
Corridor Committee, meeting one-on-one with business and property owners, and holding design
reviews where interested members of the public have an opportunity to review the latest designs
and ask questions about the project.
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RELATED CITY POLICIES
From Eugene-Springfield Transportation System Plan (TransPlan):
TSI Transit Policy #2: Bus Rapid Transit
Establish a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system composed of frequent, fast transit service along
major corridors and neighborhood feeder service that connects with the corridor service and
with activity centers, if the system is shown to increase transit mode split along BRT
corridors, if local governments demonstrate support, and if financing for the system is
feasible.
From Adopted Growth Management Policies:
Growth Management Policy 11
Increase the use of alternative modes of transportation by improving the capacity, design,
safety, and convenience of the transit, bicycle, and pedestrian transportation systems.
COUNCIL OPTIONS
Provide input to LTD staff regarding the process for selecting a locally preferred alternative
including formation of the Joint Locally Preferred Alternative Committee.
CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION
None.
SUGGESTED MOTION
None.
ATTACHMENTS
A. Cover Memo from LTD Staff
B. List of WEEE Outreach Meetings
C. List of WEEE Corridor Committee Members
D. Quick Response Project Process
E. Proposed LPA Decision-Making Process
Proposed Public Involvement Strategy for Period Prior to Release of DEIS
F.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Staff Contact: Rob Inerfeld
Telephone: 682-5343
Staff E-Mail: rob.inerfeld@ci.eugene.or.us
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[Type text]
Attachment A
September 30, 2009
To: Eugene City Council
From: Tom Schwetz, LTD Director of Planning and Development
Subject:
WEST EUGENE EMX EXTENSION (WEEE) PROJECT
UPDATE
Introduction
The last update on the West Eugene EmX Extension (WEEE) project was
provided on May 13, 2009, at the Eugene City Council work session. The
briefing focused on the design refinement process, integration of the West
Eugene Collaborative Report within the WEEE environmental process, EmX
contributions to addressing key community issues, and the role of EmX in
transforming the region’s growth and development. At that meeting the
Council requested a follow-up discussion of the Locally Preferred Alternative
(LPA) decision-making process. This process is described following a project
status report and a summary of public outreach and engagement since the
May 13 meeting.
Project Status and Schedule
Where we are in the Process
As indicated at the May 13 work session, the WEEE environmental process is currently
transitioning from a focus on the development of alternatives to analysis of those alternatives.
More specifically, the design of the alternatives is progressing to the next step of the process to
provide an accurate “footprint” of the alignments. Detailed analysis of the project alternatives
will begin soon. This work will form the basis for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement
(DEIS) and will ultimately provide much of the objective analysis needed for the selection of the
LPA by the Eugene City Council, the LTD Board of Directors, and the Metropolitan Policy
Committee (MPC).
Revised Schedule
A change in the project since the May 13 work session is a 5 - 6 month extension of the project
schedule. There are two primary factors contributing to this extension. First, in May of this
year, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) requested additional data gathering to support
the development of the travel demand forecasting model. This was accomplished with a survey
of EmX ridership in late May. Incorporating the new data into the model has required adding to
the overall project schedule. Second, FTA has requested additional time for their review of draft
chapters of the DEIS. This also affects the schedule.
The new schedule is provided below. The release of the DEIS is now scheduled for mid-July
2010. The process for selection of the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) is expected to be
completed in late 2010. While this represents an unfortunate delay in the project, it is not
expected to affect LTD’s ability to apply for federal funds in a timely manner.
Revised Schedule for WEEE Project
Public Outreach and Engagement Efforts
Since the work session in May, LTD has been scheduling meetings with groups and individuals
regarding property impacts of the different alignments. In addition, LTD is scheduling
presentations with neighborhood, civic, and professional organizations to prepare them for the
release of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), and provide them with the tools
and understanding to access and comment on the document. LTD is working to schedule these
presentations in early 2010 after some preliminary findings are available and prior to the release
of the DEIS.
During the summer, LTD featured information on the design drawings and opportunities for input
on the WEEE project at local events, including the Lane County Fair, Eugene Celebration, and
Fiesta Latina. These events provided an opportunity for staff to share information about the
project with a broad spectrum of the community.
As a part of this process, LTD initiated a meeting with FTA to discuss our efforts to engage
members of Title VI populations. The result of that meeting was that FTA found LTD’s efforts to
be innovative and LTD gained additional ideas to incorporate for outreach to these communities
in the future.
Design Reviews
In order to conduct the environmental analysis for each of the alternatives, the designs for each
alignment need to be at least 8-10 percent complete. For the most part, these designs remain
unchanged through the production of the DEIS. This allows the analysis to take place efficiently
without having to deal with a “moving target”. Once the LPA is selected, design refinement
resumes on the selected alternative, incorporating feedback and changes identified during the
development of the DEIS.
LTD has held several design review meetings on the project alternatives at various times of the
day to allow multiple opportunities for review by the public and members of the Eugene City
Council, the LTD Board of Directors, the EmX Steering Committee, the WEEE Corridor
Committee, and the West Eugene Collaborative. These design review meetings have served as
the initial forum to discuss the possible impacts on properties and the natural environment
(trees, wetlands, and the general area along the Amazon Alignment). In addition to these
specific meetings, the design drawings have been posted to the project website.
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An example of these design reviews is the one suggested by Councilor Pryor held at Goodwill
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Industries on Seneca Road, off of West 11Avenue. At this meeting, a question and answer
session helped clarify the purpose of the project and provided an opportunity to respond to
stakeholder questions about how the project would work, potential property impacts, options,
and the project timeline. The design review meetings have been well attended (averaging 20
attendees) and have resulted in increased awareness of the project. Additional meetings are
scheduled, and will continue to be offered to allow for broader dissemination of this important
information.
One-on-One meetings with property and business owners
LTD has prioritized staff time on the project for meeting with owners of residential property,
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commercial property, and business owners along West 11Avenue, West 13 , West 6 and
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7Avenues, and the downtown business area to go over specific designs of alternatives
adjacent to their property. These meetings have resulted in changes in designs, when possible.
These individualized meetings provide an opportunity to find solutions to reduce or eliminate
impacts to property and business owners, as well as to address the purpose of the WEEE
project. Due to the large size of the project area, the property and business owner meetings are
an ongoing effort. LTD staff are prioritizing contact with those property owners who may be
faced with potential impacts to buildings and off-street parking. In the next month, LTD staff will
continue to contact property owners to discuss potential project impacts. LTD also is very
willing to hold additional meetings with these stakeholders at their request. Attachment B is a
list of the contacts with businesses, residents and property owners between July 2008 and
September 30, 2009. This list does not include the larger WEEE public outreach efforts such as
general public meetings and community design workshops, weekly public design meetings,
agency meetings and public engagement efforts through various media.
Expanded WEEE Corridor Committee
At the May 13 work session, the Council expressed a strong expectation that stakeholders
directly affected by an alternative alignment would have an opportunity to be heavily involved in
the project. To this end, LTD has recruited several new stakeholders to join the West Eugene
EmX Extension Corridor Committee. These new members include two business
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representatives from the West 11 Avenue area and a representative from the Eugene
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Chamber of Commerce. In addition, LTD is talking to businesses along 6 and 7 Avenues
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and 13 Avenue to recruit representatives from those areas.
Formed in September 2007, the stated mission of the Corridor Committee is “facilitating
collaborative discussion of project-related issues between those who may be affected by the
project and those making decisions about the project.” A list of Corridor Committee
stakeholders is provided in Attachment C.
Quick Response Project
As indicated at the May 13 meeting, the State of Oregon has agreed to fund a ”Quick
Response” project as part of the overall WEEE effort. The study area extends between the
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Eugene Station and Arthur Street, and north of West 6 Avenue to south of West 13 Avenue.
The intent of this project (funded through the Department of Land Conservation and
Development) is to provide a range of context-sensitive design elements that could serve as
mitigation measures for each of the alternative alignments proposed in that area of the corridor.
This project will include at least three meetings with 12-16 stakeholders from the study area and
two public workshops. Through this effort staff hope to provide an opportunity for a deeper
engagement of the residents and businesses in the area. Attachment D outlines the process
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being used for this project. City of Eugene staff, together with staff from Oregon Department of
Transportation (ODOT) and LTD, forms the technical advisory committee for the project.
Proposed Process for the Locally Preferred Alternative Decision
The decision-making process for the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) hinges on the timely
review of project alternative analysis by several committees, who will in turn provide advice and
give recommendations to the three decision-making bodies: the Eugene City Council, the
Metropolitan Policy Committee (MPC), and the LTD Board of Directors. The proposed
decision-making process for the LPA is illustrated in Attachment E and described in more detail
below.
The LPA decision making process actually starts prior to release of the DEIS. The public
outreach to date, the focus of the work of the Corridor Committee, and reports to the Council,
the LTD Board of Directors, and the MPC have been and will continue to be concentrated on
preparing the community and decision makers for review and comment on the DEIS and the
LPA. The proposed public involvement strategy for the period leading up to the release of the
DEIS is described in Attachment F.
DEIS Public Review Process
The publication of the DEIS will kick off a formal 60-day public review process. The information
on project alternatives contained in the DEIS, combined with public and agency review and
comment, will form the basis for the selection of the LPA. A more detailed description of the
process will be described at the September 30 work session.
Public involvement, review and comment on the WEEE project alternatives analysis in the DEIS
is a critical and required step in the environmental review process under the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The DEIS will provide corridor-level evaluation and detailed
environmental analysis of the alternatives. The alternatives were developed during the DEIS
public scoping process to identify a range of reasonable alternatives that adequately address
the project’s Purpose and Need Statement. NEPA and FTA generally require a minimum of 45
days and a maximum of 60 days for public review of the DEIS. A public hearing is required
during this period and must take place no sooner than 15 days after release of the DEIS
(between days 16 and 60 of the review period). Staff recommend that the required public
hearing be held by the Joint LPA Committee (described below).
All comments received during the formal review period will become a part of the record upon
which the three LPA decision-making bodies will select a preferred alternative to move forward
into development of the Final EIS. This opportunity to provide formal public comments on the
DEIS, will be highlighted at each of the public outreach and engagement events held between
now and the publication of the DEIS. All public comment received during the public comment
period will be responded to in the Final EIS.
As a participating agency in the DEIS process, the City of Eugene staff fill a key role in the
planning and analysis of the WEEE project. Throughout the DEIS scoping and alternatives
development, and continuing into the DEIS analysis, staff are providing ongoing feedback on all
relevant aspects of the project. Eugene staff are members of the WEEE Project Management
Group, which meets monthly to provide project guidance and direction. During the public review
period for the DEIS, City staff also will provide important detailed review of the environmental
analysis, which will help refine the project to best reflect the City’s overall vision and institutional
knowledge of the physical, environmental, and social issues related to the project.
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Joint LPA Committee
As described at the May 13 work session, a Joint LPA Committee will be formed to facilitate the
joint decision on the LPA that will be made by the Council, the LTD Board, and the MPC. This
committee is proposed to consist of two members from each of the deciding bodies. While the
focus of this committee’s work will be after release of the DEIS, it would be useful for the
committee to meet 4 to 6 months prior to the release of the DEIS in preparation for its work. In
addition to orientation to the environmental process and DEIS review, the Joint LPA Committee
could convene early enough to comment on the process used during the 60-day public
comment period. The committee could also be designated as the body to hold the public
hearing required during the comment period.
From Here: Coordinating Next Steps
LTD, in close cooperation with the City, will continue to prioritize public outreach and
engagement through the public design review meetings, the Quick Response project, and
individualized meetings with property and business owners. As the preliminary designs for the
alternative alignments are finalized, the detailed analysis of the alternatives will begin in earnest,
and the initial steps toward selecting a LPA will begin with the formation of the Joint LPA
Committee.
ATTACHMENTS:
B List of WEEE Outreach Meetings
C: List of WEEE Corridor Committee Members
D: Quick Response Project Process
E: Proposed LPA Decision-Making Process
F. Proposed Public Involvement Strategy for Period Prior to Release of DEIS
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ATTACHMENT B
West Eugene Emx Extension Contacts With Businesses, Residents
and Property Owners
Between July 2008 and September 2009
DateCategoryNameFocus of Discussion
George & Melissa Brown, Business access;
July 29, 2008Business
Owners of KIVAparking
September 24, 2008Property Owner/BusinessRusty RexiusProject overview
February 4, 2009Property Owner/BusinessHank MorrowProject overview
February 10, 2009Property Owner/BusinessMatt - Wyatt's TiresProject overview
May 15, 2009Property Owner/ResidentLisa AndersonProject overview
Review preliminary
May 26, 2009Property OwnerBrian Obie
design graphics
Ramin and Tracie
PropertyReview preliminary
May 26, 2009Shojai/MetroCom
Owner/Developerdesign graphics
Development
Review preliminary
May 28, 2009Property OwnerGeorge & Mary Carter
design graphics
Ramin and Tracie
PropertyReview preliminary
June 8, 2009Shojai/MetroCom
Owner/Developerdesign graphics
Development
Mike Rimmer/First Review preliminary
June 11, 2009Property Owner Rep
Church of the Nazarenedesign graphics
Jim Thomas/Eugene Review preliminary
June 18, 2009Property Owner Rep
Faith Centerdesign graphics
June 29, 2009Property Owner/ResidentHank MurrowProject overview
Damien Gilbert, Branch Review preliminary
July 20, 2009Property Owner/Business
Engineering/Wyatt's Tiredesign graphics
Review preliminary
August 5, 2009Property Owner/BusinessJohn Woodrich/Autocraft
design graphics
August 5, 2009Property Owner/ResidentAnn BixbyProject overview
Review preliminary
August 11, 2009Property OwnerBill Skillern
design graphics
Don Doerr/M&G Collision Review preliminary
August 11, 2009Property Owner/Business
Specialistsdesign graphics
Richard Becker, owner &
Review preliminary
August 12, 2009Property Owner/Business
Julian Tetterton,
design graphics
M/HlithWll
Review design
August 14, 2009Property Owner/ResidentWendy B
graphics
Irving Weiner/Aqua Review design
August 31, 2009Property Owner/Business
Serenegraphics
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ATTACHMENT B
West Eugene Emx Extension Contacts With Businesses, Residents
and Property Owners
Between July 2008 and September 2009
DateCategoryNameFocus of Discussion
Sam & Giselle Review design
August 31, 2009Property Owner/Business
Recinos/Plaza Latinagraphics
Gary & Tami
Review design
September 8, 2009Property Owner/BusinessFrancone/Collector Car
graphics
Connection
Review design
September 10, 2009Property owner/BusinessEdward & Arti King
graphics
Review design
September 11, 2009Property Owner/DeveloperRichard Hunsaker
graphics
Review design
September 11, 2009Property Owner/ResidentLani Timm
graphics
Dennis Hijiman, State Review design
September 14, 2009Property owner/Business
Farmgraphics
Review design
September 21, 2009Property Owner/ResidentBrent Lanz
graphics
Note: This is a partial list of the larger WEEE public outreach effort. This list does not include general public meetings
and workshops, weekly public design meetings, agency meetings, and public engagement efforts through various
media.
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Attachment C
West Eugene EmX Corridor Committee
Ann Angvick LTD Accessible Transportation Committee
Peter Bungum Far West Neighborhood Association
Rick Crinklaw Lane Electric Cooperative/Study Area Organization
Greg Evans EmX Steering Committee/LTD Board of Directors
Gerry Gaydos EmX Steering Committee/LTD Board of Directors
Commissioner Rob Handy Lane County Board of Commissioners
Ric Ingham City of Veneta
Anand Keathley Whiteaker Community Council
Ilona Koleszar 3RT/Study Area Resident
Dean Kortge, PhD LTD Board of Directors
Garrick Mishaga Jefferson/Westside Neighborhood Association
Councilor Chris Pryor Eugene City Council
Larry Reed Eugene Chamber of Commerce
Rick Reno Lane County Fairgrounds
Micah Sardell Whiteaker Neighborhood Resident
Will Shaver Churchill Neighborhood Association
Councilor Jennifer Solomon Eugene City Council
Jim Thomas Study Area Business/Property Owner
Kari Turner Architectural Design Specialist/Study Area Resident
Clayton W. Walker CW Walker & Associates/ Downtown Business Assoc/Owner
John Woodrich Study Area Business/Property Owner
Rob Zako Environmental/Regional
Attachment D
Quick Response Project Process