EarthTalk: Is
bicycling the answer
to the question about
getting to and from
mass transit?
– Page 8
The Country
Store: Deysa,
a new retail
boutique, opens in
Multnomah Village
– Page 5
A boatload of
local events can be
found in our annual
Holiday Guide
– Page 4
The Southwest Portland Post
Volume No. 26 Issue No. 2
www.swportlandpost.com
Portland, Oregon
Complimentary
December 2017
Committee studies alternative light rail routes between Portland and Tigard
SOUTHWEST CORRIDOR PLAN
By Erik Vidstrand
The Southwest Portland Post
In November, Southwest Corridor
Community Advisory Committee
members assessed the future light rail
alignment options from downtown
Portland to Tigard.
Eryn Kehe, Metro senior commu-
nications specialist, instructed the
audience to meet in small groups to
discuss pros and cons of choices for
either Southwest Naito Parkway or
Barbur Boulevard, rail options from
Custer Drive to 60th Avenue, and then
choices for Tigard Triangle routes.
The Barbur Boulevard route would
begin at Southwest Lincoln Street and
cross over Interstate 405 on a new light
rail bridge.
The Naito alignment would start at
Lincoln Street and run down the cen-
ter of Naito Parkway until it intersects
with Barbur Boulevard.
The route would then travel along
Barbur Boulevard until it reaches the
Burlingame Fred Meyer store south of
Terwilliger Boulevard. At this point,
there is a choice whether the light rail
continues to run down Barbur Boule-
vard or runs adjacent to Interstate 5.
The exercise lasted over 90 min-
utes and then each group shared
their preferences. Most of the teams
supported beginning the line along
Barbur Boulevard. This route would
provide easier access to the hospi-
tals on Marquam Hill. According to
TriMet estimates, there would be a
shorter ride time getting to Tigard.
Participants said it would cause dis-
ruption initially but would enhance
Barbur Boulevard in the end.
“There will be opportunities to in-
vest on Barbur,” one participant said.
“It’s not just for transit but connectiv-
ity to neighborhoods with walkability
to jobs and homes.”
Roger Averbeck, who represents
the Portland Pedestrian Advisory
Eryn Kehe, Metro communication specialist, gives instructions to participants at a
Southwest Corridor workshop in November. (Post photo by Erik Vidstrand)
(Continued on Page 3)
Willamette Park improvements include trail system, $18.6 million pump station
destination for people from around
the metro area.
Portland Parks and Recreation has
recently completed several major
The 27-acre Willamette Park — a
improvements, including a new
haven for cyclists, boaters, dog lov-
entrance. Other amenities include
ers and concert goers; has uses that
more prominent signage, walls and
one would typically see in neighbor-
monuments.
hood parks: trails, fields, courts and
The park bureau plans on having
playgrounds.
a small event on Earth Day 2018
The riverfront park is also a regional
(tentatively set for April 22) to thank
the Portland Garden
Club for their gener-
ous contribution of
31 dogwood trees
to the park as part
of the project.
Willamette Park is
the only public mo-
torized boat launch
in the core of the
city, and boaters will
appreciate the new
dredging around the
boat ramp for saf-
er launches. Many
non-motorized boat
users – such as kay-
aker and paddle
boarders — will also
benefit.
A new trail system
with wider paths re-
inforces the loops,
which are a noted
feature of the park.
There’s also an im-
proved connection
to the new region-
al trail which was
completed as part of
Bicyclists will enjoy a new system of trails at Willamette the recent Sellwood
Park. (photo courtesy of Portland Parks and Recreation)
Bridge project.
By Jack Rubinger
The Southwest Portland Post
Bike commuters will love the wider
lanes on the Willamette Greenway
Trail. For years, neighbors were
navigating conflicts between park
visitors biking for leisure and bike
commuters.
The solution? There are now sepa-
rate paths for both commuting cy-
clists and those using park paths on
bikes.
Dog walkers will appreciate a new
dog off-leash area which replaces the
old, temporary location, which the
park bureau noted drained poorly.
The new area has an improved sur-
face.
Another significant improvement is
the Portland Water Bureau’s Hannah
Mason Pump Station.
“The new Hannah Mason Pump
Station supports a citywide goal of re-
ducing energy use by 2 percent,” said
Mike Stuhr, administrator. “Energy
Trust’s assistance allowed the city to
make a major contribution to meeting
these goals with an investment that
will pay for itself in only 3.3 years.”
The pump station was under con-
struction for three years, beginning in
2014. It went into operation in June of
2017. It receives electricity from Port-
land General Electric and draws water
primarily from the city’s Washington
County supply line.
The pump station is the first Water
Bureau infrastructure project named
after a woman. A philanthropist, land-
owner, and widow of Portland Mayor
William S. Mason, Hannah Mason
owned most of the land on which
Willamette Park sits today.
“The pump station site was origi-
nally suggested by the South Portland
Neighborhood Association,” said
Ken Love, a former president of the
association.
The total cost of the pump station
is $18.6 million. The pump station
project’s funding came from a com-
bination of revenue bond sales, water
sales revenue, and other construction
fund revenues such as system devel-
opment charges and interest earnings.
This new energy-efficient pump
station provides drinking water to
(Continued on Page 6)
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