A community forum to rank and refine a series of options for redesigning Willamette Street from 24th to 32nd avenues will be held in two sessions on Tuesday, June 11, from 4 to 5:45 p.m. and 7 to 8:45 p.m. at the South Eugene High School cafeteria, 400 E. 19th Avenue.
Two meetings are being held to accommodate the high interest in this project. Interested residents are urged to attend the earlier session if possible because staff anticipates that many people will choose the later session. Participants are encouraged to RSVP with an indication of which time they prefer by calling 541-682-8472 or e-mailing chris.c.henry@ci.eugene.or.us.
At the meetings, a project team of City of Eugene staff and consultants will present study results for three street design alternatives including conceptual layouts, cost estimates, projected travel times, and function for cars, pedestrians, bicyclists and buses.
For those who are unable to attend the meetings, an online survey will be available from June 12 through June 18 on the project website at www.eugene-or.gov/SWillametteStreet. The web site also includes links to summaries of public outreach, technical details, and more.
The public engagement phase of the South Willamette Street improvement plan began last November with two well-attended community forums held to discuss project goals, share the results of traffic studies and begin to explore alternatives for future improvements to the design and condition of Willamette Street between 24th and 32nd avenues. In February, a second community forum was held where feedback was given on a range of street design alternatives to help the project team narrow the alternatives for more detailed analysis. The results of that analysis will be presented on June 11.
The goal of the study is to help South Willamette Street become a vibrant urban corridor accessible by bicycle, foot, car, and bus. Today, Willamette Street is heavily used to reach many popular destinations, yet it is uninviting to pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders and motorists alike. For years, many residents and business owners have shared complaints about the poor conditions on Willamette Street for walking and biking and the need to do something about it.
The plan aims to support existing businesses and the commercial district’s vitality by creating a balanced multi-modal transportation system. It also is intended to further City planning efforts to identify compact growth and redevelopment opportunities and foster a well-informed and involved community supportive of the final outcomes.