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Public Works <br /> Administration <br /> City of Eugene <br /> Februa 22, 2006 858 Pearl Street <br /> rY Eugene, Oregon 97401 <br /> (541)682-5291 <br /> Lane County Roads Advisory Committee (541) 682-6826 FAX <br /> 3040 N. Delta Highway www.ci.eugene.or.us <br /> Eugene, OR 97408 <br /> I urge the members of the Lane County Roads Advisory Committee to weigh the importance of <br /> partnerships and priorities as you consider your recommendations on the draft Lane County Capital <br /> Improvement Program (CIl') for 2007-2011. <br /> As the director of the Eugene Public Works Department and, more importantly, as a Lane County resident <br /> who happens to live in the city of Eugene, I see several places where the CIP might benefit from some <br /> judicious rethinking: <br /> • The draft CIP shows the County/City Road Partnership, which has provided good service to all <br /> residents of Lane County for the past 20 years, being eliminated on July 1, 2007. This agreement was <br /> forged to provide equity and efficiency in a time of urban transition - a time that is by no means over <br /> and, in fact, may be more critical today than it was 20 years ago. The founding principle of the <br /> agreement was partnership, a value of great importance as the county seeks reauthorization of federal <br /> payments and the cities look for innovative ways to meet current and future road funding needs. <br /> • Similarly, the OTIA III pass-through funding is set to expire in 2007. I can speak for the City of <br /> Eugene in telling you that our share of these funds has helped preserve many lane miles of arterial <br /> and collector streets that are used by tens of thousands of Lane County residents each day. <br /> • The draft CIP proposes to cut funding for the Delta-Beltline Interchange to $l.l million from $8 <br /> million in the current CIP. Certainly we understand the importance of transportation planning and <br /> commend you for seeking solutions that take into account the state's plans for improvements to <br /> Beltline Road. Acknowledging that both the current and draft CII' identify the funding for 2008- <br /> <br /> : 2009, we strongly urge you to restore the programmed funds to the original $8 million and to use the <br /> time between now and 2008 to determine how those funds might be best spent to improve safety and <br /> relieve congestion at this interchange. <br /> • The other two projects shown in the draft CIP in the Eugene area -the Irving Road railroad <br /> overcrossing and improvements to Beaver Street-Hunsaker Lane -are certainly worthy projects <br /> although, in terms of overall benefit to Lane County residents, they don't rise to the level of <br /> continuing our partnership or remaining committed to workable solutions for the Delta-Beltline <br /> Interchange. <br /> I ask you to consider the assumptions that went into the draft CIP, to take a careful look at the priorities - <br /> notjust of the proposed CIP projects but also of the broader transportation needs for Lane County <br /> residents, including those who happen to live in one of the county's 12 cities -and to think about the <br /> value of partnership in a time of uncertainty and financial constraint. I hope you'll agree with me that the <br /> draft CIP is a good starting place for a discussion and that we can improve it by working together for the <br /> benefit of all Lane County residents. <br /> Sincerely, <br /> Kurt Corey, P.E. <br /> Public Works Director <br /> <br />