New Search
. VVV <br /> Y ~ . <br /> United States Department of the Interior , ~ <br /> ~ BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT ~"~,i <br /> Eugene District Office <br /> a~ ~ P.O. Box 10226 ,NAMERIC.~A <br /> Eugene, OR 97440-2226 <br /> AIRfPLYRF33FR'i~ 173U www.edo. blm.gov <br /> Septemeber 2, 2008 <br /> Lane Transit District <br /> Attention: -Tom Schwetz, LTD Director of Planning and- Development <br /> <br /> _ P.O. Box 7070 <br /> Eugene, Oregon 97401 <br /> On behalf of the Bureau of Land Management, West Eugene Wetlands Project Manager, <br /> Patricia K. Johnston, attended the two of LTD's Community Design Workshops that <br /> were intended to dialog with residents and businesses at a deeper level about sketch-level <br /> designs for the West Eugene EmX Extension project. I understand that LTD will use the <br /> feedback from the Community Design Workshops to modify the sketch-level. designs. I <br /> understand in October, LTD will host an Qpen House to report back to the community <br /> and participating agencies any changes to the designs. After this open house, LTD will <br /> refine the alternatives and. begin analyzing each alternative. I also understand that LTD <br /> is seeking comments through September 2, 2008, on the sketch-level designs. <br /> Stewart Road Alignment. <br /> Steward Road essentially dead ends at Stewart Pond Overlook when traveling from west <br /> to east off of Bertelsen Road. Stewart Pond Overlook is a popular BLM-administered site <br /> for urban outdoor enthusiasts, including birders and dragonfly watchers. Stewart Pond is <br /> an officially designated Watchable Wildlife site. BLM would want to be sure that the <br /> analysis of the EmX and all the traffic that would be brought through the area once <br /> Stewart road was opened once again as a thru street would include impacts to the <br /> indigenous wildlife, as well as its impact to these recreational opportunities. <br /> This site is also popular with school groups, which park on the street along the Stewart <br /> Road. In looking at the cross-sections, it does not appear that there is enough road width <br /> to accommodate the road improvements for EmX, and include pedestrian, bicycle routes, <br /> <br />