Howard Avenue Safety Project

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Howard Avenue Safety Project: Community engagement for this project has concluded. Visit https://www.eugene-or.gov/4722/Safe-Routes-to-School-Projectsfor more information.

Why is Howard Avenue being updated?

Howard Avenue is currently a two-lane road with shoulders for most of its length. Howard is signed at 25 miles per hour but people driving consistently exceed the speed limit. A 2018 speed study report indicated that 50% of drivers travel over the speed limit and 15% of drivers travel more than 10 miles per hour over the speed limit.

Neighbors, community members, and parents have identified the need to create a safer and more comfortable way for students and others to walk and bike on Howard. Creating a safer walking and biking environment on Howard is particularly important to connect students who wish to walk and bike to Howard Elementary School and Kelly Middle School, both of which are located on Howard.


What changes are planned?

The City of Eugene has received funding from the Oregon Department of Transportation's Safe Routes to School program to make walking and biking safety improvements to Howard Avenue between River Road and just west of Lake Drive (where the existing sidewalk in front of Howard Elementary School end). The Safe Routes to School funds are being supplemented with Transportation System Development Charge funds to make further improvements to Howard between N Park Avenue and River Road.

The current plan for Howard includes the following:

  • Constructing a physically protected walking and bicycling space on the south side of Howard from where the current sidewalk ends between Grove Street and Lake Drive to River Road
  • Adding a short stretch of sidewalk along the south side of Howard near the intersection with River Road
  • Adding more space for people walking and biking to wait at the southwest corner of River Road and Howard
  • Adding speed cushions along Howard Avenue

Note that project elements are subject to change as the project continues through the engineering phase and cost estimates become more certain. 

Existing conditions on Howard Avenue between Lake Drive and River Road


Proposed design for Howard Avenue between Lake Drive and River Road. Note that exact widths of proposed features have not yet been determined


An aerial visualization of the proposed changes along Howard can be viewed by clicking the green "Aerial Visualization of Proposed Changes" button below. 

Note that the aerial visualization of Howard Avenue is for visualization purposes only. Final design widths and locations of features may be different than those shown in the visualization. Not all project elements are shown in the visualization due to scale (ex: street signs and striping). The final design will depend on public right of way width and engineering discretion.


How can I give feedback on the design?

The city held three open houses to inform and gather input on the preferred design for Howard Avenue. The first Howard online open house was held on July 1, 2021. Two more online open houses were held on November 17 and 18, 2021. Input from open houses as well as a community survey has been incorporated into the draft street design.

The city will be hosting two more events to share the draft street design with the community for their final thoughts and feedback before the project moves into the engineering phase. If you cannot attend an event, you are welcome to contact Catherine Rohan with your input.

If you are a community member with specific questions about how the Howard Avenue project will impact public right of way adjacent to your property, please reach out to Catherine Rohan by emailing crohan@eugene-or.gov or calling 541-682-8472.


What's the construction timeline?

The city plans for construction on Howard Avenue to take place in between August and September of 2024.


What about annexation and jurisdictional transfer?

Howard Avenue between N Park Avenue and River Road is owned by Lane County. As part of the Howard Avenue project, Lane County and the City of Eugene have agreed to transfer ownership of Howard Avenue to the City. The purpose of transferring ownership of the public right of way is to provide better continuity of services, such as traffic enforcement and infrastructure operations, maintenance, and planning.

Transferring Howard Avenue from Lane County to the City of Eugene is a two-step process. Annexation will transfer the public right of way from the County to the City but will not transfer the physical street and other public improvements (everything on or under the public right of way). Once annexation is complete, a jurisdictional transfer will give the City authority over the street and other infrastructure within the public right of way (such as pipes and street signs).

The proposed annexation applies to the public street right of way only and will not require properties along either side of Howard Avenue to annex. Annexation of private property is on a voluntary basis.

Community members living along Howard Avenue can expect to receive mailers from the City about the annexation of the public right of way adjacent to their property.

For additional questions related to annexation please view the Annexation FAQs Guide. You can also reach out to Catherine Rohan at crohan@eugene-or.gov or contact the City's Planner on Duty.

The Planner on Duty can be reached at 541‐682‐5377 Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm. The Planner on Duty is located at 99 W 10th Ave and is available in-person from noon-4pm, Monday-Friday. The Planner on Duty email address is planning@ci.eugene.or.us

 

Why is Howard Avenue being updated?

Howard Avenue is currently a two-lane road with shoulders for most of its length. Howard is signed at 25 miles per hour but people driving consistently exceed the speed limit. A 2018 speed study report indicated that 50% of drivers travel over the speed limit and 15% of drivers travel more than 10 miles per hour over the speed limit.

Neighbors, community members, and parents have identified the need to create a safer and more comfortable way for students and others to walk and bike on Howard. Creating a safer walking and biking environment on Howard is particularly important to connect students who wish to walk and bike to Howard Elementary School and Kelly Middle School, both of which are located on Howard.


What changes are planned?

The City of Eugene has received funding from the Oregon Department of Transportation's Safe Routes to School program to make walking and biking safety improvements to Howard Avenue between River Road and just west of Lake Drive (where the existing sidewalk in front of Howard Elementary School end). The Safe Routes to School funds are being supplemented with Transportation System Development Charge funds to make further improvements to Howard between N Park Avenue and River Road.

The current plan for Howard includes the following:

  • Constructing a physically protected walking and bicycling space on the south side of Howard from where the current sidewalk ends between Grove Street and Lake Drive to River Road
  • Adding a short stretch of sidewalk along the south side of Howard near the intersection with River Road
  • Adding more space for people walking and biking to wait at the southwest corner of River Road and Howard
  • Adding speed cushions along Howard Avenue

Note that project elements are subject to change as the project continues through the engineering phase and cost estimates become more certain. 

Existing conditions on Howard Avenue between Lake Drive and River Road


Proposed design for Howard Avenue between Lake Drive and River Road. Note that exact widths of proposed features have not yet been determined


An aerial visualization of the proposed changes along Howard can be viewed by clicking the green "Aerial Visualization of Proposed Changes" button below. 

Note that the aerial visualization of Howard Avenue is for visualization purposes only. Final design widths and locations of features may be different than those shown in the visualization. Not all project elements are shown in the visualization due to scale (ex: street signs and striping). The final design will depend on public right of way width and engineering discretion.


How can I give feedback on the design?

The city held three open houses to inform and gather input on the preferred design for Howard Avenue. The first Howard online open house was held on July 1, 2021. Two more online open houses were held on November 17 and 18, 2021. Input from open houses as well as a community survey has been incorporated into the draft street design.

The city will be hosting two more events to share the draft street design with the community for their final thoughts and feedback before the project moves into the engineering phase. If you cannot attend an event, you are welcome to contact Catherine Rohan with your input.

If you are a community member with specific questions about how the Howard Avenue project will impact public right of way adjacent to your property, please reach out to Catherine Rohan by emailing crohan@eugene-or.gov or calling 541-682-8472.


What's the construction timeline?

The city plans for construction on Howard Avenue to take place in between August and September of 2024.


What about annexation and jurisdictional transfer?

Howard Avenue between N Park Avenue and River Road is owned by Lane County. As part of the Howard Avenue project, Lane County and the City of Eugene have agreed to transfer ownership of Howard Avenue to the City. The purpose of transferring ownership of the public right of way is to provide better continuity of services, such as traffic enforcement and infrastructure operations, maintenance, and planning.

Transferring Howard Avenue from Lane County to the City of Eugene is a two-step process. Annexation will transfer the public right of way from the County to the City but will not transfer the physical street and other public improvements (everything on or under the public right of way). Once annexation is complete, a jurisdictional transfer will give the City authority over the street and other infrastructure within the public right of way (such as pipes and street signs).

The proposed annexation applies to the public street right of way only and will not require properties along either side of Howard Avenue to annex. Annexation of private property is on a voluntary basis.

Community members living along Howard Avenue can expect to receive mailers from the City about the annexation of the public right of way adjacent to their property.

For additional questions related to annexation please view the Annexation FAQs Guide. You can also reach out to Catherine Rohan at crohan@eugene-or.gov or contact the City's Planner on Duty.

The Planner on Duty can be reached at 541‐682‐5377 Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm. The Planner on Duty is located at 99 W 10th Ave and is available in-person from noon-4pm, Monday-Friday. The Planner on Duty email address is planning@ci.eugene.or.us