Roosevelt
Blvd.is a better connector between Beltline and 99, it
serves northwest Eugene neighborhoods better than WEP could. Some
local traffic would use Roosevelt, regional through traffic would bypass
on Belt Line.
transfer WEP money to finish Beltline,
fix Roosevelt / 99 intersection two options for completing Beltline: (1) if Peak Oil is here,
(2) if Peak Oil is not yet here. The larger option could convert
Beltline to an interstate highway - perhaps I-605?
transfer ODOT / City lands for WEP to BLM's
West Eugene Wetlands Project
new roads:
First - 99 - Second Connector, Barger Road Extended & Trainsong
Connector (to NW Expressway)
fix West
11th intersections (would cost about $2 million, the cost
to complete WEP study), other road repairs
bicycle paths and lanes, pedestrian safety enhanced by road test for
drivers license renewals
land use shifts to coordinate transit and development, mixed use centers,
co-housing neighborhoods
"Saving Oil in a Hurry" - practical steps
toward coping with sudden energy shortages, road safety, speed limits
upgrade Amtrak to enable high speed trains to Seattle
Second and Garfield: ideal location for Eugene's
new hospital (central
& accessible)
Peak Oil and climate change are "new circumstances" that requires reopening
the NEPA process
City of Eugene Adopted Growth Management Policies
violated by WEP
Endangered
Species Act: a "license to kill" - Road Kill: Fender's
Blue Butterfly and Car Fenders
controlled burning for wet prairie restoration incompatible with WEP
environmental
justice: WEP traffic dumped onto 6th and 7th would severely impact
Whiteaker neighborhood
plants of the West Eugene Wetlands - photos by Linda Swisher
Endangered
Species Act: a "license to kill" - Road Kill: Fender's
Blue Butterfly and Car Fenders
controlled burning for wet prairie restoration incompatible with WEP
Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglass
- a letter that protected a
park from a parkway
sand
and gravel - impacts of an elevated WEP in the wetlands
“In general, we recognize that STIP modernization
program funding levels will not meet the larger Metro and Non-metro project
needs shown on the Countywide Priority List endorsed by the Board
[of Commissioners] in October 2001 and updated April 1, 2002. For this
reason, we have confined our comments to the ‘Smaller’ roadway
projects shown on updated October List.
“Least cost solutions to transportation system needs is a prioritizing
factor the OTC will consider when selecting projects for the 04-07 STIP.”
– Robert J. Pirrie, ODOT Area 5 Manager, May 1, 2002 letter to Lane
County Commissioners
ODOT's increasing cost estimates
2001 Estimates
from ODOT presentation to Eugene City Council, February 20, 2001
this document proves that the $88 million figure used to market the
WEP in the November, 2001 referendum was a deliberate lowering of the
full cost - this is incredibly deceptive for manipulating the public,
but that is how highways are planned and how the good old boys network
in local government usually treats those who are forced to pay for their
projects
West Eugene Parkway System Cost
Belt Line Phase 1 - Barger 16.5 M
Belt Line Phase 2 - Royal 10.5 M
Total 27.0 M [already completed]
West Eugene Parkway
• Part 1 Unit A 17.3 M [Belt Line to Seneca]
• Part 1 Unit B 34.2 M [Seneca to 6th/7th - last segment to be
built]
• Part 2 Unit A 30.5 M [two lanes from Belt Line to western terminus]
• Part 2 Unit B 06.5 M [2 more lanes from Belt Line to terminus] Total: 88.5 M
Terry Street 02.2 M
W 11th - Greenhill - Danebo 04.5 M
Belt Line Phase 3 - Roosevelt - W 11th 17.0 M Total: 23.7 M
Grand Total: $139.20 M
source: ODOT presentation to Eugene City Council 2/20/2001
November
2001election
The pricetag used to sell the WEP to the public for the 20-54
referendum was $88 million.
May 2002
WETLANDS publicly predicts WEP would cost at least $150 million
September
2003, publicly revealed March 2004
WEP Alternative A Mitigated $128,865,551
(in year 2002 dollars)
related projects: widen W. 11 th from Terry Street to Green Hill
$5,500,000
6 th / 7th intersection work from WEP to I-105 $1,500,000
widen 126 to four lanes from WEP to Veneta $13,319,000 (Lane
County requested this project in May 2002, this is their cost estimate)
total WEP cost $149,184,551
This price tag does not include the related widenings of Seneca and
Bertelsen Roads, the $5 million “urban standards” upgrade
to Hwy 99 from Roosevelt to Garfield, the intersection upgrades to West
11th, further adjustments to update the WEP for inflation and increased
energy costs.
WETLANDS stated in 2002 that the cost of the
WEP was really $150 million, not $88 million (based on ODOT's own figures).
October
2004 cost estimate
$169 million
Regional Transportation Plan cost estimate for WEP, October 2004
WEP 1A Beltline to Seneca $17,737,000
WEP 2 Beltline to western terminus $59,625,000
WEP-1B Seneca to 99/Garfield $36,340,000
Terry Street Connector WEP to Roosevelt $10,465,000
Belt Line Highway four lanes, WEP interchange $45,125,000
subtotal as specified by RTP $169,294,000
widen 126 to Veneta requested by Lane County in 2002 $13,313,000 (probably
MUCH more than this to construct)
6th / 7th intersections needed for eastern terminus
$1,500,000
