Cascadia Fault earthquake, cutting off virtually all access to the eastern half of the proposed <br />development, including the existing EWEB building.) <br />I’ve shown how a new grade separated undercrossing would be potentially feasible at the <br />east end of E8th Avenue, which would replace the existing grade crossing near that location. <br />But we all know how difficult and time consuming it can be to work with UPRR and the cost <br />of a new undercrossing would not be trivial in terms of the limited amount of new <br />development on the EWEB site and so I’m not sanguine about seeing an E8th Avenue <br />undercrossing come to fruition. (See Page 1 and 6 on the attached PDF) <br />A clear alternative is therefore to connect the existing Agate Street/Riverfront Parkway <br />undercrossing to the EWEB site with a small park-like drive parallel to the railroad tracks to <br />provide a second connection. I expect that this has been proposed before and I expect this <br />has probably been thoroughly resisted by individuals who want the entirety of the land <br />between the railroad tracks and the river to be an exclusive natural area. I would counter <br />that within the UGB there should be a priority placed on community life safety and public <br />convenience for access to natural areas, recreation space and developable land for all ages <br />and types of city residents, including those not able to hike or bike distances, like the aged <br />or disabled. <br />A continuation of Riverfront Parkway along the tracks would provide just that kind of access, <br />especially if it was designed as a slow speed park drive, with continuous, metered parallel <br />parking (which is in itself an effective traffic-calming tool). The parking meters limit and <br />govern duration of parking and obviously provide a source of revenue for the University and <br />City. The drive could be closed to public through-traffic for special riverfront or campus <br />celebrations and events, and the pavement surface used for booths and stages to limit <br />impacts to adjacent green space. <br />The drive would continue to provide access even as we see major changes in our <br />transportation modalities, including to increased ride sharing, electric vehicle use (including <br />e-bikes), and possibly a transition someday to autonomous vehicles. The drive could also be <br />constructed in phases, starting with the travel lanes and limited parking, but planned to <br />accommodate more parking if the demand is there in the future. <br />Perhaps if the Conditional Use Permit is really only an interim placeholder until the <br />University has clearly identified demand for northward growth, then it might not be <br />important to include a vehicular connection north of the railroad tracks, but the EWEB <br />redevelopment seems to be moving forward at a deliberate pace with significant public and <br />private areas of the project intended to be open for occupancy and open to the public by <br />2021 and that seems to call for some possible commitments by both the City and the <br />University (and the interested public) to providing for adequate public safety and adequate <br />long-term equitable access to the Willamette riverfront open space. <br />I have two conflicting meetings the evening of the Conditional Use public hearing on <br />September 12, so I am respectfully submitting these observations to you in writing. <br />Best regards, <br />Kevin <br />KevinShanley,FASLA <br />2805UniversityStreet <br />EugeneOR97403 <br />5416502628cell <br />2 <br /> <br />