2007 Lane County Federal Priorities

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Fec~era~ Priorities 2007 T `rans~ortation McKenzie River Path Request The City of Springfield requests $750,000 to combine with a local $120,000 match to fund a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) study to determine the route of a regional bicycle and pedestrian path in an environmentally sensitive area and to complete preliminary design. The City of Springfield plans to construct a multiuse path to connect the Thurston area. of east Springfield to the McKenzie Levee Path that parallels 42"d Street. The path corridor is in an environmentally sensitive area because of its proximity to the McKenzie River. A regional route determination and NEPA study must be done to select the route for the path with the least negative impact, and to determine what type of mitigation or enhancement will be appropriate. The preliminary design will develop the results from the NEPA study into a project that is ready for right-of-way acquisition and contract bidding. Background The McKenzie River Path (MRP) will start at the McKenzie Levee Path, which was constructed the summer of 2003 with federal TEA-21 funds. The MRP will continue through the McKenzie River oxbow area and parallel the river at some location until reaching High Banks Road and 52"d Street vicinity. A NEPA study must be done to evaluate the impacts and mitigations of the project. This may also include an exploration of whether or not the path would have to cross under the Eugene-Springfield Highway for some portion of the route. The McKenzie River is habitat for Spring Chinook, which are listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). The study will involve and consult with the necessary federal agencies with jurisdiction over federal ESA requirements. Federal financial participation in the study is needed to provide the funding level required to satisfy the requirements of the ESA and federal permitting agencies. Current Status The MRP is included in the City's adopted "Springfield Bicycle. Plan" and the metropolitan area's regional transportation. plan. A condition of acceptance of the regional transportation plan by state and federal officials included a list of high-priority regional bicycle and pedestrian facilities; MRP is on the high-priority list. The MRP is a significant regional route, providing the only off- street east/west connection of the Thurston area in east Springfield to central Springfield north of Main Street. Funding of the study and preliminary design will allow the McKenzie River Path project to proceed to the right-of-way acquisition and construction phases. 17