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15. Are any bridges, tunnels, retaining walls or other structures required? Y ~ N ? <br /> If yes, describe: <br /> An 8-inch to 16-inch tall retaining wall will be added to the north side of 18~' Avenue to prevent <br /> soil from slumping onto the sidewalk along the cemetery. <br /> 16. Describe how the project increases the appreciation of cultural, aesthetic or environmental values, community <br /> pride, environmental quality or livability. Or describe any other outstanding project features or local circumstances <br /> <br /> that reviewers should be aware of. Do NOT exceed the allotted space -attachments will not be accepted <br /> This project is located adjacent to the southeast quadrant of the University of Oregon, including <br /> Mac Court, the University's basketball arena and nationally-known Hayward Field, site of the <br /> 2008 Olympic trials. The surrounding neighborhoods and the University have some of the <br /> highest rates of bicycling and walking in Eugene. 18"' Ave. serves as a walking route to Edison <br /> Elementary which has encouraged students to walk and bike to school. Over the years, the <br /> University has invested in supporting biking, walking, and transit instead of parking garages in <br /> order to make non-auto modes a preferred means for accessing the campus. The University has <br /> created two pedestrian corridors on its campus that connect with 18`l' Ave. The surrounding <br /> neighborhoods are very walkable except for crossing 18~' Ave. and along the north side of 18`l'. <br /> Of the 5.5 mile length of 18"' Ave., only the project area does not have bike lanes. New bike <br /> lanes from Alder to Agate Streets will fill in the last missing link on this corridor and connect <br /> with bike lanes on Agate Street which is a main connection between the University and the <br /> riverbank trail system, Alton Baker Park, and Autzen Stadium. New bike lanes on 18t'' will also <br /> connect to a bicycle boulevard on Alder Street and an on-street bike route on University Street. <br /> The project is divided into two sections: Agate to University and University to Alder. The plan <br /> view schematic included with this proposal shows the other changes proposed in the Agate to <br /> University section. In this section, there is a chain link fence alongside the mostly asphalt <br /> sidewalk and 42 parking meters in the sidewalk that create nanrow pinch points. Pedestrians must <br /> walk single file and maneuver around the meters; this problem is exasperated when thousands of <br /> people come to this area of campus at the same time for athletic events. The project will replace <br /> the meters with pay stations and create a wider sidewalk and planting strip with trees. Together, <br /> these improvements will drastically transform the walking environment on the north side of 18~'. <br /> Large curb extensions that will be installed at the intersections with Onyx and Emerald will <br /> shorten the crossing distance for pedestrians and also include vegetated flow-through stormwater <br /> devices. The University has agreed to maintain all of the plantings and also committed to <br /> removing any remaining barbed wire from the chain link fence. <br /> The section of 18t'' from University to Alder is adjacent to the Pioneer Cemetery and the <br /> University's School of Music. Pedestrian improvements include replacing parking meters with <br /> pay stations, building a low retaining wall to keep a slope from slumping across the sidewalk, and <br /> installing a curb extension at Harris Street. The cemetery association will remove shrubs that <br /> extend across the sidewalk and work with the City to pull the slope back from the sidewalk. <br /> The Eugene Tree Foundation (ETF) has expressed an interest in making this section of 18~' <br /> Avenue a target area for their work and working with the City and other stakeholders to enhance <br /> the tree canopy in this corridor. In addition to the new planting strip on the north side of 18`i', the <br /> City will work with the ETF to identify other locations for new street trees including the south <br /> side planting strip and cemetery. The City has received letters of support for the project from the <br /> University of Oregon, the Eugene Bicycle Coalition, and the Eugene Tree Foundation. <br /> Bicycle-Pedestrian Program Grant Application FY 2008-09 <br /> <br />