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~.~ "` y United States Department of the Interior <br />~~ <br />~, ~ p BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT <br />~ Eugene District Office <br />-i-•=::- ~ ~ P.O. Box 10226 <br />~4RCN 9 ~ap <br />Eugene, OR 97440-2226. <br />nvttFp[.YRII~FR'tU 173o www,edo. blm.gov <br />Septemeber 2, 2008 <br />Lane Transit District <br />Attention: Tom Schwetz, LTD Director of Planning and Development <br />P.O. Box 7070 <br />Eugene, Oregon 97401 <br />Dear Mr. Schwetz, <br />~, <br />~~~~ <br />TAKE PRIDE' <br />~NAMERICA <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 Open 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 azea once <br />Stewart road was opened orice 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 af 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 />