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January 29, 2010
Adams Backs Off Separate CRC Analysis by PBOT
In a post on the official Mayoral site, Sam Adams says:
Frustrated with the lack of "out of the box" thinking about options and assumptions, last month I directed Portland to undertake our own analysis of CRC options. I asked for data from the CRC, and was surprised by the alarmed staff response our request has received.
But apparently the letter he co-signed with David Bragdon, Tim Leavitt and and Steve Stuart puts a different light on things:
As the work requested by the four local elected leaders moves forward, I have directed City staff to suspend our independent analysis, and participate instead in the shared work we described in our January 22 letter to Governors Gregoire and Kulongoski.
I wonder what generated all the alarm?
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:26 AM | Comments (4) | Permalink
January 28, 2010
NW High Speed Rail Corridor Receives $590M in Funding
Part of the President's announcement made from Florida this morning. Reported in the Tacoma Daily Index.
Posted by Chris Smith at 10:54 AM | Comments (22) | Permalink
January 27, 2010
Columbian Says Adams Considering 6-lane CRC Proposal
Things are getting interesting. The State of the City address is just around the corner.
I just have two words for the Mayor: supplemental bridge.
Posted by Chris Smith at 5:46 AM | Comments (18) | Permalink
Learning from Europe
Portland State University
Center for Transportation Studies
Winter 2010 Transportation Seminar Series
Speaker: Ed Fischer, P.E., State Traffic Engineer, Oregon DOT
Topic: European Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning (Scan Tour Report)
When: Friday, Jan 29, 2010, 12:00 - 1:00pm
Where: PSU Urban Center Building, SW 6th and Mill, Room 204
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:57 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
January 26, 2010
Why You Should Help Build It (and How)
I had the opportunity to sign on early for the "Build It" campaign that the Bicycle Transportation Alliance and allies have created to get the Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030 adopted and funded.
Here's why I think this is not just important, but vital, for Portland's future:
- Cycling provides healthy mobility, and will make our community healthier and cut health care costs.
- Cycling helps shape livable communities and will support "20 minute neighborhoods".
- Cycling provides low cost mobility and provides more affordable transportation options to individuals and will require fewer public resources than other ways of providing equivalent mobility.
- Cycling will help us meet our climate action goals.
I encourage all our readers to sign on to the campaign and support the Plan. Here's how you can do it.
Start by taking your picture with the "Build It" logo (PDF).
Then there are three ways you add your photo to the campaign. Pick whichever is easiest or most expressive for you.
- e-mail the photo to buildit@bta4bikes.org
- tweet the photo to @MayorSamAdams with your message and the #BUILDIT hash tag
- On Facebook, becomes friends with the campaign here and add your photo and message to the wall
Do it now.
Posted by Chris Smith at 9:30 AM | Comments (4) | Permalink
Is Transit the Path to More Jobs?
A recent study by Smart Growth America and friends suggests that transit construction projects generate more jobs dollar-for-dollar than highway projects.
On the operations side, T4America has a petition urging President Obama to include transit operating funds in the next jobs bill. You can sign here.
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:59 AM | Comments (1) | Permalink
January 25, 2010
CRC: $1.5B from Tolls - Is it Affordable?
Members of the Columbia River Crossing Project Sponsors Council were told Friday (as reported in the Trib) that tolling could potentially raise $1.49B of the project cost.
Clark County Commissioner Steve Stuart asked the obvious question:
Council member Steve Stuart noted that the estimates did not include any analysis of whether drivers could afford the tolls, or whether the project would provide enough of a benefit to justify them. Stuart, a Clark County Commissioner, said the council expects a formal cost-benefit analysis before being asked to make any recommendations.
So, how did we get $60M into the planning without cost-benefit analysis at this level?
Posted by Chris Smith at 6:52 AM | Comments (12) | Permalink
Car Free in Toronto
Hat-tip to sometimes contributor Lenny Anderson for the pointer to this article from the Toronto Star (via Mass Transit Magazine) about how dwellers in new downtown condos in Toronto are crafting a mostly car-free lifestyle.
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:17 AM | Comments (5) | Permalink
January 22, 2010
#BuildIt at Car-Free Happy Hour
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Here's a group of folks who want the Portland Bicycle Plan built!
Take your Build It photo and put it on Twitter or Facebook today to join the campaign.
Posted by Chris Smith at 6:20 AM | Comments (5) | Permalink
Streetcar System Plan Wins Award
The American Council of Engineering Companies of Oregon has awarded an excellence award to the Portland Streetcar System Concept Plan.
Congratulations to the staff, consultant team and to the System Advisory Committee!
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:01 AM | Comments (8) | Permalink
January 21, 2010
BTA Launches "Build It" Social Media Campaign to Support Master Plan
The Bicycle Transportation Alliance has created a web site and social media campaign to support implementation of the Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030.
Individuals are encouraged to take their picture with the campaign logo and post it as part of the campaign.
The campaign web site is http://www.portlandbikenetwork.org/voices/supporters/
Posted by Chris Smith at 11:05 AM | Comments (1) | Permalink
Health Benefits of Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in our Transportation System
Portland State University
Center for Transportation Studies
Winter 2010 Transportation Seminar Series
Speaker: Mel Rader, Co-Director, Upstream Public Health
Topic: Health Benefits of Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in our Transportation System
When: Friday, Jan 22, 2010, 12:00 - 1:00pm
Where: PSU Urban Center Building, SW 6th and Mill, Room 204
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:02 AM | Comments (1) | Permalink
January 20, 2010
Intellectual Freedom at Work
I can't help but note the irony, and admire the freedom of discourse, that Randall O'Toole will appear at Powell's on Friday to promote his book that criticizes urban transit lines.
From the publisher's comments:
As a result, the automobile which is accessible to almost every family in the nation and provides unparalleled access to better housing, low-cost consumer goods, a choice-driven affordable life, and freedom -- is being deliberately forced off the transportation grid by the expensive "solution" of little-used high-speed trains and urban transit lines.
Of course, the eponymous owner of this venue is Michael Powell, chair of the board of Portland Streetcar, Inc.
Posted by Chris Smith at 6:32 AM | Comments (8) | Permalink
CRC Mutiny Against the DOTs
The local government representatives on the Columbia River Crossing Project Sponsors Council are in open rebellion, fighting for control of the project.
In a letter to Governors Gregoire and Kulongoski, Metro President David Bragdon, Portland Mayor Sam Adams, new Vancouver Mayor TIm Leavitt and Clark County Commissioner Steve Stuart are calling out the project:
...we believe that the cost, physical and environmental elements of the project as currently proposed impose unacceptable impacts on our communities.
And they go on to ask for more local control, citing the way some large transportation projects around Seattle have been managed.
My favorite passage:
Provide project funds for the local governments represented on the Project Sponsors Council to hire and supervise independent experts to verify critical project assumptions and help evaluate the performance of proposed refinements.
It appears to this observer that the local players have essentially said the current vision is bollocks and either they should be allowed to fix it or it's going to die.
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:41 AM | Comments (12) | Permalink
January 19, 2010
Help ODOT Prioritize
Via the OTRAN list.
The Oregon Environmental Council is encouraging citizens to provide input to ODOT on criteria for the STIP (State Transportation Improvement Plan):
WHAT: Your comments are needed on the draft eligibility criteria and prioritization factors for the 2012-2015 STIP.
WHY: Suggested updates to the eligibility criteria and prioritization factors for determining which major road, highway, and transit projects get built in Oregon are stronger than they've ever been, but public comment is needed to ensure the Oregon Transportation Commission adopts even more robust criteria and prioritization factors.
WHEN: Comments are due by February 19th, 2010
WHO: Please submit your comments to Lucia Ramirez, Principal Planner in ODOT's Transportation Development Division, at Lucia.L.RAMIREZ@odot.state.or.us.
Lucia can also be reached at 503-986-4168.BACKGROUND:
Draft eligibility criteria and prioritization factors for the 2012-2015 STIP are available for comment at: http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/TD/TP/docs/1215stipcmte/CriteriaReview.pdf [PDF].
Oregon Environmental Council (OEC) strongly urges you to review and comment on these criteria and prioritization factors because we have an unprecedented opportunity to ensure improved transportation decision making in the state.
The Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) is the funding and scheduling document for major road, highway, and transit projects in Oregon. It lists projects for the next four years. Oregon's STIP is adopted by the Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC). Project ideas are brought forward by a variety of local and regional entities, e.g., Area Commissions on Transportation, Freight Advisory Committee, Metropolitan Planning Organizations. The OTC also adopts the eligibility criteria and prioritization factors that guide which projects to include in the STIP. The document out for public review was produced by the STIP Stakeholder Committee, on which OEC sits, and additional public comment can strengthen it.
During the 2009 legislative session, OEC and others forwarded a set of 10 considerations to be incorporated into STIP criteria, which were adopted as part of House Bill 2001 (see the list on page 4 of the draft). Three are of particular interest to OEC:
8. Fosters livable communities by demonstrating that the investment does not undermine sustainable urban development. This consideration is addressed in the new criterion "Implement OHP Policy 1B: Land Use and Transportation" on pages 24-25.
9. Enhances the value of transportation projects through designs and development that reflect environmental stewardship and community sensitivity. This consideration is addressed primarily in the new criterion "Implement OHP Policy 5A: Environmental Resources" on pages 27-28.
10. Is consistent with the state's greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals and reduces this state's dependence on foreign oil. This consideration is addressed in the new criterion "Implement OHP Policy 5A: Environmental Resources" on pages 27-28, as well as the discussion of least cost planning in the introduction.
While OEC believes the revisions suggested by the STIP Stakeholder Committee go a long way toward ensuring adequate consideration of these goals, it's our opinion that the proposal falls a bit short with regard to the state's greenhouse gas reduction (GHG) goals. The introduction (see pages 4-9) discusses how GHGs should be considered, but is a bit schizophrenic in its recommendations. There is useful direction (e.g., on pages 7-9) to project proponents that they "should be aware of the state greenhouse gas reduction targets and any local greenhouse gas reduction plans and are encouraged to select investments that contribute to achievement of the goals described." But on page 6, lines 26-37, the proponents are advised that "documentation of these (considerations) is not required for the 2012-2015 STIP." Project proponents are "expected to consider and discuss these principles" in a general way with no reference to the specifics on pages 7-9. OEC feels that entities proposing transportation projects should be given a consistent signal that the time has arrived for addressing the global warming consequences of transportation infrastructure choices. Every transportation and land use decision made has GHG consequences that will last far into the future, and in order to meet the state's 2020 and 2050 GHG reduction goals we must make the correct choices now. Even without a perfect means of assessing the GHG implications of a specific project, VMT, fleet mix and modal split can serve as a rough proxy for GHGs in the mean time.
If you agree (and even if you don't!), we highly encourage citizen input. Only true transportation wonks will enjoy reading the entire document, but hey - what better use of your time during the rainy, dreary days of winter than to help ensure a better future for Oregon.
For full proceedings of the STIP Stakeholder Committee, see http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/TD/TP/1215stipcmte.shtml.
For a citizen's primer on the STIP, see http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/TD/TP/docs/0811stip/primerBrochure.pdf
Posted by Chris Smith at 5:38 AM | Comments (3) | Permalink
Serendipitous Transit Center
A silver lining in every cloud...
Due to the sewer and street reconstruction on NW 23rd the #15 bus has been re-routed down NW 21st.
While annoying, this has temporarily created something that I've always though NW needed: a transit center.
Four transit lines pass next to Good Samaritan Hospital but don't actually meet in one point, but now, for six months, they do.
At the SW corner of 21st and Lovejoy the inbound Streetcar, #15 and #77 all stop at one platform, and just a few feet away on the NW corner, the inbound #17 stops.
Temporary transit nirvana.
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:29 AM | Comments (9) | Permalink
January 18, 2010
Sponsors Examine CRC Performance Criteria
The Columbia River Crossing Project Sponsors Council is meeting next on the 22nd. From the project:
VANCOUVER - The Columbia River Crossing Project Sponsors Council will discuss performance goals and objectives focused on long-term management of the transportation corridor at its Jan. 22 meeting in Vancouver. CRC is believed to be the only large-scale, multi-modal project in the country developing performance measures. The Project Sponsors Council will review the work of the Performance Measures Advisory Group, which was formed to help ensure the highway and transit project meets expectations for managing the I-5 corridor once the CRC project has been constructed. National experts and agency staff developed goals and objectives and began work on associated performance measures.The agenda also includes a report on the traffic effects and funding contribution associated with 10 tolling scenarios evaluated by the Tolling Study Committee, a conceptual funding plan for the CRC project, and a progress report on Hayden Island design.
Meeting materials are available at: http://www.columbiarivercrossing.org/ProjectPartners/PSCMeetingMaterials.aspx. The meeting will be held 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Southwest Region office of the Washington State Department of Transportation, 11018 NE 51st Circle, in Vancouver. It is open to the public.
Posted by Chris Smith at 8:43 AM | Comments (13) | Permalink
January 15, 2010
Focus on Safety
Everything's coming up safety this week:
- Mayor Adams has scheduled the 2010 Portland Transportation Safety Summit:
4th Annual Transportation Safety Summit February 16, 2010, 6:30 - 8:30 pm University of Oregon - White Stag Building 70 NW Couch St., Portland (convenient to Old Town MAX station) RSVP to sharon.white@hotmail.com Childcare can be provided with at least 1 week notice. Please contact Sharon White by Feb. 9, 2009 to make arrangements: Sharon White (503) 823-7100 or sharon.white@pdxtrans.org.
- In preparation for the summit, the mayor invites you to take a transportation survey.
- ODOT is seeking input on its Transportation Safety Action Plan (TSAP). The BTA blog has the details.
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:44 AM | Comments (3) | Permalink
January 14, 2010
Is Parking Too Cheap in Portland?
Jarrett at Human Transit thinks so.
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:32 AM | Comments (29) | Permalink
January 13, 2010
The Death of TSUB?
For a couple of decades, if you wanted to get Federal funding for a transit project, TSUB was your bane of your existance. "Transit System User Benefit" was a complicated computer model that scored your project, essentially rating you on how far and how fast you moved people. It was all about mobility and not about access at all.
Under the Bush administration, the FTA applied TSUB to the the "Small Starts" program that Congress created to fund streetcars, even though the legislation suggested other criteria were more important. It was not until the Obama administration essentially decided to ignore it that the Streetcar Loop project got funded.
But hopefully those days are over now, based on an announcement from USDOT today focusing on livability:
In a dramatic change from existing policy, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today proposed that new funding guidelines for major transit projects be based on livability issues such as economic development opportunities and environmental benefits, in addition to cost and time saved, which are currently the primary criteria.In remarks at the Transportation Research Board annual meeting, the Secretary announced the Obama Administration's plans to change how projects are selected to receive federal financial assistance in the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) New Starts and Small Starts programs. As part of this initiative, the FTA will immediately rescind budget restrictions issued by the Bush Administration in March of 2005 that focused primarily on how much a project shortened commute times in comparison to its cost.
"Our new policy for selecting major transit projects will work to promote livability rather than hinder it," said Secretary LaHood. "We want to base our decisions on how much transit helps the environment, how much it improves development opportunities and how it makes our communities better places to live."
The change will apply to how the Federal Transit Administration evaluates major transit projects going forward. In making funding decisions, the FTA will now evaluate the environmental, community and economic development benefits provided by transit projects, as well as the congestion relief benefits from such projects.
"This new approach will help us do a much better job of aligning our priorities and values with our transit investments" said FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff. "No longer will we ignore the many benefits that accrue to our environment and our communities when we build or expand rail and bus rapid transit systems."
FTA will soon initiate a separate rulemaking process, inviting public comment on ways to appropriately measure all the benefits that result from such investments
Congressman Blumenauer heralded this as "Another great day for streetcars!"
Posted by Chris Smith at 11:41 AM | Comments (11) | Permalink
Linking Fuel Prices, Transportation, Land Use and Economic Activity
Portland State University
Center for Transportation Studies
Winter 2010 Transportation Seminar Series
Speaker: Hongwei Dong, PhD Student, School of Urban Studies and Planning, PSU
Topic: Linking Fuel Prices, Transportation, Land Use and Economic Activity: A Review of Empirical Findings
When: Friday, Jan 15, 2010, 12:00 - 1:00pm
Where: PSU Urban Center Building, SW 6th and Mill, Room 204
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:06 AM | Comments (2) | Permalink
January 12, 2010
Our Draft Candidate Questionnaire
Thanks for all the input on the questionnaire for Metro President candidates. Here's what I have synthesized it down to. Please review it and suggest:
- Any biases (other than those consistent with the point of view of the site)
- Any crucial issues missing
- Anything that could be removed to to make it more concise
- Better ways to phrase the questions
We definitely need at least one more good pedestrian question! Some careful proofreading would also be helpful.
Proposed Questionnaire:
- Vision:
Assuming you serve two consecutive terms and are able to accomplish all of your goals, describe how transportation and mobility in the region have changed.
- Policy Priorities:
- The business community in conjunction with Metro has produced a "Cost of Congestion Report" that argues that congestion is a drag on our economy. Others would argue that safety or environmental concerns are more important factors. How do you balance these issues?
- Adopted State and local policies have strong goals around VMT reduction in support of avoiding impacts from climate change. To a lesser extent there are also policies that recognize the risk of energy price or supply uncertainty due to peak oil. How should these issues be incorporated in regional transportation planning?
- The Regional Transportation Plan currently in the process of adoption is the first to model for Greenhouse Gas emissions (GHG). The modeling shows that all versions of the plan increase GHG emissions, even more so that then the no-build scenario. JPACT has taken the position that the plan cannot be conformed to GHG goals in this cycle. How and when should the RTP be conformed to GHG goals?
- Jobs/housing imbalance has been identified as a component of VMT growth. What policies can/should Metro adopt to redress imbalance?
- How can regional policy improve combined housing/transportation affordability for households in our region?
- How would you balance priority for the road system with completing the transit, bike and pedestrian transportation systems?
- Columbia River Crossing:
- The CRC, even with the cost reductions currently being discussed, would represent a significant fraction of all transportation investment in the region in the next 20 years. What is the priority of the CRC versus other transportation investments?
- Do you support a CRC project and if so, what is your preferred configuration?
- If you support the CRC, how would you propose to fund it and what impact would your funding proposal have on the availability of funding for other regional transportation priorities?
- The Role of Pricing:
How we pay for transportation has impacts both on the adequacy of funding and the way the transportation system is used.
- Is the current level of resources sufficient to fund our transportation system? If not, how would you persuade voters and local, state and national leaders to increase funding?
- Many funding tools have been proposed that have greater or lesser impacts on demand management. How would you deploy tools like gas taxes, VMT taxes, street maintenance feeds or various forms of tolling (or other tools) to meet our region's goals?
- Transit:
There are competing perspectives on the priority of expanding the regional and local (e.g., streetcar) rail transit system. One argument is that per-trip operating costs for rail are lower than for buses and that rail is more successful at attracting choice riders and supporting compact development. On the other hand, many transit-dependent families must rely on bus service which has seen level funding or cuts in recent years.
- Should the current practice of allocating growth in transit operating revenue primarily to rail expansion continue?
- Do you support using funds that would otherwise be available for operations to bond for capital construction?
- How should equity considerations be factored into transit planning?
- Is TriMet's current governance structure with a board appointed by the Governor and State Senate appropriate? If not, what would you suggest?
- Is transit operating funding adequate? If not, what additional sources of revenue would you propose/support?
- Should TriMet have a rainy-day fund to protect operations during economic downturns?
- Bicycles and Pedestrians:
- Do you support the "Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030" that will be before City Council in February?
- Would you support a comparable level of bicycle investment in other parts of the region?
- How would you propose to fund "The Intertwine", Metro's recommended regional trail system?
- Development has occurred in many parts of the region (including some Portland neighborhoods) under standards that did not require sidewalks to be constructed at the time of development. Current policy holding property owners responsible for funding sidewalk construction has seriously hindered filling gaps in the sidewalk system. How would you propose to accelerate bringing streets without sidewalks within the UGB up to urban standards?
- Freight:
Metro's role in planning for the movement of goods and services is primarily focused on trucks and how they fit into the street/road system. Should Metro undertake a stronger role in rail and marine freight planning? If so, what would this look like?
Posted by Chris Smith at 8:29 AM | Comments (3) | Permalink
Multnomah County Wants Input on Its Capital Plan
From the County:
Multnomah County welcomes comments on its public review draft of the Transportation Capital Improvement Plan and Program (CIPP) for Fiscal Years 2010-2014. The purpose of the CIPP is to ensure limited public funds are invested in transportation projects providing the greatest public benefit. The CIPP is updated every five years.The CIPP is a two-part process. The Capital Improvement Plan identifies and ranks transportation improvement needs on County roadways and bridges over the next 20 years. Multnomah County maintains 300 miles of roads and bridges. The network of roads and bridges lies outside the cities of Gresham and Portland, with the exception of five Willamette River bridges within Portland. Projects that accommodate all modes of transportation -- motor vehicle, transit, pedestrian and bicycle, and improvements to fish passage culverts -- are considered. County staff uses objective criteria to evaluate and score potential projects. Criteria include safety, congestion relief, support of regional land use goals, and community support.
The Capital Improvement Program assigns anticipated revenues to the highest priority projects for a five-year period. The program is reviewed by the County Transportation Division biennially, for programming corrections. The biennial updates adjust anticipated capital revenues to more current projections, and ensure capital project expenditures are allocated appropriately.
The public review draft of the CIPP compiles the list of uncompleted projects and new projects identified through the update process. Candidate projects were identified through public comments, from staff at the cities of Fairview, Troutdale and Wood Village, the County's Bicycle and Pedestrian Citizen Advisory Committee and from the County's Road and Bridge staff.
The review draft of the CIPP can be reviewed online at www.multco.us/cipp. Please send comments or questions about the CIPP update to cip@co.multnomah.or.us or by mail to: CIPP Comments, 1600 S.E. 190th Avenue, Suite 116, Portland, OR 97233. Public comments are welcome through February 8, 2010. The Board of County Commissioners is tentatively scheduled to hold a public hearing to consider adopting the CIPP on February 11.
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:50 AM | Comments (2) | Permalink
January 11, 2010
CRC Fixer Hired
The Tribune reports that ODOT has hired Hans Bernard to:
"focus on building greater consensus on the design of the Columbia River Crossing, advance multimodal projects, and strengthen outreach and coordination with the business community in the Portland-Metro area."
In other words, to try to roll the environmental community?
Posted by Chris Smith at 4:14 AM | Comments (9) | Permalink
Mark Your Calendars
A plethora of events coming up!
- Tonight: (Jan 11) - Occasional Portland Transport contributor Greg Raisman is presenting on traffic calming "Lessons From Europe: A Look at Residential Streets" at 7pm at Southeast Uplift.
- Wedneday: (Jan 13) Co-Vice-Chairs Gail Achterman and John Van Landingham will be presenting the recommendations of the MPO GHG Task Force to two legislative committees on Wednesday, January 13.
House Interim Committee on Transportation: 1:00 PM
Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee 1:45 PMTypically, you can listen to or watch these hearings online. First double-check the time and find out the hearing room at http://www.leg.state.or.us/comm/. Then go to http://www.leg.state.or.us/listn/ and click on the audio/visual for the hearing room.
- Also on Wednesday: The 3rd Bridge (over the Columbia) folks invite you to an open house:
Wednesday January 13, 2010Open House
Third Bridge Now Headquarters
5003 N. Lombard St.
Wednesday January 13, 2010
2PM - 8PM
Please feel free to invite others!! The More the Merrier.Happy New Year! Mark your calendars and head on over.... Wednesday January 13, 2010 from 2PM - 8PM we will be having an Open House for the Third Bridge Now campaign and headquarters. We have a lovely headquarters at 5003 N. Lombard St. It is a great space 3,400 sq. ft., floor to the ceiling windows facing Lombard St. It has a 100' x 50' yard space for BBQ and outside events..... Yippy! We plan on having an information gallery, meeting room, strategy working space, and office area. We will be inviting in groups, individuals, and elected officials to show them there is an alternative that adds capacity across the river, connects the majority of the industrial areas on one continuous corridor, provide direct freeway access to I-5 freeway from the ports and industrial areas, removes freight and overflow traffic from neighborhood streets. This new freeway is on mostly bare vacant publicly owned land with no interference during construction with I-5 freeway or current roadways. Construction can start immediately, instead of waiting for removal or encroachment issues of over 250 private properties. The Third Bridge Corridor will provide jobs now, and needed infrastructure for jobs in the future....... Relieving congestion, addressing safety issues, cleaner air, helping the economy, environment, and adding a new freeway that will not increase urbane sprawl. The bridges on this alignment are already in the adopted Oregon Regional Transportation Plan of 2000.
Come Be A Part Of The Solution!
- Finally looking ahead to March 9th, an all-day Rail Summit in Eugene is going to look at the entire Pacific Northwest corridor. Stay tuned for details.
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:05 AM | Comments (1) | Permalink
January 10, 2010
More Stimulus Funds Headed for Oregon Transportation?
Apparently they couldn't manage to give all the TARP money to the banks.
Here's an idea. Take a big chunk of the $332 million slated for ODOT and make a down payment on the Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030!
Posted by Chris Smith at 7:17 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Another Look at Portland's Transit Stats
Promoted from the Open Thread:
Jarrett at http://www.humantransit.org has another interesting and provocative post on Portland.
Hat tip to EngineerScotty.
Posted by Chris Smith at 7:01 PM | Comments (20) | Permalink
January 8, 2010
How the Feds Are Tackling Livability
Portland State University
Center for Transportation Studies
Winter 2010 Transportation Seminar Series
Speaker: Rick Krochalis, Administrator, Region X, FTA
Topic: Regional Implications of the Federal Livability Initiative
When: Friday, Jan 8, 2010, 12:00 - 1:00pm
Where: PSU Urban Center Building, SW 6th and Mill, Room 204
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:47 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
January 7, 2010
Props Where Props Are Due
It's fair to say that I don't usually have the same policy perspective as the Cascade Policy Institute, but we do tend to converge when it comes to looking at pricing the road system.
They have a new report out supporting tolling as a way to manage congestion.
One passage particularly warmed my heart:
When viewed from the efficient pricing perspective, a number of implications are derived for the proposed Columbia River Crossing. Specifically, it is premature to make a determination of the need for the CRC without first having a system of network tolling in place. Were network tolling in place, a clearer picture of what is needed would emerge:
- Tolling would help relieve traffic conditions even on the existing bridge due to the effect of tolling on hypercongestion during heavy demand periods.
- The cost-beneficial roadway capacity needs of the crossing would be better perceived if existing capacity of the road network were properly priced. Failure to price existing capacity tends to exaggerate the perceived need for new capacity. Thus, CRC capacity needs very likely could be smaller than what is currently proposed.
- It is not clear that a dedicated transit right-of-way (for light rail or bus) would be necessary on the bridge and its approaches under an efficient pricing regime. Such a pricing approach naturally encourages use of buses, carpools and other highoccupancy vehicles on the roadway, and provides free-flow traffic conditions.
As you might imagine, I have a different view on that last bullet. As I said, we often don't agree. But two out of three isn't bad.
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:31 AM | Comments (17) | Permalink
January 6, 2010
KBOO Bike Show: 2010 New Year's Party
Listen to the show (mp3, 26.8MB)
We wouldn't be here without you, so please listen in to our in-studio party. We hear your bike-centric predictions and hopes for this upcoming year while we're entertained by the lovely sounds of local band, No They Do, bringing us futuristic robot lullabies. Join us!
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:50 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Blip or Trend?
Apparently for the first time in a long time the U.S. auto fleet dropped in size.
Americans bought 10 million cars last year, but scrapped 14 million.
Is this a turnaround in attitudes, or an economy-driven one-time event?
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:54 AM | Comments (16) | Permalink
January 5, 2010
Explaining ITS
Hat tip to Clackamas County Chair (and fellow transportation wonk) Lynn Peterson, who passed on a pointer to this excellent video explaining what Intelligent Transportation Systems are all about.
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:36 AM | Comments (19) | Permalink
January 4, 2010
Coming Up on the KBOO Bike Show: 2010 New Year's Party!
We're throwing a party to celebrate the new year and thank our guests of '09 and listeners. We wouldn't be here without you, so ride on down to the studio as our special guests to ring in the new cycling year and hear your voices, live on the air. We want to hear your bike-centric predictions and hopes for this upcoming year while we're entertained by the lovely sounds of local band, No They Do, bringing us futuristic robot lullabies. Please come join us for some cookies, fresh brewed Courier Coffee and conversation at the KBOO studios at 20 SE 8th Avenue. 11am-noon, Wednesday, January 6th.
11AM-Noon, Wednesday, January 6th
KBOO FM 90.7
Streamed live at KBOO.fm
Podcast here later that day
Posted by Chris Smith at 8:20 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Thank You and Happy New Year!
I want to thank our readers who responded to our request at the end of December and contributed $150 to support our operations.
Happy New Year to our whole community!
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:25 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
