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Be sure to submit your opinions and suggestions using the feedback form at:  http:/eugenecat.org/contac.html.

You can view an informative slide show with commentary at: http://tinyurl.com/cattour.

Solarize Eugene is designed to dramatically increase residential solar electricity and hot water generation in EWEB territory. Interested neighbors will come together to enjoy significant savings through the bulk purchase of solar electric and solar hot water systems. Solarize Eugene is based on a highly effective model that has dramatically increased solar installations across the state. We are recruiting interested and energetic volunteers to pre-select contractors and to reach out to neighbors so everyone can take advantage of this opportunity.

Please join us on a contractor selection committee, in talking to your neighbors, distributing flyers, putting up posters, reaching out through social media, serving as a webmaster, or helping to schedule informational workshops in your area. Volunteers are primarily needed from January through July of 2012.

Interested? We are hosting a meeting January 11th, 5:30-6:30 at the Downtown Public Library Singer room. Please come to learn more about volunteering.

More details at www.solarizeeugene.info or by contacting: Sarah Mazze at 541-654-4052 or sarah@trig-cli.org. Please pass on this message to anyone who might be interested.

Solarize Eugene is a project of The Resource Innovation Group, funded by EWEB’s Greenpower program with outreach support from the City of Eugene.

SUNA,  WUN (West University Neighbors), and JWN (Jefferson Westside Neighbors) are joint finalists in the national “Neighborhood of the Year” competition sponsored by the national organizaiton  Neighborhoods USA (NUSA)  in the “multi-neighborhood project category!

All three neighborhoods worked together on infill compatibility standards.  For SUNA those included reduced limits on building heights and increased parking requirements in the high density area at the north end of our neighborhood.

All incoming first-year and transfer students will be expected to complete online AlcoholEdu program

EUGENE, Ore. — (Aug. 29, 2011) — Starting this month, all incoming first-year and transfer students under the age of 21 at the University of Oregon will be asked to take AlcoholEdu for College, a web-based alcohol abuse prevention program.

AlcoholEdu is used by more than 500 colleges and universities in the U.S. to inform students about responsible alcohol behaviors and sexual assault issues. The UO’s goal in adopting the training program is to reduce the negative consequences of alcohol misuse and abuse on campus and reduce the incidents of unwanted sexual behavior.

According to Jennifer Summers, UO’s new director of substance abuse prevention and student success, the online alcohol abuse prevention program will inform students about responsible alcohol behaviors and sexual assault issues, as well as help students make healthy and safe choices as they transition to their new home away from home.

“By completing this program, participating students will be expected to have an appropriate and accurate understanding of alcohol and the potential for alcohol abuse, as well as an accurate concept of ‘consent,’ as it relates to healthy sexual relationships,” said Summers. “AlcoholEdu is a tool that will engage students in a learning experience that creates a healthier campus community and student success.”

The UO Office of the Dean of Students will administer the AlcoholEdu for College program. Students and parents are being notified via email about AlcoholEdu and the UO’s completion requirements. All incoming first year UO students are expected to complete the program.

“For decades across the U.S., high risk alcohol misuse has been a barrier for thousands of college students in their journeys to be academically and personally successful. Historically, the University of Oregon has demonstrated a long-standing commitment in reducing the negative consequences of this public health dilemma through our extensive programs and partnerships,” said Sheryl Eyster, associate dean of students. “We are excited to offer this evidence-based program using a population-level approach with our incoming students, and believe our efforts strengthen capacity for significant student learning and engagement.”

AlcoholEdu complements existing educational programming, including the Substance Abuse Prevention Team’s workshops, services and prevention programs for students.

The UO also educates incoming students during summer orientation with theatrical productions by Sexual Wellness Advocacy Team (SWAT) advocates for healthy sexual relationships who work to prevent sexual assault and dating violence on campus. The production focuses on bystander intervention and the role of peers related to alcohol use, sexual identity and defining consent in sexual relationships.

About the University of Oregon

The University of Oregon is among the 108 institutions chosen from 4,633 U.S. universities for top-tier designation of “Very High Research Activity” in the 2010 Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The UO also is one of two Pacific Northwest members of the Association of American Universities.

MEDIA CONTACT: Julie Brown, UO media relations, 541-346-3185, julbrown@uoregon.edu

SOURCE: Jennifer Summers, Director of Substance Abuse Prevention and Student Success, 541-346-1139, jsummers@uoregon.edu

Description

During the summer of 2010, the City of Eugene initiated an effort to engage the community

in updating the Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan. The effort is intended to make Eugene a

better place to walk and bicycle, to reduce carbon emissions, and increase the number of

residents who choose walking or bicycling as alternatives to motor vehicle transportation.

Consistent with that effort, Branch Engineering has been retained by the South University

Neighborhood Association (SUNA), funded in part by a Neighborhood Planning Grant, to develop

baseline data and evaluate the need for improvements for non-motorized traffic safety and

convenience along the E. 18th and E.19th Ave corridor from Patterson Street to Agate Street. The

South University Neighborhood is bounded by E. 18th Ave, Agate Street, E. 24th Ave and

Patterson Street.

The primary traffic component under study consists of bicycle and pedestrian

movements to and from the South University Neighborhood and the University of Oregon

campus to the immediate north. Bicycle and pedestrian access between the E. 18th and 19th

Avenue Corridor and the University of Oregon is limited to Agate Street, a shared-use path

northeast of Onyx Street, University Street, open access between University and Harris Streets via

the Pioneer Memorial Cemetery, a path near the Music Hall at Harris Street, and the Clinical

Services access north of Kincaid Street, and Alder Street. Motor vehicle access to the University is

limited to Agate Street, two driveways between Agate and University Streets (one gated),

University Street, the Music Hall driveway, the Clinical Services driveway, and Alder Street (oneway

southbound).

This study is intended to provide data and otherwise assist the City and the University of

Oregon campus planners by providing guidance to coordinate their efforts for bicycle and

pedestrian facility improvement projects and policy implementation in the South University

Neighborhood. Included in this analysis is a summary of pedestrian and bicycle crashes from

January 2004 through December 2008, current neighborhood roadway classifications, average

daily traffic volumes (ADT’s), posted roadway speeds, and field observations of the E. 18th and

E. 19th Ave corridor’s operation. Various possible infrastructure enhancements to increase

safety and convenience are discussed in the study.

Project Study Area

The primary objective of this study is to document and assess the safety of pedestrian, bicycle

and motor vehicle traffic on two major roadway segments of E. 18th and E.19th Ave that span

the South University Neighborhood from Patterson Street on the west to Agate Street on the East.

These segments are in an urban area with a high population density. The subject corridor is a

transitional area between the dense university area and a less dense residential area that

includes students attending the University of Oregon, Edison Elementary School and South

Eugene High School in addition to University faculty, members of the Eugene YMCA, and

commuters in general.

RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION

Traffic volumes, crash histories and intersection controls at all E. 18th and E. 19th Ave Corridor

intersections between Agate Street and Hilyard Street within the South University Neighborhood

were analyzed to determine if additional bicycle and pedestrian traffic crossing infrastructure

improvements were merited that could enhance E. 18th and E. 19th Ave crossing safety. The

analysis indicated that recent corridor intersection crash histories, existing intersection controls,

and motorized and non-motorized traffic volumes crossing E. 18th and E. 19th Avenue do not

require immediate crossing improvements. The highest E. 18th and E. 19th Ave non-motorized

intersection traffic crossing volumes were identified at Harris and Onyx streets on E. 18th Ave

and at the Alder Street intersection on E. 19th Ave.

The Harris and Onyx Street/E.18th Ave intersections currently feature curb-extensions

and curb ramps for pedestrian crossings. The E.19th Ave at Alder Street intersection has

sufficient width to accommodate curb extensions or a median refuge island to facilitate

shortened crossings and calm through-street automobile traffic on E.19th Ave. A combination

of rectangular rapid flashing warning beacons, crosswalk striping and advanced signage would

be the preferred crossing safety enhancements at any of these locations.

Implementation of the crossing enhancements discussed in this report could result in

channelization of non-motorized street crossings and fewer potential conflict points between

modes of transportation on the corridor. It is recommended that the crash histories and traffic

volumes at intersections of E.18th Ave at Onyx and Harris streets and E.19th Ave at Alder Street

continue to be monitored closely for non-motorized crossing safety improvements. Future

neighborhood and University of Oregon campus improvement plans and the City of Eugene

Capital Improvement Program (CIP) should consider improvement projects discussed in this

study for implementation on the corridor.

Thanks for stopping by,

Carolyn Jacobs
SUNA Board, Chair

carolyn.i.jacobs@gmail.com

The SUNA website is independently funded and maintained. No public funds are involved in the design or operation of this site.