New Search
/ E U G E N E A DIVISION OF PUBLIC WORKS <br /> � + ParkS and <br /> 1820 EUGENE, ORREGON N 97402 97402 <br /> O e n Space (541) 682 -4800 <br /> n FAX (541) 682 -4882 <br /> N FAX <br /> PARKS AND OPEN SPACE PLANNING PARK OPERATIONS URBAN FORESTRY NATURAL RESOURCES <br /> MEMO <br /> Date: January 8, 2008 <br /> To: Kurt Corey <br /> From: Johnny Medlin <br /> CC: Neil Bjorklund, Emily Proudfoot, Mark Schoening <br /> Subject: West Eugene EmX Extension Project <br /> In January 2007, the Lane Transit District (LTD) Board of Directors and the Eugene City Council agreed to <br /> pursue the West 11 corridor as the next bus rapid transit priority corridor. In the past few months, LTD <br /> has developed a number of alternative routes for the West Eugene EmX Extension. It was recently <br /> brought to POS staff's attention that one of the proposed routes is along the north bank of Amazon Creek <br /> between Garfield and West 1 1 th near Bertelsen Street. LTD is presenting this Amazon Creek route as a <br /> viable option, since widening West 11 Avenue to provide dedicated lanes for the EmX is projected to be <br /> very expensive due to the need to acquire land and businesses on both sides of the road. In addition, the <br /> West 11 Avenue route would have to be carefully planned out in order to not exacerbate already existing <br /> traffic congestion issues. From a transportation and economic perspective, LTD is presenting the Amazon <br /> Creek EmX route as a more feasible alternative than West 1 1 th Avenue. <br /> The purpose of this memo is to bring this issue to your attention and to let you know about our concerns <br /> about locating the West Eugene EmX adjacent to Amazon Creek. From a natural resource perspective, <br /> we have the following concerns: <br /> • The Metro Waterways planning process, a multi - million dollar project that has been ongoing since 2002 <br /> and has involved a number of agencies, has identified a preferred alternative for this reach of Amazon <br /> Creek that includes extensive channel widening and riparian enhancement work. The location of the <br /> EmX on the north bank of Amazon Creek has the potential to severely restrict our ability to implement <br /> these types of improvement projects. <br /> • The section of Amazon Creek between Garfield Street and Bailey Hill Road already has some <br /> significant bank erosion and stability issues. Any kind of transportation or other structural facilities that <br /> are built along Amazon Creek would need to be built in such a way as to not cause further bank failure <br /> (and potential flooding issues). The expansive nature of the soil along that entire stretch could mean <br /> that soil would have to be removed and replaced with material that would not fail under those <br /> circumstances. This is a cost and impact that the transportation folks will need to take into account. <br /> • Between Garfield Street and West 11 Avenue, Amazon Creek is protected by the /WP Waterside <br /> Protection Overlay Zone, Sections 9.4700- 9.4760 of the Eugene Code. As part of the implementation of <br /> the state - sanctioned West Eugene Wetlands Plan, a 60 foot setback from top of bank is applied to both <br /> sides of Amazon Creek to protect the waterway. The applicable code provisions allow construction of <br /> certain public improvements within the setback area only with prior Site Review approval, based on <br /> consistency with specified criteria, and only if the public improvement is specified in an <br /> adopted plan (EC 9.4730(3)(c)). The Site Review criteria for approval of public _ <br /> improvements within the setback include EC 9.2530 Natural Resource Zone Development \ Eu <br /> GENE <br />