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May 29, 2008

Imagine 82nd

Portland State University
Center for Transportation Studies
Spring 2008 Transportation Seminar Series

Speaker: InSight Visioning and Planning, PSU MURP Workshop Project team

Topic: Imagine 82nd

InSight, a team of graduate students in PSU's Master of Urban and Regional Planning program, will present their Planning Workshop project entitled "Imagine 82nd." The project engaged residents, businesses, property owners and students along NE 82nd Avenue in Portland to develop a comprehensive vision for the future of the corridor. Imagine 82nd deals with the portion of 82nd Avenue between the Banfield Expressway and NE Sandy Boulevard, 1.3 miles in length. This particular stretch is home to many retail and service businesses that typify the rest of 82nd Avenue, but it also includes Madison High School, a major corporate headquarters, and a 20-acre vacant brownfield site. At this seminar, InSight will present the vision concepts they developed with the community, with particular emphasis on transportation and land use components.

When: Friday, May 30, 2008, 12:00-1:30pm

Where: PSU Urban Center Building, SW 6th and Mill, Room 204

Posted by Chris Smith at 12:00 AM | Comments (23) | Permalink

May 28, 2008

Trouble with One Wheel on Four Wheels?

I've gotten word from the unicycle community (yes, Portland has a unicycle community) that TriMet is apparently cracking down on allowing folks to take their one-wheeled rides onto buses with them.

Unicycle riders, can you confirm?

Anyone from TriMet care to enlighten us on what office policy is?

Posted by Chris Smith at 12:01 AM | Comments (8) | Permalink

May 27, 2008

Three Metro Councilors Suggest Tolling CRC FIRST

The Oregonian is reporting that that Metro Councilors Liberty, Collette and Hosticka are set to introduce a resolution calling for tolling the I-5 Columbia Crossing before before building a new bridge.

"That would give us the information we don't have right now, which is how would people react to having to pay for the project?" said Carlotta Collette, one of the three councilors opposing a new bridge.

Posted by Chris Smith at 12:54 AM | Comments (33) | Permalink

May 23, 2008

Sign of Times to Come?

Seemed like a joke at the time, now it's with us...

Original Post: 3/29/07

OK, so the photo is from the last price spike (hat tip to the reader who sent it to me then). But the O is reporting that gas prices are up 36 cents in the last month.

Posted by Chris Smith at 8:32 AM | Comments (62) | Permalink

May 22, 2008

13 Groups Request CRC Comment Period Extension

Led by the Pacific Environmental Advocacy Center, thirteen organizations have signed on to a letter (PDF, 81K) requesting an additional 60 days be added to the comment period for the Columbia River Crossing Draft Environmental Impact statement. From the letter:

Concerned citizens and implicated agencies cannot adequately participate in the NEPA process if they are only given 60 days to analyze and comment on a highly technical 5,000 page document. Meaningful public participation is central to the NEPA process. NEPA requires the sponsoring agencies to “make diligent efforts to involve the public in preparing and implementing their NEPA procedures.” 40 CFR § 1506.6 (a). The Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) NEPA implementing regulations further reflect the need for genuine public input, stating FHWA’s policy that “[p]ublic involvement and a systematic interdisciplinary approach be essential parts of the development process for proposed actions.” 23 CFR § 771.105(c). FHWA cannot seriously assert that a 60-day comment period meets its requirement to make public input an essential part of the final EIS, considering the scope and length of the DEIS.

Portland Transport is one of the 13 organizations signing on to the request...

Posted by Chris Smith at 12:00 AM | Comments (23) | Permalink

May 21, 2008

Willamette Week Takes on the CRC

As it's cover story: "A Bridge Over the River Why?"

Posted by Chris Smith at 11:28 AM | Comments (28) | Permalink

May 16, 2008

Apparently We're Polite

The Daily Journal of Commerce is reporting on a survey that pegs Portland drivers as the 2nd most courteous in the nation, after Pittsburgh.

I can believe it. When I moved here two decades ago from the Boston area, I felt like a wolf among sheep for the first couple of years...

Posted by Chris Smith at 12:00 AM | Comments (25) | Permalink

May 15, 2008

TriMet Pilots New Interactive Map

TriMet is now in beta-test on a new interactive system map.

For now it's Firefox-only :-)

Posted by Chris Smith at 12:00 AM | Comments (18) | Permalink

May 13, 2008

Where Do People Bicycle? The Role of Infrastructure

Portland State University
Center for Transportation Studies
Spring 2008 Transportation Seminar Series

Speaker: Jennifer Dill, Portland State University

Topic: Where Do People Bicycle? The Role of Infrastructure in Determining Bicycling Behavior

This seminar will present results from the BikeGPS study that collected data from Portland area bicyclists using GPS technology. The study collected data from over 150 cyclists for seven days each during 2007, resulting in detailed information for over 1,500 bicycle trips throughout the urban area. The GPS data provides detailed information on the amount, location, and speed of bicycle travel and allows us to answer questions about route choice. For example, how much to people ride on roads with bike lanes, on bike boulevards, or paths? Do these patterns vary by gender, age, or other factors?

When: Friday, May 16, 2008, 12:00-1:30pm

Where: PSU Urban Center Building, SW 6th and Mill, Room 204

Posted by Chris Smith at 12:06 PM | Comments (6) | Permalink

A Good Idea For Youth

The Multnomah Youth Commission is working with TriMet to establish free transit passes for all students in the region in 6th-12th grades, with a goal of beginning a pilot program for students in Portland Public Schools (one district) in September of this year. They're seeking community support in the form of letters of encouragement to Fred Hansen, General Manager of TriMet:

IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS – Please mail your support letter to the Multnomah Youth Commission (not directly to TriMet). We’ll collect all of the letters and present them to Mr. Fred Hansen of TriMet. Our intent is to support, encourage and thank Mr. Hansen for his work. Your letter should be addressed to Mr. Hansen (as shown in the sample below) – but please actually mail it to the MYC at the following address as soon as you’re able:

Multnomah Youth Commission
c/o Youth Engagement Program
1221 SW 4th Ave., Suite 340
Portland, OR 97204

Or email it to multnomahyouth@gmail.com

Thank you from the MYC Co-chairs Jack MacNichol (Grant HS) and alice Kersting (Portland State University) and MYC YouthPass Committee Co-chairs Sarah Meyerowitz (Wilson HS) and Katherine Westmoreland (David Douglas HS). If you have questions, please call Nate at 503-823-4027.

Key points for letters of support:

• Thank Mr. Hansen for working with top education and government leaders, and youth from the Multnomah Youth Commission, on a project to explore free access to public transportation for local youth.
• Following national models, a free youth pass program could address many positive outcomes in our community, including: reducing car traffic around schools; building current and future ridership for TriMet; reducing carbon emissions; reducing barriers to youth participation in school, enrichment opportunities and employment; and increasing school districts’ flexibility for academic programming. PLEASE ADDRESS THE SPECIFIC WAYS THAT FREE YOUTH TRANSIT COULD BENEFIT YOUR ORGANIZATION & THOSE YOU WORK WITH.
• Thank Mr. Hansen for pursuing the available funding for free youth transportation through the Oregon Department of Energy’s Business Energy Tax Credit (BETC) program. The State of Oregon’s BETC program currently funds free public transportation for youth in Lane County (http://www.ltd.org) – and we’re excited to bring the same benefits to our community!
• Recognize TriMet’s need to establish a program that is sustainable and manageable. Encourage Mr. Hansen to continue working toward a September 2008 start date for a pilot program to offer free passes to all 6th – 12th grade students in the Portland Public School district, with the intention to evaluate program success and expand the program throughout the city and county in the near future. (Pilot would serve approximately 25,000 youth in the ‘08-‘09 school year – a number comparable to the successful Lane County program.)

Posted by Chris Smith at 12:00 AM | Comments (16) | Permalink

May 12, 2008

Columbia River Crossing Action Alert

From the Coalition for a Livable Future:

The Columbia River Crossing (CRC) project is an effort to rebuild and expand the I-5 bridges spanning the Columbia River. Unfortunately, all current options being considered for the project will significantly increase global warming pollution, harm people’s health, and undermine our region’s vision of a sustainable economy, all while siphoning $4.2 billion of limited public resources from addressing other critical transportation needs.

The CRC project is at a crossroads: The public has the opportunity to comment on the draft EIS for a sixty day period beginning May 2, and the eight authorizing jurisdictions will likely vote this summer on whether to approve one of the project proposals. NOW is the time to urge decision-makers to reject all five of the alternatives contained in the draft EIS, and instead support a Climate Smart solution.

Three things you can do:

(1) If you haven't already, Join CLF: sign on to the Climate Smart CRC Resolution and tell elected officials what you think. For background, go to the Climate Smart CRC page at the Coalition for a Livable Future.

(2) Attend a public hearing. A packed room makes an important statement.

May 13 - Portland Planning Commission
Time: 2pm (Meetings run 12:30-5pm; CRC is 3rd on the agenda with a time certain at 2pm)
Location: 1900 SW 4th Avenue, Room 2500A, Portland

June 5 - Metro Council
Time: 2pm
Location: 600 NE Grand Ave, Portland, Metro Council Chambers

(3) Comment on the Environmental Impact Statement

Via email: http://www.columbiarivercrossing.org/

In person:

May 28
Time: 6-8pm (open house at 5pm)
Location: 100 Columbia Street, Vancouver (Red Lion)

May 29
Time: 6-8pm (open house at 5pm)
Location: 2060 North Marine Drive, Portland (Expo Center, Hall D)

Questions? Need talking points? Contact Collin Roughton at the Coalition for a Livable Future: 503 294 2889, collin@clfuture.org.

Posted by Chris Smith at 12:00 AM | Comments (44) | Permalink

May 7, 2008

KBOO Bike Show: Honoring Fallen Cyclists

Listen to the show (mp3, 13.0 MB)

Sara and Tori talk to Eric Tsai and Sarah Beiers of the Brett Jarolimek Memorial Fund about how we can honor fallen cyclists of the past year and explore what new life and inspiration has grown in their memory. We also hear from local students competing in BTA's first ever Walk and Bike Challenge.

Posted by Chris Smith at 2:53 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink

Transit Investment Plan Meetings

Get involved in your local transit planning process by attending a TriMet Open House in May.

Learn about the I-205/Portland Mall Light Rail and WES Commuter Rail projects, and discuss plans for Milwaukie Light Rail and the Columbia River Crossing. Talk with TriMet staff and see what's in the works in our Transit Investment Plan (TIP).

Can’t attend? You can view Open House materials online, or stop by the Portland Mall Info Center through June 6 to view Open House materials and exhibits.

Posted by Joseph Edge at 12:44 PM | Comments (10) | Permalink

May 6, 2008

Should Streetcars Run on the Transit Mall?

Are streetcars a better fit for the transit mall than light rail trains? Streetcars are smaller, slower and more appropriate for downtown, frequent-stop, circulator service. They would be safer than long light rail trains, intermixed with buses and private vehicles, which will also run on the mall when it reopens.

The current plan is to route the I-205/Green and the Interstate/Yellow Light Rail Lines on 5th and 6th Avenues. These are large high capacity regional trains that, unfortunately, will be forced to snake up and down the Transit Mall slowly, causing unnecessary travel delay for north-south inter-regional passengers. This is similar to the delays now experienced by east-west passengers as they creep through downtown on the Blue and Red Lines.

The Yellow Line would be faster and attract more passengers if it did not detour across the Willamette River in order to slog though the downtown on the transit mall. If it stayed on the eastside where it would provide rapid regional north-south service, streetcars could fill the void on the mall. A streetcar loop on 5th and 6th Avenues would provide more efficient frequent circulator service than would large light rail trains.

In the future, this loop could be extended north via Station Way to connect to the streetcar system in the Pearl District. This would allow streetcars to operate between the Pearl District and Portland State via Union Station and the Transit Mall.

Posted by Jim Howell at 12:00 AM | Comments (72) | Permalink

May 5, 2008

It's Finally Here...

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Columbia River Crossing has been released.

Two public hearings have been scheduled:

Wednesday, May 28, 5 – 8 p.m.
Combined Deck Rooms and River Room West 1 & 2
Red Lion Hotel Vancouver at the Quay
100 Columbia Street
Vancouver, WA 98660

Thursday, May 29, 5 – 8 p.m.
Rooms D201 and D202-204
Portland Metropolitan Exposition Center
2060 North Marine Drive
Portland, OR 97217

Comments are also being accepted online.

The comment period runs through July 1.

Posted by Chris Smith at 12:00 AM | Comments (7) | Permalink

May 2, 2008

A Personal Trails Invitation from David Bragdon

Chris,

Readers of Portland are certainly invited to attend the start of our blue ribbon committee on trails next Monday, May 5 at 4:00 PM here at 600 NE Grand.

Here's a link you can drive your readers to:

http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=27329

David L. Bragdon
President
Metro Council

Posted by Chris Smith at 10:43 AM | Comments (2) | Permalink

May 1, 2008

Coming Up on the KBOO Bike Show: Honoring Fallen Cyclists

Sara and Tori will talk to Eric Tsai and Sarah Beiers of the Brett Jarolimek Memorial Fund about how we can honor fallen cyclists of the past year and explore what new life and inspiration has grown in their memory. We will also hear from local students competing in BTA's first ever Walk and Bike Challenge.

9-10AM, Wednesday, May 7th
KBOO FM 90.7
Streamed live at KBOO.fm
Podcast here later that day

Posted by Chris Smith at 12:03 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink