HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/03/13 - City Council Newsletter
City of Eugene
125 East 8 Avenue, 2 Floor
thnd
Eugene, Oregon 97401
(541) 682-5010
(541) 682-5414 (FAX)
www.eugene-or.gov
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
January 3, 2013
IN THIS EDITION
PUT A LITTLE ZIP IN RESOLVE TO GET FIT
HEARING OFFERS OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT CITY ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS
THREE DECEMBER SHOWS AT HULT SOLD OUT
OPEN HOUSE LOOKS AT WAYS TO IMPROVE INTER-CITY PASSENGER RAIL SERVICE
AROUND THE CITY
Put A Little Zip in Resolve to Get Fit
Kick start a New Year’s exercise routine by entering the “Commit to Fit” contest at City pools this month. Sign up at Sheldon
or Echo Hollow pool and fitness centers. Each attendance at a water fitness class or work out in the fitness center from Jan.
7 to Feb. 1, will be rewarded with one punch on a Commit to Fit punch card (two punches on double-punch Tuesdays).
After 10 punches, participants can enter to win a 30-day pool pass or other fun prizes.
After a month of regular workouts, participants will be well on their way to a healthy
fitness routine!
Water fitness classes are offered for a variety of abilities and at convenient times. The
intensity of classes ranges from easy to challenging, in shallow or deep water, and are
scheduled at times from early in the morning until the evening hours.
The fitness centers at both pools have a variety of exercise machines and free weights
for a perfect workout, and there are televisions to provide company. Creating an
exercise routine makes it easier to keep that New Year’s resolution to get fit!
Purchase aquatics membership cards at either pool; reload online thereafter. Call 541-682-5525 for more information
.
Hearing Offers Opportunity to Support City Active Transportation Projects
The City of Eugene has submitted several grant applications for active transportation to the Oregon Department of
Transportation’s (ODOT) four-year funding program known as the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program
(STIP). Applications for the 2015-2018 STIP Enhance program were due Nov. 27.
The Lane Area Commission on Transportation (LaneACT) will make recommendations to ODOT regarding prioritization of
STIP funds based on input from local agencies and public comment. The Lane ACT is collecting public comments regarding
STIP Enhance funding through Jan. 8. Comments can be e-mailed to Stacy Clauson at sclauson@lcog.org. The Lane ACT will
also hold a public hearing on the projects within Lane County at its meeting on Jan. 9. The meeting will be held from 5:30 to
7:30 p.m. in the McLane Room at ODOT, 644 A Street, Springfield.
The City of Eugene has applied for funding for four active transportation projects:
The Amazon Active Transportation Corridor helps to implement the City's Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan by
extending the popular Amazon Path further into south Eugene and making related investments that will enhance safety
and accessibility in the Hilyard and West Amazon corridors. This grant would fund widening the concrete sidewalk from
34th Avenue to Tugman Park, installing a two-way separated cycle track on West Amazon Drive from Hilyard to Snell,
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1
January 3, 2013
reconstructing the Rexius Recreation Trail from Hilyard Street to Martin Street, and installing two additional pedestrian
bridges and reconstructing the existing bridge to current standards.
NE Livable Streets implements a significant portion of the City’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan. The solution would
develop Livable Streets that are comfortable for walking and bicycling trips over a large geographic area (7.8 square miles)
of the city, and increase access to transit stops. Projects include developing a bicycle boulevard network comprised of
enhanced wayfinding signs and shared lane markings, traffic calming, pedestrian islands, stutter flash pedestrian signals
and widened sidewalks at critical crossing locations and bus stops. Funding for this project was also sought through
ODOT’s Transportation Enhancement Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee 2012 Combined Solicitation
Program. ODOT has prepared an online survey to collect public input through 5 p.m., Jan. 31. To register support for the
NE Livable Streets project in the survey, select “Linn, Benton & Lane Counties (except coast)” as the Primary Area of
Interest and then choose project #48 City of Eugene - NE Neighborhoods - Bike Boulevards and Pedestrian Crossings.
The Jessen Path will be a key active transportation facility for the 28,228 residents of the Bethel neighborhood in
northwest Eugene. The Jessen Path will create an east-west link across the north side of the neighborhood that connects to
the Beltline Highway shared-use path and eventually to the regional path network. The 12-foot-wide path will extend 7,250
feet along the south side of the 222-acre Golden Gardens Park which is a significant natural and recreational resource for
northwest Eugene.
The SmartTrips Regional Program is comprehensive individual household marketing aimed at increasing biking,
walking, use of public transit, and ridesharing. Locations include the West Eugene EmX Corridor in 2017 and West Bethel
in 2018.
In addition to the projects listed above, ODOT and Lane Transit District (LTD) also submitted projects contained within the
City of Eugene. ODOT is seeking funding for safety improvements on Beltline in the vicinity of the Delta Highway. LTD
applied for funds to conduct a study of EmX from River Road/Hwy 99 to Lane Community College and to replace the
existing River Road transit station with a new one north of Beltline. More information about projects submitted by LTD,
ODOT and other agencies will be posted on the Central Lane MPO and Lane ACT web pages.
For more information, contact Reed Dunbar, associate transportation planner, at 541-682-5727.
Three December Shows at Hult Sold Out
The “SOLD OUT” message on the Hult Center’s 6 and 7 avenue marquees for three of its shows in December is the sign of
thth
thriving arts and culture in the community. Congratulations to the two local arts organizations, All That! Dance, presenting
the Nutcracker Remixed, and the Eugene Symphony, one of
the Hult Center’s six resident companies, presenting Cirque
de Noel. The three performances they presented in
December represent a total of 3,400 tickets sold, and much
more.
The Arts and Economic Prosperity Study, conducted by
Americans for the Arts in 2011, with many local partners
including the City of Eugene and the Hult Center, confirmed
that Eugene is indeed incredibly rich in arts and culture,
and compares very well to other similarly sized cities.
Nonprofit arts and culture is a significant industry in the
city of Eugene - one that generates $45.6 million in total
economic activity. This spending - $29.5 million by
nonprofit arts and culture organizations, and an additional
$16.1 million in event-related spending by their audiences - supports 1,739 full-time equivalent jobs, generates $34.8
million in household income to local residents, and delivers $2.4 million in local and state government revenue.
This economic impact study sends a strong signal that when the arts are supported, not only is the community’s quality of
life enhanced, but so is its economic well-being. This December alone, close to 10,000 patrons enjoyed performances at the
Hult Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Eugene. The staff at the Hult Center is proud to play such an important
part in the vibrancy of the arts and culture community, and equally proud of the considerable economic impact for the
entire community.
Read more about the study at http://eugeneaep.wordpress.com/. For more information, contact Hult Center Event
Manager Theresa Sizemore at 541-682-5242.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2
January 3, 2013
Open House Looks at Ways to Improve Inter-City Passenger Rail Service
The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is studying ways to improve inter-city passenger rail service between
the Eugene-Springfield urban area and the Portland urban area. The study will help decide on a general passenger rail
route and evaluate options for train frequency, trip time, and improving on-time performance.
The needs and concerns of Oregon
citizens are a key driver of the Oregon
Passenger Rail study. The public is
invited to an open house to provide
input on the draft goals and
objectives, learn about corridor
concepts (early ideas for potential rail
routes) and provide input on the
preliminary screening results.
Locally, the open house will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 8, at the ODOT Office, McLane Conference Room (2nd
Floor), 644 North A Street, Springfield. Can’t make it to an open house? Visit www.OregonPassengerRail.org between Jan. 8
and Jan. 27 for an online event to learn more, connect with project staff, and provide input. For more information, contact
Transportation Planning Manager Rob Inerfeld at 541-682-5343.
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3
January 3, 2013