Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Southwest Portland Post. (Portland, Oregon) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 2011)
February 2011 The Southwest Portland Post • 3 Lines drawn on proposed Lake Oswego to Portland streetcar By Lee Perlman The Southwest Portland Post As planners and politicians move toward votes on the proposed Lake Oswego to Portland streetcar line, the lines for and against are being drawn, and the South Portland neighborhood finds itself in the unlikely position of being a defender of the project. The project’s Citizen Advisory Com- mittee may make its recommendation at its next meeting, 5 p.m. February 7 at the Easter Seals Building, 5757 S.W. Macadam Ave. If necessary an addi- tional meeting will be held February 15 somewhere in Lake Oswego. Based on their discussions during the last two months, the CAC is expected to endorse the streetcar extension. In its last two meetings a majority of the group heaped scorn on two alternative proposals, No Build and an Enhanced Bus. At a December meeting the group dubbed the No Build the “Head in the Sand” option, predicated on the theory that the corridor operates well now and will do so in the future. The Enhanced Bus would cost $51.1 million, as compared to the official cost of $379 to $458 million for the streetcar extension. (The latter, for the sake of lo- cal match for anticipated federal funds, includes $97 million for the Willamette Shore Line right of way, which is al- ready publicly owned.) However, the bus is anticipated to at- tract just 730,000 new transit trips com- pared to 1.1 million for the streetcar, to take 39 minutes to travel the route compared to 30 to 33 minutes for the streetcar, and to cost $1.54 million more to operate than the streetcar. In addition, South Portland resident and CAC member Kerry Chipman told the group last month, “The enhanced bus will mean loss of service.” Not only will it have five fewer stops, but also “A bus that fills up in Lake Oswego will not stop for us in South Portland.” Another CAC member, Beverly Bookin, said that on a recent trip, “By the time we left Lake Oswego it was standing room only, and by the time we got to South Portland there was no room for anyone.” With more capacity, a streetcar can handle more people, she said. Matt Brown, a former City of Port- land transportation planner, focused on the bus’s greater operating costs. To maintain it, “TriMet would have to cannibalize the rest of the system. It’s not a good deal for the region.” Developer Verne Rifer took a differ- ent tack: the streetcar is a better stimulus for development. “We have a pretty good bus system, but without help we’ll be seeing Johns Landing at best remain fallow, at worst see disinvest- ment,” he said. “It’s really suffering and the retail isn’t doing well. Even in boom times there were numerous vacant lots on the river not being developed. I don’t see an enhanced bus contributing to rede- velopment or preservation,” said Rifer. In the wider world, however, the project faces strong opposition. In the wealthy Dunthorpe community, through which the streetcar will pass and which has always been hostile to the project, opponents are reportedly fundraising for a major legal fight. Lake Oswego was considered a sup- porter, but in the last election three candidates ran for City Council on anti-streetcar platforms, and two were elected to the seven-person body. At a meeting last month of the Port- land Streetcar Advisory Committee, Rifer compared these communities to “Beirut,” and South Portland to “the liberation of Paris” in their attitudes to- ward the project. This is ironic because South Portland’s stance has been less than wildly enthusiastic. Indeed, it is conditioned on most of the route through their territory being located on Southwest Macadam Avenue rather than the Willamette Shore right of way, as project engineers would prefer. The latter route would be faster and easier to operate, but would have more impact on existing homes and less benefit to businesses. The Lake Oswego opposition is in fact based largely on the idea that the streetcar would be too effective a devel- opment tool. Opponents have charged that it would create “30 Washington Squares” in the town. Aside from being grossly exaggerated, consultant Doug Obletz told the project CAC, “Washing- ton Square is a shopping mall, and no one is suggesting that for Lake Oswego. It was used to get people’s attention.” A related issue is the future of a pro- posed bike and pedestrian trail through the territory. There is virtually universal support for this. However, there is some (Continued on Page 6) Portland Streetcar stops at Gibbs Street in the South Waterfront neighborhood. (flickr file photo courtesy of pchurch) PoSt ClaSSIfIED aDS Lessons MUSIC LESSONS = HIGHER SATs Extraordinary Piano and Violin Lessons. Home of the Complete Instruction Method. Visit www.EliasonMusic.com or call Eliason School of Music. (503)293-2390 Massage Marketing Real Estate Multnomah Village Craftsman Fully Finished 3 bedrooms, 2 baths with Fireplace & Jetted Tub. 2 Porches, Fenced Yard. Psychics 3006 SW Carolina - $344,900 Amber Turner Living Room Realtors 503-804-1261 Legal Notice The Metro Council is soliciting applications for the position of Metro Councilor for District 6 Qualified applicants must be registered voters within District 6 for at least one year at the time of the appointment. Metro District 6 covers portions of Southwest, Southeast and North- east Portland. Application materials and instructions can be found online at www.oregonmetro.gov/district6 or picked up at the Metro Council office, located at 600 NE Grand Avenue in Portland, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Fri- day. Completed applications must be received at Metro no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011. Qualified applicants will be interviewed by the Metro Council at a public meeting to be held on Wednesday, Feb. 16, beginning at 5 p.m. at the David Douglas School District headquarters, located at 1500 SE 130th Ave. in Portland. The Metro Council may vote to appoint a new Metro Councilor at that meeting or hold its vote over to a later date. For more information, visit www.oregonmetro.gov/district6 or call 503-797-1508