LTD W Eugene EmX Ext Project. Amazon Alignment Alternative

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District (LTD) considering options which included siting an EmX alignment along Amazon Creek. That memo is attached for your reference. Over the past 20 months, LTD has continued planning for a West Eugene EmX extension and an Amazon Creek alignment continues to be one of three possible alignments under consideration (see attachment 1). Recent history Between July 2008 and June 2009, LTD requested and received POS input on multiple iterations of its proposed Amazon Creek alignment during several face -to -face meetings. During these meetings, LTD listened to POS concerns, most of which were initially articulated in the attached memo, and requested input on ways LTD could reduce negative impacts to recreational, natural resource, aesthetic, and storm water values along Amazon Creek through design and routing modifications. We appreciate LTD's request for POS input as well as their intent to find "win -win" scenarios for this alignment that would address transportation needs while also preserving the important recreational, environmental, and aesthetic values provided by the Amazon Creek corridor. I believe these meetings have been very helpful to both POS and LTD in coming to a better understanding of the goals of each agency and how we can work together. Throughout these discussions with LTD staff and consultants, POS staff has articulated both concerns and opportunities intended to move the design toward LTD's goal of a win -win scenario. POS input has focused on ways to minimize negative impacts to recreational, environmental, and aesthetic values, and to call out opportunities to provide mitigation to what the community might see as negative impacts. We strongly feel that these issues will need to be addressed for the project to receive broad support from the community. In August, 2009, LTD held two public meetings where it showed the current versions of all three west Eugene alignments, including the Amazon Creek alignment (see attachment 2). This current Amazon alignment alternative incorporates some of the input that POS provided LTD over the past 20 months, and the attached map shows where proposed enhancements to Amazon Creek are proposed in the Metro Waterways Study. In short, I feel that while LTD has incorporated some of the input that POS provided, I still have significant concerns about the Amazon Creek alignment options under discussion. On -going concerns My primary concern is that all of the proposed alignments have areas that are still much too close to the top -of -bank in many places. In fact, in certain areas (e.g., east of City View), options require building near vertical structural walls along the banks in order to support an alignment at the top of bank. This is of particular concern to me because I believe that having an EmX alignment at or near the top of bank is inconsistent with City goals and policies for parks, open space, and storm water along Amazon Creek. To the extent that alignment options continue to propose sections within 10 feet of the top of bank and more specifically constructing new sections of near vertical wall channels in Amazon Creek, I cannot in good faith do other than voice to you my opposition. Throughout the series of meetings convened to seek our input, I have been consistently clear in stating to LTD that an alignment built at or close to the top of bank would be very problematic, and that constructing any new vertical walls in Amazon Creek would be inconsistent to actions