Plans to make significant changes to 14th and 15th streets at Jefferson and Monroe avenues on the Oregon State University campus are on hold until a City Council meeting June 2.

On Thursday, the council will tour the site to better understand the project before its discussion.

Controversy over a perceived lack of public input in the project brought about 25 people out to testify last Tuesday at a public meeting.

"We're waiting until we hear back from the city," said Mike Blair, OSU civil engineering manager. "So far, we don't have a start date."

OSU had originally intended to begin the project late this month or in early June and finish in October before facing outcry from citizens and some city councilors. City and university officials have admitted that public meetings were overlooked.

As drafted, the joint project between the city and university includes demolition of the existing streets, vegetation and trees, followed by construction of a new street, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, raised pedestrian crossings, new signals, turn lanes, lights and storm drainage, with work slated to begin as early as this month.

The City Council asked for a report on the project and the resulting public comment surrounding it at its next meeting.

The total project is projected to cost the university a total of $2 million, Blair said.

Corvallis Public Works Director Steve Rogers said the city's portion, which includes the bus and bike lanes, will run $227,000 and will be paid through transportation systems development charges. The fees are paid by all developers through the permitting process and are earmarked for certain infrastructure projects.

At issue for many are plans that currently call for removal of 32 trees, primarily sweet gums, now considered unacceptable for planting along roadways because the tree's roots damage sidewalks and the plant leaves debris in bike lanes.

The project is part of the OSU master plan and the city's transportation plan, which calls for better access for alternate methods of transportation.

The city has also had the bus and bike lanes in its capital improvement plan for years. The capital plan outlines major projects and sets a schedule for completing them over time. It is reviewed annually during budget commission hearings and is included in the public process surrounding budget revisions.

The OSU master plan outlines development on campus to address parking, transportation and other infrastructure needs. It was created through a public process beginning in 2002 and was adopted by the city Planning Commission and City Council in 2005.

Blair said the university decided to move forward on the street construction in concert with the renovation project currently under way at Apperson Hall in order to minimize street closures.

If you go

WHAT: City Council public tour of 14th-15th street project

WHEN: Thursday at 4:30 p.m.

WHERE: Intersection of Southwest Jefferson Avenue and 15th Street.

Matt Neznanski can be reached at 758-9518 or matt.neznanski@lee.net.