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_ _ February 17, 2006 Leo Stapleton Chair, Roads Advisory Committee Lane County Public Works 3040 N. Delta Highway Eugene, OR Dear Chair Stapleton: Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposed Lane County Capital Improvements Program for Fiscal Years 2007 through 2011. In particular, the City of Springfield is pleased to see the recommendation to continue the funding of Phase II of the Jasper Road Extension. The City thanks County staff for the hard work and significant progress they have made in getting JRE Phase II closer to construction. This important project is necessary to facilitate development in the Jasper/Natron area of Springfield, one of the last remaining major areas suitable for industrial development. We thank the Committee and the Commissioners for including funding for this project. The Jasper Road Extension is the latest in a long line of projects in Springfield which the County has supported. These projects go back as far as the improvements constructed in the Gateway area to make the Sony site ready for development, and continue today with the County's support of the construction of Martin Luther King, Jr. Parkway. Over the past few years, the financial constraints which have beset us all have persuaded the Board of County Commissioners to call for greater cooperation and collaboration between the cities and the County, to optimize the use of scarce resources. We are pleased that Springfield has enthusiastically taken up this mission, and are happy to report that not only do we continue to use County staff and equipment for such things as lane striping, but also that we have increasingly relied on County staff for right of way acquisition on transportation projects, including South 42°a Street, 21St Street, the Gateway/Beltline intersection, and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Parkway. Beyond that, we have also turned to the County to provide design and construction management for both the Parkway and the S. 42"a Street project. We will continue to explore opportunities where we can effectively and efficiently use County staff. City staff also want to continue the discussion with the County about improvements to Laura Street and recognize that only through a partnership can we find the resources to improve this County road to City standards.