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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />October 28, 2009 <br /> <br />CONTACT: <br />Surface Operations Manager Eric Johnson, 541-682-4904 <br /> <br />From Public Information Section, 682-5523 or 541-954-2938 <br />FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE <br /> <br />New, Improved Leaf Program Hits the Streets in Eugene <br /> <br />A new and improved fall 2009 leaf program is up and running in Eugene, where weather <br />conditions and a growing urban forest have created an early and heavy leaf drop. <br />The City’s formal leaf collection program begins Nov. 2, although crews are already <br />working to clean priority bike lanes. Here’s the schedule for the first round of collections: Nov. 2 <br />to Nov. 11 -- central and west Eugene; Nov. 9 to Nov. 30 -- north Eugene; Nov. 30 to Dec. 18 -- <br />southeast Eugene; Dec. 14 to Dec. 24 -- southwest Eugene. Unimproved streets are collected <br />during the second round, which will begin in late December. <br />The 2009 operational changes to the decades-old program are intended provide a <br />reasonable level of leaf collection services to local residents, keep leaves out of waterways, <br />minimize the leaf-related flooding incidents, and find viable alternatives that protect the safety of <br />cyclists. Property owners can help by not placing leaves in designated bike lanes and by not <br />placing leaves in the street until the weekend before collection is scheduled in their area. <br />Additionally, the City worked with local cyclists to identify approximately 25 miles of <br />priority on-street bike lanes in Eugene and has purchased equipment and increased the <br />frequency of sweeping on these streets with a goal of keeping high priority routes as clean as <br />possible. Several additional maintenance workers have been assigned to leaf duty, with a <br />primary focus on cleaning and inspecting priority bike routes and communicating with residents <br />if leaves are creating problems. <br />The City also has created a new web site at www.eugene-or.gov/leaf. The web site includes <br />an interactive, map-based form so residents can report problems with leaves in bike lanes. The <br />information is fed into the Public Works maintenance management system so crews can quickly <br />evaluate and respond to problems. The web site also includes an automated map that shows <br />where priority bike lanes have been cleaned in the past several days. There’s also an online <br />form to request home delivery of leaves. <br />In addition to the web site, the Public Works Department has a leaf program hotline at 541- <br />682-5383. Residents also can call Public Works Maintenance at 541-682-4800. <br /># # # <br /> <br />Public Works Administration ? City of Eugene ? 101 E. Broadway, Suite 400, Eugene, OR 97401 <br />Phone 541-682-8421 ? Fax 541-682-6826 ? www.eugene-or.gov/pw <br />