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The Alder Street Transportation Corridor prioritizes active trans-portation modes.

Alder Street and 13th Avenue con-verge near the University of Oregon. The corridor contains some of the heaviest travelled pedestrian and bicy-cle facilities in Eugene.

To maximize safety and promote the use of active modes (walking and bik-ing) the City of Eugene coordinated with multiple agencies (including the University and Lane Transit District) to design a world class facility that would satisfy and attract new and ex-isting pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. Funding through a variety of local and state partners enabled the construc-tion of a two-way buffered bicycle lane, widened sidewalks, contra-flow bicycle lanes, colored pavement, en-hanced street canopy, and improved signalization that would enliven an al-ready thriving commercial corridor. In addition, the improvements would make a strong statement about City of Eugene’s commitment to sustainable transportation development.

The prioritization of walking, transit and bicycling in the Alder Street Transportation Corridor creates an effective social mar-keting strategy for convincing students to change transportation habits. This sum-mer when school wasn’t in session there were 1300 bike trips recorded in a 24-hour period on 13th Avenue west of Alder Street.

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Contact: Matt Rodrigues, City Engineer (AIC), 541-682-6036, matt.j.rodrigues@ci.eugene.or.us

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Wealth Creation Catalytic use of state funding enabled enhancements to the sidewalk network for outdoor displays and café seating. Housing near the corridor attracts tenants interested in walking and biking and all businesses along the corridor benefit from increased activity as it attracts cyclists from around the community. Entrepreneurialism Outdoor seating and retail space for local businesses was created and provides increased capability for local food cart businesses.

Financial Stability Local businesses were retained and allowed to grow in place using new outdoor space. The improvements also increase pedestrian appeal and access to local business and impact personal finances by reducing the need for a private automo-bile. This ensures University students spend their money in establishments locat-ed along the 13th/Alder Street corridor.

Education City of Eugene collaborated with University, LTD, and local businesses to develop a strategic education campaign. Distribution materials included press releases and brochures on new transportation facilities including back-in angle parking, shared lane markings, bike boxes, bike signals, and buffered bicycle lanes. These materials are used throughout the city to increase awareness and protection for vulnerable road users. Safety Bike boxes and strategically applied green thermoplastic in conflict areas improve safety throughout the corridor. There are also two bicycle traffic signals that pro-vide cyclists with a dedicated signal phase. Enjoyment Revitalized infrastructure increases comfort for bicyclists and pedestrians in this high-use transportation corridor through application of innovative design and ex-panded facilities. The improvements have made it easier to travel from neighbor-hoods south of the University through this busy corridor to the Ruth Bascom Riverbank Path System to the north. Livability Promotes exploration and congregation of students, staff, and community. The uninterrupted network makes it easier and safer to travel and offers more oppor-tunities for businesses to stay financially viable.

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Pollution Prevention During construction, there was a water quality manhole installed to effectively screen debris, sediment, and oil from stormwater runoff. The street was also constructed with warm mix asphalt to reduce fuel consumption and the produc-tion of greenhouse gases. The project promotes the use of active transportation to improve air quality by reducing fine particulates that would otherwise be pro-duced through the burning of fossil fuels in private automobiles.

Natural Resources By prioritizing human powered transportation the corridor reduces carbon emis-sions and helps the city achieve goals for reductions of greenhouse gases. The tree canopy was also enhanced with 6’ by 17’ tree wells, backfilled with imported quality topsoil material to provide optimum root growth and healthy trees. The sidewalk was reinforced and constructed over a portion of the tree well to in-crease pedestrian circulation space.

Conservation Energy and materials were conserved by retaining existing infrastructure where possible. The corridor contributes to reduced fossil fuel consumption by attract-ing more people who walk and bike and supporting denser, more compact com-munities.

Energy Efficiency During paving, there were significant energy savings through the use of warm mix asphalt. Energy saving are also realized through the use of solar energy for some parking meters. These actions reduce dependence on power from nonrenewable resources. A lasting legacy of the project will be gains in energy efficiency from increased use of non-motorized transportation.

“The transformation of Alder Street has had a major positive effect on the University of Oregon. At the north end, the cam-pus village shopping environment is now perfectly suited to our student and faculty population's very high use of active trans-portation modes…” - Fred Tepfer, Planning Associate, University of Oregon “I go out of my way to use Alder Street because it provides a comfortable bicycling experience.” Paul Leitman, Student, University of Oregon

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Budget

State Grant $706,998

Local Match $78,554 Total Project $2,300,000

Originally labeled a repaving project, City of Eugene leveraged a state grant to increase the livability and functional-ity of the street for active transporta-tion modes. Major safety improve-ments included bicycle signals on Alder Street at Franklin Blvd and 18th Ave-nue. Coordination

City of Eugene worked in coordination with local entities including the Univer-sity of Oregon, Northwest Christian University, PeaceHealth, Lane Transit District, and the University Business District among others to maintain ac-cess throughout construction. Collab-orative efforts included parking lot access to business along Alder/13th when reconstruction of on-street parking spaces was necessary.

The project included removal of creosote timbers that once supported a local trolley line. City of Eugene collaborated with Lane Historical Society to carefully remove and salvage historic remnants of Eugene’s past. The removed rail is being repur-posed into public art for display at the corner of 13th and Alder.

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Looking east on 13th Avenue from Alder Street. Parallel parking was re-placed with back-in angle parking on the south side.

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Alder Street from 13th to 14th (North). Bicycle lanes were consolidated to one side of the street from Franklin Blvd to 19th Avenue (8 blocks).

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Contact: Matt Rodrigues, City Engineer (AIC), 541-682-6036, matt.j.rodrigues@ci.eugene.or.us

Bicycle Signal on Alder Street at 18th Avenue. The signal uses camera detection to trigger a dedicated bicycle signal phase.