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About The Southwest Portland Post. (Portland, Oregon) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 2015)
School band programs get $925,000 boost for new instruments – Page 4 SW Corridor Plan advisory committee plans for rapid transit and light rail tunnels – Page 3 Buy your produce at the Hillsdale Farmers Market, then check out the Rieke Art Fair – Page 5 The Southwest Portland Post Volume No. 23 Issue No. 7 www.swportlandpost.com Portland, Oregon Complimentary May 2015 ‘Road warriors’ develop plan of attack for Capitol Highway improvements By Erik Vidstrand The Southwest Portland Post On a cold, damp Saturday morning in April, more than a dozen citizens, many who live along Southwest Capitol Highway, between Garden Home Road and Taylors Ferry Road, assembled to address solutions for pedestrian and bicycle improvements along this stretch of highway. Under the leadership of Chris Lyons, a group of neighbors formed an ad hoc committee of the Multnomah Neighborhood Association. These present-day road warriors are sick and tired of the deficiencies on this road but say they believe this time they may be successful. This was the second meeting held by the ad hoc committee. From this reporter’s view, the group of crusaders seemed like new troops replacing the tired ones. It’s been literally decades that various residents have been petitioning, meeting, and holding vigils about the poor quality and safety of this major artery. There are no sidewalks; a goat trail and gulley parallel the roadway; and blind intersections are numerous. Bicyclists navigate with speeding vehicles without even a shoulder to ride on. The Portland Bureau of Capitol Highway "road warriors" convene April 25 at the Dolph Court intersection where all major issues prevail. (Post photo by Erik Vidstrand) Transportation has said that this stretch will cost $19 million to make necessary improvements. It would address stormwater issues and improve safety components. But the money is not available. “The most recent design, from 2011, proposes digging up the entire roadway,” Lyons reported, “and A new traffic pattern was introduced on April 19 at Southwest 40th Avenue and Capitol Highway. Some residents have been waiting nearly 40 years for this intersection to be improved. (Post photo by Erik Vidstrand) Don’t forget to renew your subscription. Form on Page 2. The Southwest Portland Post 4207 SE Woodstock Blvd #509 Portland, OR 97206 installing a 72-inch pipe under the road to manage stormwater.” “This is a significant cost for this concept,” Marianne Fitzgerald added. “However, PBOT committed to re- examining the project to identify any new design ideas that may lessen the overall project cost.” Now the Bureau of Environmental Services is working in partnership with the Transportation Bureau. The tandem is looking into the possibility of improving stormwater issues in the Spring Garden/Dolph Court area east of Capitol Highway, which may help to reduce that cost. Retaining walls, trees, and parking were identified as the three costliest aspects to the project. Lyons and Fitzgerald provided an update on a recent meeting with state legislators Rep. Margaret Doherty, Rep. Ann Lininger, and Sen. Richard Devlin. All of them have constituents in the Multnomah neighborhood. They heard ways to strategize how to obtain state funding for the project. Sen. Devlin noted that it would be difficult to get funding for a roadway that is managed by the city, though it may be possible to link some project improvements to Barbur Boulevard (Oregon 99W) as a way to obtain funding. Rep. Lininger is working to organize a meeting with Congressman Earl Blumenauer, other state legislators, and Portland city commissioners. “The irony,” said Al Iverson, a local civil engineer, “is that back in 1985, Capitol Highway was a state highway and that held up issues back then. The city was waiting for the road to be designated as a city roadway.” Discussing cutbacks, Lyons proposed one option to just start with half the project for now. Another option is to just put sidewalks on one side, and then the rest another day. “Cut it back?” Patti Waitman- Ingebretsen spoke up. “No; we want the whole thing!” She has lived on Capitol for over 40 years and has heard it all. Stormwater drains (bioswales) were a point of contention to many in the room. “Swales are taking the bike lanes,” commented an avid bicyclist. “Look what happened on Multnomah Boulevard.” “It is a requirement now, any way you look at it,” said Lyons. Many agreed that one sidewalk and two bike lanes could work. Crosswalks and beacon lights were also discussed. The committee reviewed the road map section by section. Parking was discussed. Everyone agree that parking is needed but only where it is actually needed. Fitzgerald said that the plan has a lot of on street parking already. Retaining walls and saving large trees were the last issues decided upon. “We value green space and at least one sidewalk,” Iverson said, “but bike lanes on both sides are preferable. I suggest a pervious pavement bicycle lane.” Lyons had a bit of good news that may impact the efforts in a positive way. “TriMet is proposing new frequent bus service for line 44, which travels between downtown Portland and [Portland Community College] along Capitol Highway. “They are currently seeking public comment on this proposal, and if it succeeds, it will certainly bring safety measures such as added sidewalks.” For comments to TriMet, please go to http://future.trimet.org/southwest/ refined-draft-vision. You can find the 2011 Capitol Highway Refinement Report from the Portland Bureau of Transportation at http://www.portlandoregon.gov/ transportation/article/353046.
