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Brieffng Paper: Courthouse District Improvements <br /> November 29, 2006 <br /> Page 2 <br /> are now open. The first-phase work also included amenities such as wider sidewalks, reconstructed <br /> driveways, decorative streetlights, landscaping, stormwater swales and on-street parking. <br /> The next phase of street work, estimated to cost around $6.1 million, is scheduled to begin in late <br /> spring 2007. This phase of construction will complete the connection between Sixth Avenue and Hilyard <br /> Street, rerouting westbound Highway 99 to run parallel to the railroad tracks. Anew traffic signal at Eighth <br /> <br /> Avenue and Mill Street will enhance the connection between downtown and the Courthouse District and <br /> the river. Shifting the westbound Highway 99 traffic off Mill Street will allow the new at-grade pedestrian <br /> crossing at Eighth and Miil to be significantly shorter than it would be otherwise. Other elements include <br /> removing travel lanes and adding parking to Broadway, installing landscaping on Mill Street, and <br /> improving Eighth Avenue east of Ferry Street. <br /> Most of the transportation improvements in phases one and two will be paid for with federal funds, <br /> including $6 million in transportation and budget appropriation bills approved with the support of <br /> Congressman Peter Del=azio and $500,000 from other federal funding sources. The projects also <br /> received a $1.6 million contribution from Lane County, $350,000 in funding from the local Urban Renewal <br /> Agency, and $385,000 from various City of Eugene funds. <br /> The City owns property adjacent to the new federal courthouse. The redevelopment of this <br /> property presents an opportunity to bring new activity and density to the former industrial site. The site <br /> includes a developable area of about 2.2 acres, fronting on Eighth Avenue. Ideally, development on this <br /> site will complement the significant courthouse investment with awell-designed multi-story structure and a <br /> mix of uses. The City is investing in streetscape improvements along this street, specifically in front of this <br /> property in addition to creating the signalized intersection at Eighth and Mill. These investments wilt <br /> contribute to the development potential of this property and support the community's vision of <br /> strengthening the connection between downtown and the river. <br /> <br />