State Commission
to provide development
criteria for future
MAX line
– Page 6
There’s a brand new
soccer field at Rieke
School – Page 5
Brian Ford is
the new owner of
Salvador Molly’s
in Hillsdale
– Page 4
The Southwest Portland Post
Volume No. 25 Issue No. 12
www.swportlandpost.com
Portland, Oregon
Complimentary
October 2017
Pedestrian connections considered between future MAX line and Marquam Hill
Boulevard as a “main street”
community amenity.
In August, the community advisory
By Erik Vidstrand
committee was presented with
The Southwest Portland Post
preliminary light rail route options
as trains leave downtown.
Routes selected were either
In September, Metro community
Barbur Boulevard or Naito Parkway.
advisory committee members met to
Milt Jones, the land use chair of
review access options up to Marquam
the Homestead Neighborhood
Hill for the Southwest Corridor Light
Association, in the heart of this
Rail Project. Metro and TriMet staff
area, stated that the association
gave presentations.
voted unanimously to endorse the
According to Eryn Kehe, the senior
Barbur alignment line over the Naito
communications specialist at Metro,
Parkway.
the final draft environmental impact
Stations are proposed for both
statement is approaching completion
routes at Gibbs Street. Access to
and is scheduled to be released
Marquam Hill would be a bit longer
around mid-January.
coming from Naito Parkway. The
Kehe described a ramping up of
aerial tram travels above Gibbs Street.
issues to be discussed in the next three
The main topic for the September
months.
meeting was addressing the various
“The advisory committee will have
options up to Marquam Hill. Jones
time to look at this before the end of
expressed his concern of making
this period and vote yea or nay on
sure that the Veterans Affairs Medical
the findings,” Kehe said. “Not every
Center is not neglected when
committee member will agree but we
addressing connections up to the hill.
hope to try for a consensus.
“It’s not just [Oregon Health &
“There will then be a 45 - 60 day
Science University] staff and patients
public comment period,” Kehe said.
using the transit system,” Jones
“We anticipate getting thousands of
said. “[Veterans Affairs] patients are
comments.”
much more dependent on public
Kehe explained that the Metro
transportation including those who
steering committee, made up of
are wheelchair-bound. I encourage
local officials, will review input from
the committee to keep access and
the advisory committee as well as
service to the VA in mind.”
from public comments. The steering
The Homestead Neighborhood
committee will then make the final
Association recommended that
decisions.
the route be protected
from the weather, have
adequate lighting,
consider safety concerns,
and respect the aesthetic
and functional integrity of
the Terwilliger Parkway
design guidelines.
In 1983, the Terwilliger
Parkway design
guidelines were created
to invoke the “forest
corridor” concept.
After public input,
Matt Binh, Metro project
m a n a g e r, p re s e n t e d
options for the Marquam
Hill connection, as it is
called.
“Marquam Hill
endures auto congestion
and has limited parking,”
One of the proposed MAX line stations is located at
Binh said.
Southwest Gibbs Street and Barbur Boulevard.
“Even the tram is
(Post photo by Erik Vidstrand)
congested.”
Binh went over four different
Kehe announced that University of
scenarios. Three of the four connection
Oregon students are partnering with
options would reach the seventh
TriMet to give perspectives on light
floor terrace of the Kohler Pavilion.
rail corridor components.
According to Metro, this is the
Students will be working on
preferred location because it would
exploring design concepts for
provide a large, open location with
pedestrian connections between the
multiple Americans with Disabilities
light rail line and Marquam Hill.
Act-compliant exit points to multiple
Potential redevelopment between
destinations.
Southwest 13th and 19th avenues
The first connection would consist of
is being considered including a
an on-grade path which would consist
mixed-use transit center and Barbur
SOUTHWEST CORRIDOR PLAN
of paths, bridges
and elevators
arriving at the third
floor of the pavilion.
A safe crossing over
Terwilliger would
be constructed.
The second
option is identical
to the first but has
a recessed path
which would go
under Terwilliger,
head to an upper
elevator, and end
up on the seventh
floor.
“The third
option,” Binh
said, “includes
two elevators, two
bridges, and an on-
grade path.
“A 180-foot-long
tunnel would lead
from the open
area to the upper
A view of Gibbs Street facing east from Barbur Boulevard with
elevator.”
The final option the aerial tram overhead. A proposed light rail station would
be located at Naito Parkway in the distance.
has a single tunnel,
(Post photo by Erik Vidstrand)
approximately 450
feet long, an elevator, and a bridge.
Angel’s Flight funicular in downtown
Committee members brought up
Los Angeles. Dickey said he was
their concerns including the cost of
surprised that there wasn’t a more
each. Costs have not been developed
creative aspect to get up to Marquam
yet said Binh.
Hill.
“The tunnel is most expensive, no
Arnie Panitch, representing the
doubt,” Binh said. “It will involve
TriMet committee on accessible transit,
more construction and impact trees.”
wanted to know what OHSU wanted
Members asked if the tunnel was
for a route up to Marquam Hill. Brian
for pedestrian use only. Binh replied
Newman, who represents OHSU,
it would be multi-use.
responded that they did not like the
“What would be done to keep the
first option.
homeless out of the tunnels?” another
“Others could work with some better
member asked.
designs,” he said. “Security will be
Would security be necessary?
addressed.”
Should paths be constructed with
Staff said all the options have safety
slope in mind to make it easier for
issues. Even a bridge can feel very
people on crutches, walkers, and
vulnerable no matter what time of
wheelchairs?
year or day.
“All these concerns will be covered
What’s next for the project? Staff will
in the draft environmental impact
speak to more people along the alignment
statement,” said Binh, “as well as
and there will be two opportunities in
ongoing maintenance and operating
October for the public to participate:
costs.”
Monday, Oct. 2 is the regular advisory
Bike corrals and bike lockers would
committee meeting and a workshop
be needed so that bicyclists would not
will be held on Monday, Oct. 23. Both
schlep their bikes up the hill.
gatherings are from 6:15 p.m. - 8:45
Tim Dickey, member-at-large, who
p.m. and will be held at the Multnomah
hails from Los Angeles, described the
Arts Center, 7688 SW Capitol Highway.
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