1999 Eugene Arterial & Collector Street Plan

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ACSP would be considered the minimum accept- able standard for these types of projects, unless the criteria for an exception could be met. Identifies goals, objectives .and planning principles for the design of arterial and collector streets to guide street planning decisions related to livability The goals, objectives and planning principles address the many functions provided by arterial and collector streets: moving traffic and enhancing general mobility; promoting choice of travel mode; providing for efficient emergency vehicle response; and supporting adjacent businesses and promoting economic vitality. Arterial and collector streets also playa major role in defining the identity and character of neighborhoods. The goals, objectives, and planning principles provide guidance for the "'~ design of new streets and for reconstruction of existing streets. Clarifies how traffic calming techniques will be used on arterial and collector streets The City's current street standards provide guid- ance for traffic calming techniques to be used on local residential streets but do not address their use on major streets. The ACSP recognizes that a majority of our major streets go through residential and business areas. On many of these streets, both residences and businesses would benefit from slower moving (calmed) traffic. The ACSP identi- fies which traffic calming devices are appropriate on which type of street. What does the Arterial and Collector Street Plan NOT do? The Arterial and Collector Street Plan DOES NOT establish a project list for new con- struction or street improvement projects. Project lists for new street construction and up- grades of existing streets to City standards are contained in the draft TransPlan, not the Arterial and Col lector Street Plan. The ACSP provides guidance for how those projects will be imple- mented once the project lists are adopted in TransPlan. The Arterial and Collector Street Plan DOES NOT mandate minimum design standards for existing Streets which are already constructed to City standards and adequate width. The majority of Eugene's arterial and collector streets already have been improved to City standards with curbs, sidewalks and other essential features. Most of these streets are not under .consideration for a major widening project in TransPlan. Therefore, the most likely situation for these streets in the foreseeable future is no change whatsoever (other than routine mainte- nance of the street), or at most a minor project such as resurfacing or perhaps a traffic calming improvement. In those cases where a major reconstruction or widening project is proposed (in TransPlan), design decisions will be deter- mined through a public process at the time the project is designed. The Arterial and Collector Street Plan DOES NOT mandate replacement of on- street parking with bicycle lanes on exist- ing arterial and collector streets. The ACSP is not the document that regulates the placement,of bicycle lanes on existing, improved city streets. That decision will be made through the adoption of TransPlan. The draft ACSP contains the proposed design guidelines and standards for bicycle lanes that are constructed. on major streets, or are added to existing streets. If the adopted TransPlan identifies a bicycle lane addition to an existing street, the ACSP requires "major citizen involvement" in the street design process. Citizen participation would be encour- aged through a design charrette or similar process. Design standards in the document would be used as desirable guidelines rather than requirements. The process would focus on reaching consensus on the optimum design for safety, mobility, and neighborhood livability. 4