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The Great Eugene

Train Tunnel

The Great Eugene Train Tunnel is a 1.6 mile excavation and submersion of the train tracks from

Van Buren Street in the Whiteaker Neighborhood to 8th Ave in the Courthouse District, just

north of the University, that is capped by a pedestrian walkway, art corridor, bike path, and

greenway that unites the city.

Table of Contents:

Sketch of a Vision – Page 2

Project Benefits – Page 3

- Foundations

- Features

- ‘Quit Zone’ Shortcomings

Project Scope & Vignettes – Page 4

- The Plan

- 8th Street Gateway

- Eugene Station

- Van Buren Gateway

Construction Overview – Page 10

Specific Opportunities – Page 11

- Alder Street Bike Connection

- Riverfront Development Connections

- Skinner Butte Connection

- River Road Bike Connection

- Skull-Train Development

- General Recreational, Artistic, and

Commercial Opportunities

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The Sketch of a Vision

Before After

On the surface:

Trash

Grafitti

Tracks

On the surface:

Green Corridor

Pedestrian Walk

Protected Bike Lane

Below the Surface:

Dirt

Utilities

Below the Surface:

Doublestack Height Tunnel

Identical Track Configuration

Dirt & Utilities

Tunnel & Path Area

Looking west from Monroe St.

3

Project Benefits

The foundations for the Great Eugene Train

Tunnel project are three-fold:

1. Safety from and for trains;

2. Seamlessness with continuing

operations and for movement within

the city;

3. Synergy with the Riverfront

Revitalization and other development

and enhancement projects in the city.

No more deaths!

No more delays!

No more divisions!

Imagine Eugene of the future:

• You can walk directly up Willamette Street from Downton to Skinner Butte;

• You can walk, ride or drive directly on 5th or 8th from Downtown to the Riverfront;

• You can walk or ride from Bethel, River Road, or Whiteaker to Downtown or even the

UO on a protected greenway path;

• You can enjoy and share a public corridor for art, greenspace, and connection with

friends and visitors;

• You’ll never be awakened by the sound of a train horn again;

• You’ll never get stopped waiting for a train in Eugene again;

• Imagine a true ‘Willamette to Willamette’ connection.

Why a ‘Quiet Zone’ is not enough:

• Still dangerous to pedestrians, bikers, and drivers;

• Still dangerous to vagabonds and unhoused using track area;

• Still a time bomb for the city with highly flammable contents

on passing trains;

• Still a division causing delay for thousands of Eugenians

every day;

• Still an environmental challenge requiring spraying and

other hazards within city limits.

4

Project Scope

Please note, all images and representations are sketches of what could be in approximate terms and locations, which would require a

good bit of public input, stakeholder feedback, and fuller development. What is presented here is a draft and initial vision.

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2

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Vignette Key:

1 – 8th Ave Gateway

2 – Eugene Station

3 – Whiteaker Gateway

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Vignette 1: 8th Ave Gateway (View 1)

Before After

Sketchy Connecting to UO, River Path, Riverfront Development and

more…

Looking east across 8th Ave

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Vignette 1: 8th Ave Gateway (View 2 & Overview)

The 8th Ave Gateway of the

train tunnel is characterized by

a giant decorated canoe

welcoming visitors and

residents to the city’s new

Riverfront development. The

Great Canoe shields the last

portion of the train tracks’

descent into the tunnel and is

greeted by a fence of waves that

honor the riverfront the tracks

soon parallel.

The Great Canoe marks the

beginning of the Great Eugene

Path pedestrian and art corridor

in addition to the bike path and

greenway that now connects the

UO and Riverfront to

Downtown and beyond.

Looking east across 8th Ave

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Vignette 2: Eugene Station (Overhead View)

Eugene Station, no longer a

knife cutting Downtown from

Skinner Butte, the Shelton-

McMurphey-Johnson House,

and Business District, is now a

place of greater connection. Its’

platform continues to be at

track-level, however, now that’s

below the surface and is

reachable by two grand

stairways (or escalators) and

freight elevators, offering

accessibility and stature for the

fine train travelers within our

city.

As trains and travelers enjoy

their journey through the tunnel

and at the station, Eugeneians

and their guests enjoy the

delights of the pedestrian way,

outdoor art corridor, and new

found access across the tracks.

Bicyclists whirl their wheels to

and from the city’s new

Riverfront Development, 5th

Street Market, the UO, and

beyond!

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2

1

Key:

1 – Below ground train Platform

2 – Stairs to Platform

3 – Freight Elevator

4 – Downtown to Skinner Butte

Pedestrian Connection

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4

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Vignette 3: Van Buren Terminus (View 1)

Before After

Sketchy Connecting Whiteaker to Downtown and beyond.

Looking west across Van Buren St.

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Vignette 3: Van Buren Terminus (View 2 & Overview)

Looking east from 1st Ave/Railroad Blvd, just before Van Buren St.

The Van Buren Terminus of

the tunnel is characterized

by the large concrete

Whiteaker Skull statue

representing the

neighborhood with a

decorative fence of ribs

where the tracks begin their

return to the surface. The

side of the skull facing Van

Buren St. is engraved with

the neighborhood’s

namesake and image (and

perhaps a fun pirate

sounding slogan like ‘Tread

here those that love life…’).

The Van Buren Terminus is

where the pedestrian path

and art corridor come to an

end. However, flanking the

Whiteaker Skull is the bike

path split that continues

both north and south of the

tracks to connect to River

Road and Bethel.

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Construction Overview:

The construction of the Great Eugene Train Tunnel is set to be in three distinct phases.

Phase 1: Vertical Walls & Pre-Dig Utility Updates

• Vertical walls are dug and installed with innovative

methods enabling minimal operational disruption.

• Initial utility modifications are made as the Mill and

Eugene Station are prepared for the Great Dig.

• Bridges, horizontal supports, and cap-pieces are pre-

fabricated and staged off-site.

Phase 2: The Great Dig & Laying Tracks

• From 10 PM Friday to 4 AM Monday, impacted areas

are closed down, traffic redirects in place, and trains

re-routed through Bend.

• Existing tracks are removed and hundreds of pieces of

earth moving equipment begin the excavation.

• Horizontal supports are installed and utilities are

supported and/or moved.

• Once adequate depth is achieved pre-fabricated

bridges are installed and the Eugene Station platform

is poured.

• Gravel and new tracks are laid at the base of the

excavation as surface streets are swept and being re-

opened.

• Trains resume normal operations, silently and safely

in the new excavation area as the surface work is

completed in phase 3.

Phase 3: The City of the Future

• Bridge work is finished, where needed, and caps are

completed.

• Paths are laid and landscaping installed.

• Outdoor art and gateway ornaments are constructed

and installed.

• Bike path extensions beyond the tunnel area are

completed.

• A safe, connecting, and beautiful bike and pedestrian

corridor is opened to the city!

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Specific Opportunities

Beyond the numerous safety, noise, and public benefits described above, there are several

challenging issues that the Great Eugene Train Tunnel and Path resolve, along with numerous

opportunities it can inspire.

Alder Street Bike Connection

The area outlined in red

shows a bike path

connection from Alder

Street to both the River

Path and the Great Eugene

Path. Given the rising

prominence of Peace

Health Rides and the

upcoming Riverfront

Development, this

connection is more

important than ever for

both safety and access.

Riverfront Development Connection

Putting the tracks below the surface is a

huge win for the Riverfront

Development! Beyond the appeal for

residents and guests from limiting noise

and gaining access to the Great Eugene

Path, there will be the possibility of

more street connections at better

locations. In addition the cap on the

tracks will enable more on-site parking

and better integration with existing

pedestrian sidewalks and paths.

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Skinner Butte Connection

Connecting Downtown to Skinner Butte

eliminates the division line and fence

that currently exists at Eugene Station

and the tracks. With an open connection

to the Shelton-McMurphey-Johnson

House, the Business District, and the

proposed Market District Townhomes,

economic and cultural benefits will

ensue. Imagine, a walk directly up

Willamette from Morning Glory to a

glorious morning view of the

Willamette from Skinner Butte…

River Road Bike Connection

One possible extension of the bike path

beyond the Van Buren Street Gateway

of the Great Eugene Train Tunnel and

Path is to install a tunnel (akin to a golf

cart tunnel) under the Chambers

St./Railroad Blvd./ Northwest

Expressway intersection that connects

southbound bike traffic along River

Road to the path (without needing to

cross very busy surface streets).

Additionally, building out a bike path

east of the River Road neighborhood

along the Northwest Expressway (but

separated for safety) as far north as the

Maxwell Road Connector enables

thousands of additional residents the

possibility of bike access to the city

center.

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Skull-Train Development Opportunity

One use for some of the dirt from the

tunnel excavation could be to build up

the area between the tracks east of

Chambers St. (highlighted here in

yellow). This area would be a great

place for retail, apartments, and perhaps

even a café for people to come enjoy

the sight of passing trains. It would

naturally connect with the Roosevelt

Blvd. and the Chambers St. intersection,

along with the Great Eugene Path via an

innovative bike and pedestrian bridge.

General Recreation, Artistic, and Commercial Opportunities

The Great Eugene Trian Tunnel and

Path creates numerous economic,

recreation, artistic, and urban

development opportunities on every

block. From food trucks to cafes, beer

gardens to murals, pop-up markets to

pick-up games, the opportunities for

greater connection and appreciation

of Eugene’s beauty, culture, and

history are many. In time the outdoor

art corridor along the path could

achieve world class note, adding yet

another reason for tourists and guests

to enjoy some time in Eugene and

Lane County, as residents and riders

are reminded daily of the beauty and

fullness of life.