New Search
Current Conditions <br />and Future Changes <br />The proposed street classifications represent both <br />the existing and anticipated future function of each <br />street. Most of the major streets in Eugene have <br />operated as such for many years. It is important to <br />recognize that the current pattern of major streets <br />has evolved over many decades- very little of the <br />system has actually been master-planned. The <br />proposed classifications are based on a combina- <br />tion of historical, present, and future travel patterns. <br />Again, with regard to the future it bears repeating <br />that with only a few exceptions, travel in the region <br />20 years from now will occur on the same major <br />streets that are on the ground today. <br />Traffic volume is one of five criteria that have been <br />used in the determination of each street's classifica- <br />tion. For purposes of the current recommendations, <br />current (i.e. recently measured, within the past two <br />to four years) traffic volumes were used. In cases <br />where a street does not yet exist, or where it is <br />partially constructed or the adjacent area is mostly <br />undeveloped, an assessment was made of future <br />volume in order to compare the street with other <br />streets of similar function. <br />Another criterion used in the recommended classifi- <br />cation is the usage by and provision for alternative <br />modes on each street segment. Staff based the rating <br />in this area on existing use, but adjusted the num- <br />bers upward in those cases where sidewalks, <br />bicycle facilities, or transit routes are anticipated to <br />be added to the street, based on adopted plans and <br />policies. This has the effect of influencing the <br />determination of classification by looking at the <br />intended or expected use of the street. <br />The length and spacing criteria are generally based <br />on existing conditions; however, where street exten- <br />sions or new streets are planned, these future condi- <br />tions are taken into account. The final criterion, that <br />of connectivity is treated in a similar fashion. That is, <br />existing conditions are used unless there are planned <br />changes in the network or individual streets that <br />would change the rating for this criterion. <br />Amendments to the <br />Classification Map <br />The street classifications and design standards <br />proposed in this document are intended to be <br />applied to Eugene's street system into the indefinite <br />future. The review and adoption process for this <br />document should be used to reach agreement on the <br />function of specific street segments throughout the <br />city. Should those street segments be identified for <br />improvements in the future, the design standards in <br />this document would guide that improvement. In the <br />interest of consistency and effectiveness, street <br />function and standards should not change periodi- <br />cally in the absence of a change in policy or without <br />evidence that the existing classification and stan- <br />dards are inappropriate. <br />Any necessary changes to street classifications <br />resulting from major shifts in street function, new or <br />updated refinement plans, large-scale new develop- <br />ment not anticipated in adopted plans, or other <br />unusual situations could lead to amending the <br />adopted Street Classification Map. The Eugene code <br />provides for adoption and amendments of the Street <br />Classification Map and specifies that map amend- <br />ments "shall be by ordinance". This provision would <br />mandate a level of citizen involvement in future <br />discussions about street classifications and design <br />consistent with adoption of any new ordinance. <br />36 <br />