In a recent commentary in The Register-Guard, Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy and Lane Metro Partnership executive director Jack Roberts describe the work of the West Eugene Collaborative and invite the public to a series of public forums:

What can people accomplish when they put differences behind them and look for solutions together? Perhaps they will be able to solve the serious long-term traffic and transportation problems in west Eugene.

Over a year ago, business, environment, government and community leaders came together to attempt just that. Calling ourselves the West Eugene Collaborative, we have taken a fresh look at these long-standing problems and discovered many areas of agreement.

In advance of specific recommendations, a few things are clear. Traffic problems aren’t limited to just west Eugene but extend along Highway 126 all the way to Veneta and beyond, and all jurisdictions must work together in solving them.

We need to look at all modes of transportation—passenger car, truck freight, public transit, rail, bicycle and pedestrian—in crafting a solution. In particular, Lane Transit District’s extension of the EmX system must be developed in coordination with other plans for the area.

The problems are connected to where homes, businesses and other kinds of land uses are located. It is legally and environmentally necessary to protect critical wetlands and other natural resources. However, the nationally recognized West Eugene Wetlands Plan has never been fully reconciled with Eugene’s plans for residential, commercial and industrial development. If critical natural resource areas are off limits to development, we need to identify adequate buildable areas elsewhere.

Any proposed solution must take into consideration future trends, both the anticipated and the unanticipated. The twin threats of rising gasoline prices and concerns around climate change are obvious examples today. We already see people driving less and using alternative modes of transportation, calling into question the projections of even a few years ago. And with the state of Oregon aiming to cut greenhouse gas emissions linked to climate change, we need to start planning now to do our part.

Finally, but perhaps most importantly, we can be successful at getting major transportation projects approved and funded only when they enjoy broad support. Thus it makes sense to follow a collaborative approach that aims to bring different perspectives to the table from the start.

The West Eugene Collaborative appreciates the importance of hearing from different perspectives. Before developing recommendations, we would like to hear from people from throughout our community: What are your concerns? What are your ideas for solutions?

Members of the public are invited to attend any of a series of four public forums. Two will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.on July 8—one at Veneta City Hall, and the other at the Petersen Barn Community Center in Eugene. Two others are scheduled for July 10—one from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Eugene Public Library, and the other from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Emerald Valley (the Old Westmoreland Community Center) in Eugene.

Join us in solving traffic problems in west Eugene and beyond. Those who can’t make it to one of our meetings, or who would like more information about the forums, may visit our Website. Forms are available on our Web site for public input.

A recent news story also highlighted the public input opportunities.