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an interchange between the Beltline Highway and the .WEP. He explained that the minor changes to the <br /> design were required by the scope of planning as dictated by the Federal Highways Administration <br /> (FHWA) Re-evaluation, which called for the design to be predicated on expected growth patterns to the <br /> year 2025. He noted that it had been determined, through traffic analysis, that the Terry Street Connector <br /> would no longer be needed. <br /> Mr. Stiles circulated copies of the Draft Traffic Analysis: Existing Conditions and No-Build and WEP <br /> Alternatives in 2025. He noted that the design had just been fixed and the traffic analysis was an iterative <br /> process between design and traffic analysis. He said this was the first information "out of the gate." <br /> Mr. Kelly asked Mr. Poling to add the 06-09 Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program (MTIP) <br /> to the motion. <br /> Mayor Piercy commented that this issue had been on the table for a long time. She agreed there were <br /> significant traffic problems and issues in West Eugene that had long needed resolution. She said Eugene <br /> had a nationally recognized Wetlands Project put together by a "unique public/private partnership." She <br /> stated that the wetlands were a highly valued educational, recreational, and environmental asset. She <br /> averred that the community needed a solution to its traffic problem that did not compromise the integrity <br /> or the West Eugene Wetlands Project (WEWP). She observed that the current configuration of the WEP <br /> had the support of "only half of Eugene" and had been along-term source of community division. She <br /> asserted that the current configuration of the WEP would make only a minimal impact on the traffic issue, <br /> speculated at six percent, and would face legal challenges for years to come. She said the Bureau of Land <br /> Management (BLM) and the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) had both raised issues with the WEP. She <br /> asserted that there were established ways to move beyond deadlocks. She suggested engaging the services <br /> of Oregon Solutions or the Oregon Consensus Program to help find a creative solution that could replace <br /> the acrimony with a community solution all would respect. She indicated she would vote against moving <br /> the project forward in the event of a tie vote. <br /> Mr. Poling, seconded by Ms. Solomon moved to continue to support the West Eugene <br /> Parkway as a modernization project priority when the Metropolitan Policy committee con- <br /> siders the Central Lane Metropolitan Planning Organization modernization project priori- <br /> ties for the 2008-2011 State Transportation Improvement Program and the 2006-2009 <br /> Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program. <br /> <br /> MINUTES-Eugene City Council October 26, 2005 Page 10 <br /> Work Session <br /> <br />