2 • The Southwest Portland Post EDITORIAL February 2015 Hillsdale lobbies Metro steering committee for future transit stations SOUTHWEST CORRIDOR PLAN By Janet Goetze The Southwest Portland Post Neighborhood leaders are urging residents and business people to tell a Metro steering committee that Hillsdale needs transit stations in the Southwest Corridor Plan, which stretches from downtown Portland to Washington County suburbs. The steering committee will meet in Hillsdale at 7 p.m. Feb. 4 at the Watershed Building community room at Southwest Bertha Court and Capital Highway. The entrance is in a causeway between the buildings. The Southwest Corridor is growing in population and in road congestion, according to Metro studies. The transit system needs upgrading to meet growth pressures, and improvements also are needed for pedestrian and bicycle safety, the studies indicate. Metro and TriMet are studying options for light rail or bus rapid transit, which are quicker and more frequent buses using their own roadway or running in mixed traffic. One question under consideration is whether to choose one mode or a combination of bus and rail. Earlier in the planning, the steering committee decided to keep high capacity transit off Oregon 99W south of Portland and not to extend it to Sherwood or King City. However, a specific route hasn’t been selected. No matter which transportation mode is selected, stops are needed in Hillsdale, said Glenn Bridger, chairman of the neighborhood transportation committee. Without one or two, he said, “It could affect the Hillsdale Town Center economy and home values. This could have great significance for people.” Over the next year, the steering committee of mayors and public agency officials will gather comments on transit proposals from a variety of groups. The represented jurisdictions include Southwest Portland, Tigard, Tualatin, Sherwood, Beaverton, The Southwest Portland Post 4207 SE Woodstock Blvd #509 Portland, OR 97206 Fax: (866) 727-5336 email: editor@multnomahpost.com Multnomah Boulevard needs new multi-use paths from 40th to Garden Home Road I’m very excited to see the changes to SW Multnomah Blvd. The new sidewalk by the west-bound side of the road will separate bicycle and pedestrian traffic near the Capitol Highway bridge. That area underneath the bridge had lots of Himalayan blackberry in recent years which prevented parking, anyway. Multnomah Village doesn’t need any Durham, King City and other areas of Multnomah and Washington counties. Also participating in the planning is the Oregon Department of Transportation. Controversy over the idea of a transportation plan already has surfaced. Last year, Tigard residents approved a measure requiring their city council to seek voter approval for “high capacity transit,” whether rail or bus, before spending any funds on plans. Tualatin residents passed a measure requiring a vote only on light rail. additional parking except for some more spots designated as handicap. The boulevard now needs multi-use paths that look like bicycle cycle tracks between Southwest Garden Home Road and 40th Avenue to accommodate both pedestrian and bicycle traffic. The cycle track design would also allow automobiles to drive over onto it when emergency vehicles are racing on the boulevard. Rick Kappler Raleigh Hills The Post welcomes reader response. Send letters or commentary to: Editor, The Southwest Portland Post, 4207 SE Woodstock Blvd #509, Portland, OR 97206. Fax (866-727-5336) or email editor@multnomahpost.com. well be … and well informed Bowman’s Hillsdale Pharmacy 6256 SW Capitol Hwy. 503-244-7582 • email: hdrx@pcez.com •Walk-In Adult Immunizations •Flu Shots Available Celebrating 22 Years in Business! •Experienced Compounding Pharmacists 4207 SE Woodstock Blvd #509, Portland, OR 97206 Phone: (503) 244-6933; Fax: (866) 727-5336 general email: news@multnomahpost.com web address: www.swportlandpost.com Editor & Publisher .........Don Snedecor Reporters/Writers ...........Lee Braymen-Cleary, KC Cowan, Janet Goetz, Erik Vidstrand Copy Editor ......................Rich Riegel Advertising Sales ...........Don Snedecor, Harry Blythe Graphic Design ..............Leslie Baird Design Printing ............................Oregon Lithoprint Circulation .......................Ambling Bear © 2015 by The Southwest Portland Post. All rights reserved. The opinions of the artists and authors contained herein are not necessarily shared by the publisher. Deadline for news and advertising is generally the 20th of the month prior to publication. Please call for current deadline information. Advertising rates are available upon request. The Post has a circulation of 7,000 in Multnomah Village and the surrounding neighborhood business districts including Burlingame, Capitol Hill, Garden Home, Glen Cullen, Hillsdale, South Portland, Raleigh Hills, West Portland and Vermont Hills. The Post is published on or about the 1st of every month. Subscriptions are $24 per year. Back issues are $2.50 each when available. All major credit cards accepted. www.mygnp.com SUBSCRIPTION FORM We Deliver! 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