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April 30, 2007
Coming Up on the KBOO Bike Show: Change of Seasons
Carl and Ayleen will discuss spring riding and getting ready for summer.
9-10AM, Wednesday, May 2nd
KBOO FM 90.7
Streamed live at KBOO.fm
Podcast here later that day
Posted by Chris Smith at 7:38 AM | Comments (1) | Permalink
Business Week Highlights Fatal Flaw in Private Toll Roads
Business Week has a great article ("Roads to Riches") this week on the sell-off or leasing of public infrastructure to private companies. Bottom line, it's a GREAT investment opportunity.
The reason why it's such a great investment is exactly the fatal flaw from a public point of view: the ability to increase tolls sharply. The idea is that the private companies can charge tolls that politicians who are accountable to voters could not get away with. So the political calculus is: current officeholder gets the credit for a one time revenue boost (or new projects in lieu of cash). When the chickens come home to roost, someone else is in office and says: "don't blame me, I didn't cut this deal and I can't break the contract."
This is what Peter DeFazio called "outsourcing our political will."
Posted by Chris Smith at 7:10 AM | Comments (15) | Permalink
Guerilla Streetcar Stop Activity
Taking a ride downtown on Friday I encountered some interesting sights at Streetcar stops in NW Portland. Did others see this? I'm curious if whoever did it covered the whole line. [They didn't, I checked a few more locations on Saturday.]
I love the health/pedestrian activism, and I'd love to thank whoever put out the impromptu cigarette butt mitigation.
Are they related?
Anyone want to take credit?
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Posted by Chris Smith at 12:00 AM | Comments (7) | Permalink
April 27, 2007
The Challenges of Governing
It's hard to think of a more assertive alternative transportation advocate then Rex Burkholder.
Yet now in elected office and chair of JPACT, which sets transportation policy for the region, he's getting criticized for not being bold enough by some advocates. This is highlighted in an interview in the Daily Journal of Commerce today.
My two cents: Rex is doing an excellent thing in making the Regional Transportation Plan "outcomes-based." But it's also true that the politics is the art of the possible. And I'm concerned that the "community building" track of the RTP is far too mobility-oriented, because of the influence of interests that are still in denial about issues like global warming and peak oil. I'm also worried that the RTP timelines will not allow for the detailed modeling and analysis of many scenarios that would really help us understand how to optimize the outcomes.
But I'm still rooting for Rex.
Posted by Chris Smith at 7:33 AM | Comments (25) | Permalink
Feeling Empowered
I must say I am pleasantly surprised by the personal impact (on me) of the new crosswalks on NW 23rd.
Now I'm a fairly assertive pedestrian. I'll walk out into a crosswalk if there is a reasonable gap and hold out my hand to stop the cars (as is my right under Oregon law if they are more than 50 feet from the intersection). Interestingly that gesture is now in the process of being encapsulated in Oregon law.
Anyway, what I find with the new crosswalks is that I'm doing this more frequently, and with the cars perhaps a little closer. It's as though the crosswalks have shifted the balance of power between me and the cars.
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:00 AM | Comments (10) | Permalink
April 26, 2007
The Right Way to Go?
Speaking of vans, I heard something recently at a meeting that I find very interesting: that UPS is changing their routing algorithms so that driver's routes will exclusively use right-hand turns.
Does anyone have a confirmed source for that?
Posted by Chris Smith at 9:24 AM | Comments (4) | Permalink
One Less Van
Hat tip to the alert reader who caught this press release from the Doubletree Hotel, Lloyd Center.
As part of an overall effort to reduce carbon impacts, they have dumped their Airport Shuttle and are encouraging patrons to use Airport MAX.
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:00 AM | Comments (30) | Permalink
April 25, 2007
Act Now for the Bicycle Master Plan
This message is bouncing around the blogosphere, but I think it's important to repeat it here. Mayor Potter has not included $150,000 for an update to the Bicycle Master Plan in his proposed budget. Here's the original message from the BTA:
Mayor Tom Potter's office has released his draft budget, which includes many of the good things BTA members care about.
But the Mayor cut an essential item - the Platinum Bike Master Plan Update.Please contact the Mayor's office TODAY and ask him to restore $150,000 in funding to make sure the Platinum Bike Master Plan Update can be completed. With cities like Chicago, Seattle, and New York setting aggressive goals to improve bicycling, Portland can't be using a 12-year-old master plan to compete. We've learned a lot since the plan was written in 1995, and we need to collect those lessons into a plan to make Portland a Platinum-level bike city, and to address key city goals around child and adult health, global warming, and affordable transportation choices.
You can email Jeremy Van Keuren (jvankeuren@ci.portland.or.us) in the Mayor's office, fill out Mayor Potter's webform, or call his office at (503) 823-4120. See all your contact options here.
Thank you! With your help, we can make Portland a better place for bikes!
Please join me in contacting the Mayor's office immediately.
Posted by Chris Smith at 6:49 AM | Comments (10) | Permalink
Slipping and Sliding
Portland State University
Center for Transportation Studies
Spring 2007 Transportation Seminar Series
Speaker: Dr. Chris Monsere, Portland State University, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Topic: Combining Climate, Crash and Highway Data for Improved Ranking of Speed and Winter-Weather Related Crash Locations in Oregon
When: Friday, April 27, 2007, 12:00-1:30 pm
Where: 204 Urban Center
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:00 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
April 24, 2007
Houses vs. Cars
A front page story in Friday's Trib suggests that high-density housing in the central city is a bad idea because it puts concentrations of population near freeways and their pollution.
So what's the alternative? Push everyone out to the suburbs and leave the city for those too poor to have a choice? That will only drive up VMT and require more freeways. Not the future I want to see for our region!
I have a better idea. Let's keep cities for people and clean up the emissions from those cars!
Posted by Chris Smith at 7:22 AM | Comments (73) | Permalink
Agreeing with Mel
It's not often that Mel Zucker and I agree.
But I agree that TriMet turning down his request for boarding/deboarding counts on the basis of security is off the wall. In the past TriMet has often provided such counts to my neighborhood when we were evaluating routing options or potential stop re-locations.
Can we have a little common sense please.
Posted by Chris Smith at 7:00 AM | Comments (33) | Permalink
Outlook
The Sunday Oregonian had a full section on the outlook for transportation (they also had outlook sections for a number of other hours).
What do we think, did they get it right?
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:00 AM | Comments (6) | Permalink
April 23, 2007
A Geeky Community Project?
Last Tuesday, in a article titled "Portland, out of order", the Trib took a swipe at the Streetcar Nextbus system:
Maybe the ticker signs at the streetcar stops with their wildly innaccurate arrival times.
My experience is that Nextbus is pretty accurate (I regularly check it from my cell phone web browser while getting around town).
So I'd love to have some actual data to clear its name. Or alternatively, have some data to show what the problems are, so we can fix them.
Our transit tools poll the Nextbus web site, so getting a history of arrival predictions is straightforward.
Could we compare this with actual arrivals to see how well the system does. Here's what I think we'd need:
- Site with Wi-Fi access and visibility of a regularly used Streetcar stop
- A webcam
- Some kind of image processing algorithm that could look at a captured image, say every thirty seconds, and decide if there was a Streetcar in the frame or not.
Does our community have these ingredients? Can we bring them together for a little project?
Posted by Chris Smith at 8:03 AM | Comments (15) | Permalink
Spreading it Around
I'm delighted to see a pedestrian enforcement action outside the inner core:
CITY OF PORTLAND OFFICE OF TRANSPORTATION
MEDIA ADVISORY
For Immediate Release
April 17, 2007
Contact: Sharon White, Portland Office of Transportation
Phone: (503) 823-7100
What: Press event for Pedestrian Crosswalk Enforcement ActionWhere: Marked crosswalks at SE 82nd Ave. & SE Foster and SE 80th Ave. & SE Foster
When: Wednesday, April 25, 2007
12:30 - 12:40 p.m. press event
12:40 - 3:00 p.m. pedestrian crosswalk enforcement actionWho: Press event attendees:
Sergeant Fort, Portland Police Traffic Division
Sharon White, Portland Office of TransportationWhy:The purpose of the Pedestrian Crosswalk Enforcement Action is to enforce and bring more awareness about the Oregon Crosswalk Law
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:00 AM | Comments (3) | Permalink
April 20, 2007
Green Streets Good for Business
Sam is pushing Green Streets (streets with treatments like swales that capture and filter stormwater) and the Daily Journal of Commerce is suggesting they could be good for business.
Bonus: we get more curb extensions :-)
Posted by Chris Smith at 7:01 AM | Comments (13) | Permalink
Safety Summit II
Hold the date:
Dear Summit invitee
You are receiving this email due to your leadership in improving transportation safety in the Portland region. Please plan to save the date for the second Annual Transportation Safety Summit, and help us carry out a review of recent trends, accomplishments, and future projects. Join attendees for the Summit including -
• Transportation City Commissioner Sam Adams
• Portland Police Traffic Division's Lt Mark Kruger
• Multnomah County Circuit Court Presiding Judge The Honorable Steve Todd
• Trauma Nurses Talk Tough's Coordinator Joanne Fairchild
• Alliance for Community Traffic Safety Oregon's Ruth Harshfield
• African-American Health Coalition's Program Supervisor Keith Dempsey
• Attorney At Law Mark J. Ginsberg2nd Annual Transportation Safety Summit
Tuesday, June 26th 2007
1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
The Portland Building, 1120 SW Fifth Avenue, 2nd Floor AuditoriumWhat is the Transportation Safety Summit?
Transportation is a major public safety, health, and livability concern among Portland residents. Commissioner Sam Adams will join dozens of transportation officials, pedestrian and bicycle advocates, community leaders, enforcement officers, school officials, injury prevention experts, neighborhood coalitions, business associations and other elected officials for a facilitated discussion about the state of Portland's transportation safety.
The Traffic Safety Summit is a fantastic opportunity for participants to learn more about Portland's efforts to improve traffic safety, and to generate ideas and provide input into traffic safety issues and solutions. The Summit will raise awareness of Portland's transportation safety issues; generate interest and energy in existing efforts to improve traffic safety; and develop insight into potential solutions that can help improve traffic safety conditions for all modes of transportation.
Portland has seen some encouraging trends in the past ten years regarding a reduction in pedestrian, bicyclist, and motorist crash fatalities and injury rates, as the charts below show. Your attendance at the summit will help us to ensure these encouraging trends continue, and crash rates continue to fall.
Please plan on saving this date - Tuesday June 26th from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. - in order to attend this event at the Portland Building downtown. More information on the Summit, including how to officially register your place, will follow.Many thanks,
Kirsty Hall, Summit Organizer
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:00 AM | Comments (6) | Permalink
April 19, 2007
Long Commutes Bad for You
From the Austin American-Statesman:
Besides taking time away from family, a long commute can be harmful to your health. Researchers have found that hours spent behind the wheel raise blood pressure and cause workers to get sick and stay home more often. Commuters have lower thresholds for frustration at work, suffer more headaches and chest pains, and more often display negative moods at home in the evenings.
"You tell someone they need to exercise or go to physical therapy, but how can they? They leave at 5 a.m. and get home at 7 or 8 p.m. at night," said Robert Squillante, an orthopedic surgeon in Fredericksburg, Va., who has treated patients for back pain and other commuting-related problems.
Constant road vibrations and sitting in the same position for a long time are bad for the neck and spine, he said, and put special pressure on the bottom disc in the lower back, the one most likely to deteriorate over the years.
Posted by Chris Smith at 8:55 AM | Comments (38) | Permalink
Fare Box, Take 2
Here's the probably-close-to-final iteration of the Streetcar fare box graphics, based on feedback from this blog and the Citizens Advisory Committee.
Any last thoughts, now's the time:
Posted by Chris Smith at 6:44 AM | Comments (20) | Permalink
April 18, 2007
It's All About Education
The program variously known as "Travel Smart", "Smart Trips" and in this incarnation "The Northeast Hub" has demonstrated that education and outreach programs can be much more effective dollar for dollar than building more infrastructure.
Portland State University
Center for Transportation Studies
Spring 2007 Transportation Seminar Series
Speaker: Dan Bower, City of Portland Department of Transportation, Transportation Options Policy Group
Topic: Portland SmartTrips: Results from the Northeast Hub Project
When: Friday, April 20, 2007, 12:00-1:30 pm
Where: 204 Urban Center
Posted by Chris Smith at 6:25 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Putting the Ferry Back in Taylors Ferry
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Jim Howell of AORTA passed on this proposal they have forwarded to the Sellwood Bridge task force.
April 16, 2007
To: Sellwood Bridge Citizen Task Force and Policy Advisory Group
From: Jim Howell
Re: Bridge ConceptsIt might be seven to ten years before the Sellwood Bridge is repaired or rebuilt. In the meantime traffic congestion will continue to grow in this east-west travel corridor between Clackamas and Washington Counties on Johnson Creek Blvd., Tacoma Street and Taylor’s Ferry Road, crossing the Willamette River at the Sellwood Bridge. Good transit service, if available, would help to relieve this congestion.
A bus route running along this corridor, with frequent daily operation, could provide this service (see attached map).Unfortunately, weight restrictions on the Sellwood Bridge now preclude buses from operating on the bridge. In the interim, a ferry for buses could be established long before the bridge is repaired or rebuilt.
A small ferry, similar to the Canby Ferry (see attached photos) could carry a bus, plus pedestrians and bicycles, across the river using the old Spokane Street Ferry ramps at the end of Spokane Street and the public boat launch at Staff Jennings.
The ferry could easily make the round trip in 15 minutes, providing crossing service for buses running every 15 minutes in each direction.
The route we are proposing here would be 15 miles long, extending from the Clackamas Town Center to Washington Square and its nearby Commuter Rail Station. It would provide transfer connections to 28 other bus routes. Within two years it would also connect to light rail and commuter rail lines.
Long cross-town bus routes that do not go downtown but cross many other routes are very popular and are some of the most efficient TriMet routes. For example, the #72 Killingworth/82nd Ave. bus, an 18-mile long route stretching between Swan Island and the Clackamas Town Center provides transfer connections to 28 other bus routes and two light rail lines. It carries over 17,000 passengers a day and is the most productive bus route in the TriMet system.
The timely establishment of a strong transit ridership in this crowded commuter corridor would greatly relieve traffic congestion when the Sellwood Bridge is under construction. It would encourage motorists to become better acquainted with, and conditioned to use, public transportation. It would also add some "character" and "entertainment value" to Portland's transportation system, somewhat like the tram does but at MUCH lower cost.
I request that the above description of a ferry and cross-town bus service be included as a component to be combined with other width, interchange, and alignment concepts currently under development. This is not intended to be a complete bridge concept, but rather to provide the best means for implementing the following specific "needs" listed in the project's "Purpose and Need Statement":
1. Accommodate... transit vehicles;
3. Provide for existing and future travel demands between origins and destinations served by the Sellwood Bridge; and
4. Provide for connectivity, reliability, and operations of existing and future public transit.This proposal can serve to mitigate impacts during construction, and can provide a "relief valve" during the pre-construction phase in which funds for construction are being assembled. It will enhance the value of the entire Sellwood Bridge project by building service and ridership that will effectively utilize whatever option is finally chosen. With the above understanding, please include this proposal in the upcoming analysis of alternatives.
Attachments:
• Route Map
• Ferry Photos
Jim Howell
Posted by Jim Howell at 12:00 AM | Comments (44) | Permalink
April 17, 2007
Express Streetcar
This has been completely under the radar in the recent discussions of the Burnside/Couch couplet, but one idea Sam Adams shared when he discussed the couplet with the Portland Streetcar, Inc. board of directors was the possibility of having an express option, so that there would be an option of a 15- or 20-minute trip from NW 24th to NE 12th competitive with auto trip times.
I assume this will get a deeper look during the preliminary engineering phase that was just approved.
Obviously this would require passing tracks at some stops and some different service planning. What would be the constraints and impacts of trying to do passing tracks and express service in the central city?
Posted by Chris Smith at 8:22 AM | Comments (52) | Permalink
Does the CRC Go Down Better with Lunch?
Find out on Wednesday at PSU:
The Nohad Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning with
Planning Includes Equity (PIE) proudly presents:The Spring 2007 Brown Bag Series
COLUMBIA RIVER CROSSING PANEL DISCUSSION
Featuring
Joe Cortwright, Impresa Consulting
Jay Lyman, Columbia River Crossing Staff,
Scott Chapman, Sierra Club
Silvia Evans, EJAGWednesday, April 18th
12pm-1:30PM
Room 270 of the Urban Studies BuildingJoin the School of Urban Studies and PIE for the kick-off of a new season of the Brown Bag Series with this timely panel discussion.
Pie will be served!
AND: Save the date for the next installment of the Brown Bag Series the following week: April 25th:
The PREMIER of the Film "Jane Jacobs: Parting Words".
Director Kevin Balmer and the films writer, Chet Orloff will be at the showing to discuss the film and answer questions.
Wednesday April 25
12pm – 1:30 pm
Room 270 of the Urban Studies BuildingParting Words captures urban thinker, writer, and activist Jane Jacobs (1916-2006) in her final public appearance in Portland , Oregon . On tour to promote her book, DARK AGE AHEAD (2004), Jacobs discusses the imperative for culturally diverse and innovative cities, among numerous other issues. Exploring passages from her seminal work, THE DEATH AND LIFE OF GREAT AMERICAN CITIES (1961) and looking at Jacobs through the eyes of leading Oregon planners, the film highlights Jacobs’ clear-eyed perspectives on the problems and opportunities facing American cities.
Parting Words demonstrates Jane Jacobs’ long and abiding influence on urban design and planning.Produced and Directed by Kevin Balmer, PSU Master of Urban and Regional Planning Graduate (2006); Diggable Films.
Written and Narrated by Chet Orloff , Director, Pamplin Institute & Collection; PSU Adj. Prof. Urban Studies and Planning; President, Oregon History Works/Museum of the City; Director Emeritus, Oregon Historical Society
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:00 AM | Comments (6) | Permalink
April 16, 2007
Restoring the Conversation
If anything, since I wrote the "state of the conversation" post last week, things have only gotten worse. It's clear to me that we need not only better enforcement (more on that later), but also a clearer set of rules.
So here's a first pass on rearticulating the rules. As I always I look forward to feedback from our readers.
- All contributions and comments become the property of Portland Transport.
- Opinions in posts and comments are those of the authors, not necessarily those of Portland Transport. Responibility for those opinions rests with the authors.
- This site has a point of view: that continued over-reliance on the automobile is not sustainable or healthy for our society and alternative choices must become more widely available. This is intended to be the general center of the conversation here. While opposing views are welcome, participation that is of a quality or quantity that combines to undermine the purpose of the site may be restricted or refused.
- Constructive disagreement is welcome, but simply repeating your disagreement is not. If your disagreement is simply to protest our point of view, you should find another outlet for your views.
- Passion and robust debate about ideas are what Portland Transport is about. Passion directed at individuals is not, and will be deleted promptly. Please confine your remarks to policy, opinion and data.
- We assume that everyone who participates in the conversation is sincere. Questioning the motivations of participants, including those whose opinions may be contrary to the general view of the site, is strictly prohibited.
- While you are welcome to disagree, you are not welcome to be disagreeable. Please treat fellow participants with the respect you would give a guest in your home.
- Skepticism is helpful, cynicism is not. If you need an outlet for your anger at government, the transportation system, or anything else, look elsewhere.
Posted by Chris Smith at 7:58 AM | Comments (39) | Permalink
Two Tracks to the RTP
Metro's Regional Transportation Plan update process has moved into the project solicitation process.
Interestingly, unlike past cycles, Metro is asking for submissions under two different 'tracks'.
The first track is the traditional regional mobility focus.
The second track has a community-building focus. I found this encouraging (more of a focus on access, rather than mobility). But the actual screening criteria for this (at least in the current draft) are still very mobility focused. You can find the criteria on the last 3 pages of last week's JPACT packet (1MB).
My favorite is under economic development. Here's the criterion to get the highest score:
Improve reliability on the regional freight network AND provides access from labor markets and trade areas to the central city, regional centers, industrial areas, and/or intermodal facilities
Notice the 'AND'. You could have the greatest project in the world to deliver employees to knowledge economy jobs, and you wouldn't score because your project didn't do anything for trucks.
Sigh...
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:00 AM | Comments (26) | Permalink
April 14, 2007
Couplet on Blue Oregon
Heads up. There's a discussion of the Burnside Couplet going on over at Blue Oregon.
Read and comment over there.
Posted by Chris Smith at 7:28 PM | Permalink
April 13, 2007
TriMet Cleans Up its Act
TriMet reports that it has installed exhaust filters on 45 of it's oldest buses. Combined with the use of cleaner fuel, this reduces particulates and emissions by up to 90%.
This brings the buses up to the standard applied to newer vehicles. TriMet will eventually roll out this technology to the oldest 1/3 of it's fleet.
Good progress towards removing the "stinky" component of the "stinking and noisy" objection to buses.
Posted by Chris Smith at 7:12 AM | Comments (71) | Permalink
Taming Speed on Local Streets
Yesterday's inPortland section of the O looks at home-made speed control devices while also celebrating the City's new efforts to concentrate marked crosswalks in neighborhood business districts.
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:00 AM | Comments (20) | Permalink
April 12, 2007
Couplet Lives to Fight Another Day
I was fortunate to testify relatively early in the process yesterday, as part of one of about a half dozen invited panels.
That was before some 80 members of the public testified.
I had to leave immediately after my testimony to get to an MPAC meeting.
I just finished going through almost six hours of video of hearings (and I still missed the vote/final statements of Sten and Potter, which went past the 6-hour mark I had set my recorder for). Thank god for the 30-second-forward button on TiVO.
The net is that the couplet will move into preliminary engineering. But auto traffic will return to Burnside at 15th, so the Catholic Cathedral and School will not be impacted by additional cars.
Still in question is whether the Streetcar might use the stretch of Couch from 15th to 19th. That issue will be studied further.
Commissioner Saltzman who felt "trammetized" wants to keep the Enhanced Burnside alternative alive in case costs for the couplet turn out to be unfundable. The Mayor is concerned about how the project competes for funding with other transportation priorities.
Commissioner Sten wants to make sure that the couplet doesn't happen UNLESS the Streetcar also happens (this is different from Sam's previous position, which was that the decision was divisible - he has apparently now embraced the full bundling). Sten also added an amendment tying the decision into the Central City Plan update process (a potential delaying factor) but with a strong suggestion that the Central City Plan better include the couplet.
As part of the discussion, Sam had to defend the local match funding sources for the Streetcar Loop project and took pains to point out that they don't compete with the potential Burnside sources.
Net result: A unanimous vote for $2.6M to start preliminary engineering on the couplet, and $500K to do project development on the Enhanced Existing option as a backup if the couplet proves too expensive.
Sam also has marching orders to figure out how the City-wide rail plan will get integrated into the early stages of the Central City Plan update.
Planning DIrector Gil Kelley, a confirmed couplet opponent, chose to go to MPAC rather than the Council hearing. I doubt he will be thrilled with the direction to reconcile the couplet with the Central City Plan.
We're a long way from done...
Oregonian blog coverage here.
Posted by Chris Smith at 1:17 AM | Comments (23) | Permalink
Putting All the Pieces Together
Tuesday's Trib had an article ("River of cars runs through it") about the traffic that divides the South Portland neighborhood (formerly known as Corbett-Terwilliger-Lair Hill) into pieces.
A whole series of fixes is needed to remedy this and the neighborhood is justifiably impatient at the rate of implementation.
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:00 AM | Comments (26) | Permalink
April 11, 2007
Getting SMART about Washington County Commuter Rail
There was a nice piece in the Oregonian about Washington County Commuter Rail yesterday. One of my co-workers in Wilsonville was quoted.
The part I was impressed by was how WIlsonville is going to adjust the routes for their SMART bus system to get folks from the Commuter Rail station to employment areas (many of which are across the freeway from where the rails are). SMART is a small system, but I don't think they get credit for how effective they are.
Posted by Chris Smith at 7:10 AM | Comments (45) | Permalink
Making Transportation Concurrency More Multimodal
Portland State University
Center for Transportation Studies
Spring 2007 Transportation Seminar Series
Speaker: Ruth Steiner, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Florida
Topic: Making Transportation Concurrency More Multimodal: Lessons from Washington and Florida
When: Friday, April 13, 2007, 12:00-1:30 pm
Where: 204 Urban Center
Posted by Chris Smith at 6:47 AM | Comments (6) | Permalink
Where's the Justice in it?
Yesterday's Trib has a lengthy article (and companion story) on health issues along the I-5 corridor in North Portland linked to the freeway and the emissions that come with it.
I think this issue (environment justice) is given far too little consideration in the Columbia Crossing discussions. The federal regs will actually require Metro to look at environment justice in this cycle of the Regional Transportation Plan update.
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:00 AM | Comments (25) | Permalink
April 10, 2007
Crunch Time for Burnside
City Council will take up Commissioner Adams' request to fund initial engineering on the West Burnside/Couch couplet tomorrow (3pm Time Certain).
Whether you're a fan or a foe of the project, this is your best opportunity to influence the outcome. Commissioner Saltzman appears to be skeptical. No word on the other 3 members, but Sam is known as a very good vote counter and it's hard to believe this would be on the agenda if he didn't think it was going to move forward.
Patricia Gardner, one of my fellow stakeholder committee members, has a nice op-ed piece in support of the couplet this morning.
Posted by Chris Smith at 7:40 AM | Comments (30) | Permalink
Biodiesel Market Dynamics in Portland
A Daily Journal of Commerce article suggests that the capital investment to distribute biodiesel in various blends coupled with the City of Portland mandate, might force some distributors to choose either to invest or get out of the City.
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:00 AM | Comments (8) | Permalink
April 9, 2007
The State of the Conversation
I'm concerned.
In the last few weeks, it seems to me that the tone of comments has gotten a lot angrier, and conversation is more often turning to personalities and motivations than to policy.
This may be in part because I'm spending less time actively moderating the conversation (I'm pretty busy with a political campaign right now). Or maybe it's a directional shift.
Either way, I'm not delighted about it.
What do readers think? Has something changed? Is it a problem? What can/should we do about it?
Posted by Chris Smith at 8:06 AM | Comments (37) | Permalink
Oregonian Looks at Mileage Tax Hardware
In Sunday's O, Jim Mayer takes a look at the pilot test for a VMT tax that we discussed here.
Jim reports that there are apparently problems with the radios for uploading the info. The system can't always tell what pump the vehicle is at.
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:00 AM | Comments (12) | Permalink
April 6, 2007
Tunnel Vision
Garlynn Woodsong is a trained geographer working as Geographic Information Systems professional, with a history in planning and transportation and a fledgling interest in real estate development. He previously worked for both the City of Portland Transportation Department, and the Tri-Met Westside Light Rail Project. Garlynn also owns a biodiesel vehicle.
According to a recent news article, ads are now springing up in subway tunnels between stations. These "video ads" act like cartoon flip-books: A series of images is lit up by individual spotlights if a train passes by at 25mph or faster. The moving train allows the images to be displayed at 24+ frames per second, which is enough to give the illusion of a movie, more or less. Or, at least, it looks cool.
BART is now doing "video" ads in its subway tunnels between stations in San Francisco, and I recently had the opportunity to view the first batch. Pretty interesting stuff, and better than a blank tunnel wall.
According to the article referenced above, however, a new generation of ads will soon be installed that uses LED screens so that the ads can be changed more rapidly & easily -- and controlled remotely.
What I propose is a "Percent for Art" policy, to be implemented when the LED screens are installed. Basically, a certain percentage of the content being cycled on the LED screens would be non-commercial, and produced by local artists on commission to the transit agency. The article states that these ads bring in revenue upwards of $50k a month. Surely, that would allow enough padding for an artist to receive a small commission (off the top of my head, say, $2,000, but obviously that figure comes out of thin air) to produce a quick piece of video art that could be displayed in between the ads on such a system.
I would propose that the art be randomly interspersed with the ads, varying between a rate of 1/3 art to 2/3 ads and 2/3 art to 1/3 ads, depending on, perhaps, time of day.
This would be a great way to expose transit passengers to art, while also building ad revenue to offset the costs of operations for transit agencies -- not to mention supporting the local art community.
Tri-Met's Westside Light Rail tunnel offers a couple of miles worth of unspoiled subway-wall real estate where such an installation could be an instant hit. I'm particularly fond of this idea, because it is the only significant tunnel on Tri-Met's system (not to say that this technology couldn't also work in some of the other, shorter tunnels), and would offer a premier showcase for both ads and art to Portland-area commuters. Plus, Tri-Met already has a Percent for Art program, so the concept of building this into a new advertising contract should not be new to them.
This is an exciting new 21st-century technology and medium for communications. Let's not waste it all entirely on just commercial content.
Let's make sure there's a percentage for art.
Guest Column at 7:13 AM | Comments (20) | Permalink
Bumper Year for Bridge Books
Not long ago we had a new edition of the Portland Bridge Book. Now we're greeted by a new book about our bridges, Bridges of Portland, by Ray Bottenberg.
Link to book at Amazon.com
Link to book at Powell's
Link to book at Multnomah County Library
List Price: $19.99
March 21, 2007
This book is a very much photo-oriented, with brief captions explaining and providing context for the photos (like the photo below). Given all the discussion of the Columbia Crossing recently, it was fun to review the history of the current bridges.
I was particularly impressed by the variety of clever construction techniques to assemble these bridges. My favorite trivial fact: the center span of the Fremont Bridge was jacked into place at the rate of 4 inches per hour for forty hours!
Full disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the publicist.
There is also an upcoming book signing:
Meet author Ray Bottenberg at the following book signing and get the opportunity to check out his other book,
Bridges of the Oregon Coast:
Saturday, April 21 at 2:00 p.m.
Powell’s Books at Cedar Hills Crossing
3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd., Beaverton, OR 97005
For more information, please call 503.228.4651
Glenn Jackson (I-205) bridge under construction. Used with permission of Arcadia Publishing, from Bridges of Portland. All rights reserved. |
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:00 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
April 5, 2007
Vehicle Donation Program Gets Sweeter!
One of the best ways to support our conversation here at Portland Transport is to donate an old vehicle (a new vehicle would be great too!).
Now this is an even better deal. Flexcar has agreed to provide a FREE membership and $75 credit toward usage when you donate your old car to Portland Transport.
Just e-mail us at webmaster@portlandtransport.com to get the details on starting the process. It's easy!
Posted by Chris Smith at 7:25 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Streetcar Notes
Several notes of interest:
- The FTA has approved the Project Development Application for the Streetcar Loop in record time. That means the race is now on to assemble the local match by August.
- The 3 new Czech cars have finished their burn-in mileage and are just waiting for final safety paperwork to clear (back in Prague) before they go into service.
- The Lowell extension is on schedule and opening ceremonies are planned for August 17th/18th.
- A regional Streetcar conference will be held in Portland this summer.
That's what I call momentum...
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:00 AM | Comments (75) | Permalink
April 4, 2007
KBOO Bike Show: Techie Questions
Listen to the show (mp3, 12.4M)
Forget CAR talk, we've got BIKE talk. Get all your techie questions answered with Bike Gallery service manager Brett Flemming live on the air. Ayleen and Tori host.
Posted by Chris Smith at 10:37 AM | Comments (2) | Permalink
Focus on Safety
The Trib ran two articles on safety yesterday. The first talks about dangerous intersections on 82nd and 122nd and goes on to talk about one-time money Commissioner Adams is seeking for safety improvements.
The second talks about the 10-year trend in improvement in deaths due to traffic accidents (it's dropped by about half).
The first story is more sensationalist, but I think the real news is the second one!
Posted by Chris Smith at 7:04 AM | Comments (6) | Permalink
Real Time Traffic Mapping
Do you suppose this is a Google Maps mashup?
Portland State University
Center for Transportation Studies
Spring 2007 Transportation Seminar Series
Speaker: Fred Liang, P.E., City of Bellevue, Washington
Topic: Development of the Bellevue Real Time Arterial Traffic Flow Map
When: Friday, April 6, 2007, 12:00-1:30 pm
Where: 204 Urban Center
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:00 AM | Comments (2) | Permalink
April 3, 2007
Our Collapsing Infrastructure
Via Planetizen.
An article in the LA Times bemoans sinkholes resulting from aging sewer lines (of course we had our own recent example of that in Portland).
I think this is emblematic of a much larger problem: we simply aren't funding maintenance of key civic infrastructure including roads, bridges, water and sewer lines, schools and public buildings.
We're living off the investments our grandparents made and we are not making comparable investments for our grandchildren to benefit from. It doesn't matter whether you prefer investments in freeways or transit, we're just not investing enough in the the public realm.
This is a function of the Federal government reducing or eliminating matching funds coupled with the property tax revolt of the end of the last century, and a shift of tax dollars into financing health care.
But whatever the reason, it's a problem we need to come to grips with!
Posted by Chris Smith at 7:42 AM | Comments (64) | Permalink
Updated: Watching Paint Dry
Update: 4/3/07
This is now rescheduled for 10:30am on Thursday, 4/5.
Original Post: 3/23/07
Actually, thermoplastic.
Sam Adams has scheduled a press opportunity for the striping of new crosswalks on NW 21st and 23rd (weather permitting).
Actually, this is pretty cool. It's part of the overall set of safety improvements for main streets being piloted in NW, following neighborhood activism driven by a pedestrian fatality.
TENTATIVE MEDIA EVENT FOR CROSSWALK INSTALLATIONS ON NW 23RD & 21ST AVENUES
To: Community Partners
From: City of Portland Office of Transportation
Re: Media Event for Crosswalk installations on NW 23rd and 21st Avenues
Date: Saturday, March 24, 2007
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Place: outside Pastini Pastaria, 1506 NW 23rd (at Quimby)If weather permits, our Transportation Maintenance crews will be marking new crosswalks up and down NW 23rd and 21st Avenues on Saturday. You and your organizations have been key community partners in developing this corridor crosswalk treatment project. Thank you for your commitment to help us improve pedestrian safety in Northwest Portland and other parts of the city where the new marked crosswalk criteria will be applied.
Given the current weather forecast, it doesn't look hopeful that our crews will have the conditions necessary on Saturday to make a successful application of the hot plastic we use to mark these crosswalks. Our crew leader will make the decision by noon tomorrow, Friday. We are going ahead with a tentative media plan just in case the weather surprises us and enables us to work.
Our media plan is simple -- to provide media the opportunity to video our crews at work and interview community partners, and to provide community partners the opportunity to gather in celebration of this pedestrian safety improvement project. Our objectives are to demonstrate and raise awareness of the City's and the community's commitment to pedestrian safety.
We invite you to join us on Saturday at 9:00 a.m. outside Pastini Pastaria to talk with the media. We will not hold a formal press conference with a predetermined list of speakers. We simply invite you to come on out on a Saturday morning, watch our crews at work, visit with each other, and talk to the media if you would like to. Feel free to forward this invitation to others you think might be interested.
I will send a notice tomorrow afternoon if this event is on or off. If off, I will continue to keep you informed of the work schedule and media events.
Committed Attendees:
Kim Carlson, NWDA
Frank Bird, NWDA
Peggy Anderson, NHBA
Sabrina Kao, Traffic Engineer, Portland Office of Transportation
Beth Erlendson, Public Information Manager, Portland Office of Transportation
Cheryl Kuck, Public Information Officer, Portland Office of TransportationTentative Attendees:
Commissioner Sam AdamsThank you again for your continued commitment to pedestrian safety and neighborhood livability in our community. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Cheryl
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:00 AM | Comments (4) | Permalink
April 2, 2007
Oregonian Traces Milwaulkie LRT Turn-around
Jim Mayer's piece traces the trajectory from recalling the Mayor and City Council members to accelerating community support for the Light Rail proposal.
A more acceptable alignment coupled with changes in demographics and attitude seem to be the drivers.
Posted by Chris Smith at 7:39 AM | Comments (88) | Permalink
Kulongoski Getting REAL About Driver's Licenses?
The Oregonian speculates about whether the Governor will get support from the Legislature to fulfill his campaign promise to bring Oregon in line with the federal id standards.
But the legislature is concerned about the impact on migrant labor and the big brother implications.
If they don't get on board will we not be able to board commercial airlines without a passport for id?
Posted by Chris Smith at 6:53 AM | Comments (12) | Permalink
Sellwood Properties at Risk?
It would appear that whatever alternative gets chosen for the Sellwood Bridge, some private property must be taken and buildings removed.
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:00 AM | Comments (10) | Permalink
April 1, 2007
Tolling Discussion
Over at Blue Oregon, pointing out some fairly obvious concerns, but also maybe throwing out the baby with the bathwater.
Read and comment there.
Posted by Chris Smith at 7:14 AM | Permalink
