Infrastructure – Page 4

Category: Infrastructure

Update on STP-U Funding Issue

Posted on February 10, 2010 by Paul Adkins

An interesting thing happened at Mondays City Council Work Session. Because of a policy recommendation made by the Sustainability Commission that Surface Transportation Program-Urban (STP-U) funds be used for bike/ped projects and not strictly pavement preservation as is currently mandated by council, the council members heard from the community that they would like to revisit this issue. Here is a great wrap-up of that meeting from Howie Bonnett (highlights mine):

Staff (Mark Schoening) had prepared a memo in advance listing three projects for the funds, located on Hilyard, Coburg, and Martin Luther King, which were basically pretty much automobile projects. He also had prepared a memo about how much money had been obtained from various sources for bicycle projects in Eugene in the last 5 years and, due to some big monies recently (stimulus funds for the bridge, etc.,) it averaged 2.5 million per year for bike/ped projects. That seemed to make the Councilors feel that a lot of money was being spent on bicycle/pedestrian projects.

Perhaps somewhat in response to whether the STP-U funds should be spent for alternative transportation modes, Schoening had also listed two bike/ped improvements which could be done in connection with the Martin Luther King and Coburg projects, each costing about 100,000 out of the 2.5 or so million. There followed a discussion of whether these bicycle projects should be bumped to last on the list, or whether they should be done in any case even if the projects required supplemental funds to complete (Schoening offered that gas tax money could be used to make sure the projects were completed). This irritated some councilors, who wanted it clearly stated that the bike/ped work would only be done if it was determined that there was sufficient money for the three road projects, even though Mark Schoening said there would be savings if the bike/ped work was done at the same time as the road repair. A motion to move bikes/ped projects to the bottom of the priority list was made and defeated 5-3 (Poling, Clark, and Solomon losing) and then the main motion passed unanimously which gave the staff authority to add the bike/ped work to the road work on the 3 projects, funded with STP-U funds.

So, net outcome, is that only about 5 % of so of the STP-U funds will go for bike/ped projects, as part of the Coburg and MLK projects. The policy recommendation of the Sustainability Commission was not directly discussed, even though Council has had it for over a month. It is clear that the very large unmet need to do street repair work (now up to 170 million of so), is being used as an argument to suck up all monies for the roads. As I have tried to point out, trying to meet this unmet need as it gets larger and larger, will mean that our ability to build infrastructure to promote alternative mode (active) transportation through diversion of transportation dollars which are discretionary is seriously hampered. Maybe we should have a community discussion about how much money each year it would take to catch up with our unmet road repair needs, and see if we want to undertake that, or whether we should start talking alternatives. Even the 36 million GO Bond measure is a drop in the bucket.

According to Lee Shoemaker, the Cities Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, the projects for the Coburg and MLK projects would be:

Coburg Road Corridor safety improvements for pedestrians and cyclists coordinated with pavement preservation projects that would be funded by STP-U.
And street preservation bond. Could include visual countdown signals, access management where there are willing property owners, and bicycle wayfinding Signage.

Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard Corridor – enhanced pedestrian crossings at east end of corridor coordinated with pavement preservation project that would be funded by STP-U.

Having three council members who voted to move bike/ped projects to the bottom of the last priority is disheartening to say the least and to see the type of projects that should just naturally be part of any complete street talked about being taken off and then highlighted as ‘special bike/ped’ projects sort of rubs salt in the wound. These kind of improvements don’t complete an incomplete network, they simply add what should have been added already.

I also think it is very misleading to have a memorandum that shows $12.5 million in bike/ped projects over the last 5 years when $8.5 million of that was a large bridge project ($5.7 million) and several preservation projects. Take those out and you have about $4 million over 5 years for active transportation projects… $2.5 of that hasn’t been built yet. Which leaves you with $1.5 million new bike/ped infrastructure actually built. How does that compare to non-active transportation projects?

The memo and the Councils reaction to it makes it seem like the City feels it is spending enough on active transportation already. While there has been some great investments and good plans for active transportation we still have an incomplete network that families are afraid to use. We need to be putting large amounts of transportation dollars to completing that network. Bridges are flashy and preservation is essential but we need to be making an investment in the future and that is getting people out of their cars more and active in their transportation choices by having safe and comfortable infrastructure that makes that choice easy.

There are few flexible funds in transportation money. How are we going to complete a network without those funds? We’ll need a plan and we’re working on that with the Bike Master Plan process, but we’ll also need funding! Where is the plan for that funding??

Some calendar items we’ll be looking at for this issue are the MPC public hearing on March 11 and action by the Metropolitan Policy Commission on April 8. Stay tuned for more.

Path Repair List

Posted on November 19, 2009 by RideCoordinator

Now that we have a new, smooth, beautiful Amazon Path a lot of riders are asking “what’s next?”

Well here’s the answer. It’s the City of Eugene Public Works “Multi-Use Path Rehabilitation/Repair Priority List” and it shows what’s coming down the pipe. The BPAC helped in the prioritizing of this list along with Public Works staff. This is a draft list and is subject to change:

April 7, 2009

Draft Priority List

1) Amazon Path (19th Ave to 31st Ave)

• Concrete path is severally cracked with sunken grades and settled shoulders

• Highest priority ranked by BPAC and PWE staff

• Rehabilitation scheduled 2009 Pavement Bond Measure project

2) Fern Ridge Path (Van Buren to West side Chambers Street connector 100-feet

west of Chambers) and Westmoreland Path (Polk to Westmoreland Park

connector)

• Includes west-side Chambers connection and access ramp replacement

• Potential to include connectors at Acorn Park Street

3) South Bank Path (50 feet West of Grand intersection to Owen Rose Garden and

misc repairs)

• Existing concrete section to River House, Asphalt to Rose Garden

• Concrete section is cracked and settling in multiple locations – several areas with

poor drainage due to settlement (see park north of Grand)

• Identify and include other nearby sections to repair (i.e. Lamb Cottage cracked

panels)

• Two asphalt connectors also in need of rehabilitation:

o Adams Street connector adjacent to River House Rec center

o Rose Garden to Madison Street connector adjacent to 4j District Offices

4) West Bank Path (North of Greenway Bridge to Formac)

• Asphalt path is currently in good structural condition with raveled pavement

surface. Minor areas of root heave and sunken grade. Could be a candidate for

repairing small asphalt areas followed by a slurry seal or asphalt overlay of the

path surface.

5) Fern Ridge Path (Chambers connector to Arthur Street underpass)

• Existing asphalt path is failing do to Amazon Channel bank settlement

• The path should be realigned in coordination with a future channel improvement

project.

6) North Bank Path (DeFazio Bridge to last covered picnic area)

• Several tree heaved sections to be replaced

7) North Bank Path (Boat Ramp to Day Island Road)

• Asphalt path is root heaved, rough, substandard width winding through trees

• Candidate for concrete overlay

(8)Knickerbocker Path (Knickerbocker Bridge to Franklin Blvd)

• Path ranked by BPAC, no field notes collected by PWE staff prior to ranking

9) Canoe Canal Path (Bridge to N. Walnut/Day Island Road)

• Asphalt path in poor condition – tree root heaving

10) Centennial (MLK) Connector (MLK to Alton Baker Park)

• Substandard width

• Stream bank issues

11) Judkins Path

• Path ranked by BPAC, no field notes collected by PWE staff prior to ranking

12) Roosevelt Path (Maple St to Beltline HWY)

• Generally in good condition except tree heaving near Waite Street (~100 feet

east and west of Waite)

13) Fern Ridge Path (Terry to Greenhill)

• Requires a number of spot repairs

• Bridge ramps are settling to varying degrees

14) Tugman Park Path

• Path ranked by BPAC, no field notes collected by PWE staff prior ranking

Other Path needing repairs, but not included in prioritization

1. South Bank Path (EWEB to Autzen Footbridge)

Low priority until future development of EWEB site

2. Washington Jefferson Park Paths

Low priority until plans for park are finalized

Next up on the list.

LTD West Eugene EmX Extension

Posted on September 29, 2009 by RideCoordinator

There are a some rumors floating around regarding the West Eugene EmX extension. Last fall GEARs was active in gathering information and giving feedback on different alignments. LTD has gathered more information and is holding more community input meetings that we, as cyclists, need to attend to discuss how this transportation corridor affects us. Having traffic (even nice bus ‘traffic’) along a stretch of ride that is currently quite and pleasant doesn’t sound very ideal and LTD has certainly heard that. However, there are a lot of barriers to some of the other alignments they are looking at. Some of those are coming from community members and some from the actual physical environment. We need to be sure that our voices and concerns are heard.

If the best alignment is somewhere along 6th, 13th, or 11th rather than the Amazon creek area but the opposition to those areas are pushing LTD to look at Amazon because there is simply less resistance than we need to push back and have our voices heard as well. If, however, it makes sense to have the alignment near the Fern Ridge Path then we need to make sure it makes that path a better path rather than a less desirable one. How could it be better with buses near the trail? Continue reading “LTD West Eugene EmX Extension” →

A New Bike Box….Or is it?

Posted on September 24, 2009 by RideCoordinator

One of the countries original bike boxes got it’s start right here in Eugene. However, if you’ve ridden by it in the past few years it’s easy to see how you might have missed it. The bike symbols and stop bar paint had long ago worn off, though the “Stop Here on Red” signed remained and compliance by motor vehicle drivers was pretty decent considering. However, most cyclists when asked about it had no idea it was there or what it was.

The main reason for this bike box is different than other boxes installed in other cities. It is meant to aid cyclists in their move from the left side bike lane to the right side bike lane. Between 7th (this intersection) and 6th there are bike lanes on both sides for a short distance but you need to move to the right to continue through past 6th (and on down to the river). Most bike boxes are meant to help in the prevention of “right hooks” and to give cyclists visibility and a slight advanced start.

The great news is that this bike box has been repainted!

The not so great news is that despite encouragement from GEARs and advice from the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) it’s not quite up to snuff with other bike boxes in Portland and New York. It lacks the green paint that other communities have already found effective. By not painting the box green the city has shown a lack of forward thinking and a vision of creating a safe and comfortable environment for cyclists. Continue reading “A New Bike Box….Or is it?” →

DeFazio Leads the Pack on Transportation

Posted on June 30, 2009 by RideCoordinator

DeFazio at I-5 Bike/Ped Bridge Opening

Local Congressman, Peter DeFazio, is breaking away and headed for the yellow jersey in the race for real change in our transportation system, leaving the most popular and famous ‘change maker’, President Obama, back in the peloton. Congressman DeFazio (D-OR) is attempting to work on a “comprehensive overhaul” of the transportation system while the Obama administration is calling for congress to hold off and create a temporary fix. DeFazio is calling for a “transaction tax on crude oil securities” to pay for the deficiency in the Highway Trust Fund (which is nearly bankrupt) and to pay for the Surface Transportation Authorization Act of 2009. On DeFazio’s website a statement about the plan states:

The Surface Transportation Authorization Act of 2009 requires $450 billion in funding over 6 years. Because of existing funding mechanisms through the Highway Trust Fund, there is a $140 billion funding gap. A transaction tax on crude oil securities would raise more than $190 billion over 6 years, more than enough to fill the gap.

It goes on to describe the transaction tax in more detail but what is missing is the vision of the changes that this new transportation system may include. In an interview (Full MP3 version) with Rachael McDonald on KLCC DeFazio discusses many issues and towards the end he talks about transportation. He states that ‘legacy infrastructure’ needs to be maintained but he also talks about overhauling the Department of Transportation, reducing greenhouse gasses, giving people transit options, and increasing safety. He doesn’t specifically mention Active Transportation but he has a history of supporting biking, walking, and transit. Here is the portion of the interview regarding transportation:

DeFazio talking transportation

As DeFazio stated yesterday at a media event for the new bridge to connect the Cal Young neighborhood with the Delta Ponds area and the Willamette River money spent on projects like bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure are “a heck of a lot better spent than one penny going to Wall Street”.

It will be interesting to see what action the Obama administration takes on his plan. The next few months could see a lot of action for transportation at the congressional level and all of that will eventually have a big impact on what America’s new transportation model may look like. $450 billion is a lot to swallow in the current economic climate and a lot of this new transportation plan will certainly continue with a lot of the old ‘highway mentality’ and not enough funding for active transportation but it looks like it might be making a positive step in that direction. Let’s hope.

Stop-to-Yield Law & Stimulus Funded Bike Bridge

Posted on March 23, 2009 by RideCoordinator

So once again bikeportland.org seems to be the place to go even for EUGENE bike news! Jonathan has a post about Lee Shoemakers opposition to the “Idaho Stop Law” with a copy of the letter Lee sent to the Legislature, there are a lot of comments and some not too flattering towards Eugene, including one from “carfree in pdx” stating

Having lived in Eugene for several years, I would take anything that comes from the city of Eugene with a huge grain of salt. Typical of them is their complete lack of logic…

and

They do have good bike paths (MUPs), but the cyclability of the city is more due to its small size than because they have their planning and policies in order (they don’t); the fact that people cycle there is more in spite of city policies than because of them.

and this gem from “Coyote”:

But frankly, bicycle advocacy left Eugene with Reagan inauguration. They have been a few bicycle heroes in public life in Eugene, Ruth Bascomb and Peter DeFazio come immediately to mind, and Floyd Prozanski in a lycra sort of way, but most Eugene politicians can’t say the word bicycle without stumbling. Usually they stumble over their Prius.

Granted, I get a little huffy when Portlandites talk down about Eugene but at times I have to agree that things aren’t great right now. Sure we have some good infrastructure, some great planning staff, and some great energy going on at GEARS (and at the University too) but we do have a long way to go and we do have a big stumbling block with not one City council member who rides a bike or any major city administrators who bike for transportation regularly, and some city staff who still struggle with the idea as bikes as a viable transportation option. We have some major ground to make up and we need the kind of energy that got the 70’s era infrastructure built but double fold. We need more infrastructure but we also need more education & encouragement. Portland is where they are because they have put that investment in.

On that positive note Paul and I went out and toured the site of the new bike bridge that will start construction this summer connecting the Delta Ponds and the River path system with the Willagillespie neighborhood (and the whole North of Eugene). Besides being a great way for that whole region of Eugene to access the river path system it provides the whole area with a great link over the Delta Highway which currently has poor access at Valley River Drive and Good Pasture Island Road- certainly not bike friendly for families and children! I also like to think of this bridge as completing the Mall to Mall bikeway system… when this bridge is built you can bike from one big mall to another on mellow neighborhood streets and fly over the traffic on Delta Highway and I-5 on beautiful bridges.

Okay, I’m being a little silly but how about a Movie Tour? If the movie you wanted to see isn’t playing at the Bijou you can head downtown, see what’s playing at the David Minor theatre, then down to the river path to see what is playing at VRC and if that still doesn’t have it maybe the cheap theatre at Gateway is playing something at the dollar theatre. And the whole trip can be done (mostly) on quiet streets.

Anyway, I think this bridge is going to be a great addition to the bike network system in Eugene. The bridge is getting started a year ahead of schedule thanks to the funding from the Federal stimulus package and though not a lot of bike/ped projects got funding from those federal dollars at least we got some pretty good crumbs. I’ve posted some Flickr shots of the brief tour if your interested.

And finally on a whole other note I wanted to remind folks to keep an eye on the GEARS “Bicycling in the Greater Eugene Area” calendar for great biking events throughout the area. They are not just GEARS rides and events but great speakers, workshops, classes, and other fun centered around the wonderful bike culture we’re working to nourish in our town. Come join the ride.