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2.3 Multi-Modal Transportation Improvement Concept The Lower River Road Multi-modal Transportation Improvement Concept recommendations address street design elements and issues for Lower River Road between Northwest Expressway and Hillcrest. Development of the Improvement Concept recommendations' was based on input from City of Eugene planning and engineering staff, the Community Advisory Committee (CAC), the general public, and Lane Transit District (LTD) staff. The Improvement Concept includes three primary elements: • A preferred Lower River Road plan and cross-section concept • Principal Lower River Road traffic signal and pedestrian crossing locations, and • Commercial area vehicular access points on Lower River Road. Background An Operations and Safety Analysis conducted for the Lower River Road corridor concluded that although River Road is functioning well as a main thoroughfare for significant volumes of traffic, and will continue to do so in the future, access onto, off of and across River Road for local auto, pedestrian, and bicycle traffic is difficult and worsening. Vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle travel to, from, and between residential neighborhoods in the River Road corridor, businesses on River Road, Rasor Park and the. West Bank Bike Path will grow increasingly more difficult in the future with increasing River Road traffic volumes. The Operations and Safety Analysis concluded that street and traffic control improvements and traffic calming measures are necessary to safely and conveniently accommodate the existing and increased local pedestrian and bicycle traffic generated by new development and redevelopment in the area. Concept Guidelines A set of concept development guidelines was identified by the CAC and from input gained during a public workshop on transportation issues on Lower River Road. The guidelines provide direction for identifying more specific multi-modal improvement concepts. The guidelines are: • Use roadway features to reduce traffic speeds: re-stripe roadway with narrower travel lanes and wider bicycle lanes; construct raised medians; install additional signals and time signals to progress through traffic at lower speeds. • Stay within existing right-of-way to the extent possible. • Maintain property and side street accessibility throughout the corridor. • Provide signalized pedestrian/bicycle crossings at regular intervals along the corridor. • Along most of the corridor, on-street parking spaces currently are not needed by adjacent residences and businesses; landscaping and pedestrian/bike facilities are a more effective use of River Road right-of-way outside of the traffic lanes. 1 Final River Road Conceptual Design Plan, Robert Bernstein Transportation Planning and Engineering, March 2009.