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May 14, 2010
ODOT High-Speed Rail Open Houses Begin May 13
This message brought to you by our friends at AORTA:
The Oregon Department of Transportation is hosting a series of open house meetings on the state's Draft goals for high-speed rail between Eugene and Portland. Meetings will include a short presentation and allow citizens to share feedback. ODOT says that citizen feedback is crucial to ensuring the success of Oregon's passenger rail program, so if you want to have an influence on the future of rail travel in the Valley, plan to attend one of these sessions. Even if you cannoit make it to tonight's opener in Salem, there are eight more between now and June 9. Among the topics ODOT wants to consider is whether Cascades trains south of Portland should remain on the Union Pacific or be rerouted onto the former Oregon Electric interurban line (now Portland & Western). (Note: this route would still not go through Corvallis.) Also likely to be aired is an independent proposal for a new dedicated high-speed line in the I-5 median. There could be other surprises; check the schedule below. More information at ODOT.
Dates and Locations:
May 13, 2010 4:30-6:30 p.m.
ODOT Transportation Building
Conference Room 122
355 Capitol St NE
Salem, OR
May 18, 2010 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Campbell Center
155 High Street
Eugene, OR
May 19, 2010 4:30-6:30 p.m.
ODOT Region 1 Office
Conference Room A & B
123 NW Flanders
Portland, OR
May 20, 2010 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Wilsonville City Hall
City Council Chambers
29799 SW Town Center Loop
Wilsonville, OR
May 25, 2010 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Albany City Hall
333 Broadalbin Street SW
Albany, OR
May 26, 2010 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Oregon City City Hall
Commission Chambers
625 Center Street
Oregon City, OR
June 2, 2010 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Woodburn City Hall
270 Montgomery Street
Woodburn, OR
June 3, 2010 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Lake Oswego City Hall
Council Chambers
380 A Ave.
Lake Oswego, OR
June 9, 2010 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Junction City City Hall
680 Greenwood Street
Junction City, OR
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:03 AM
Comments
May 14, 2010 2:49 AM
jimkarlock Says:
How does the cost and travel time compare to the bus and to driving a car?
Thanks
JK
May 14, 2010 8:41 AM
Douglas K. Says:
A new line on the I-5 median? Okay, admittedly the right-of-way is "free" but are they seriously looking at building maybe a hundred miles of new track for a line that would run, what, a dozen trains a day at the most?
I would hope the project includes a new passenger rail station at Rose Quarter.
May 14, 2010 10:13 AM
Bob R. Says:
If new route / new track proposals are on the table, then I'd like to know what it would take to include Corvallis. In addition to there being a lot of Portland/Corvallis traffic, there's also a significant amount of Corvallis/Eugene traffic that might benefit. (A formal ridership projection should be done, of course, but I'm guessing it would show good potential ridership.)
May 14, 2010 11:09 AM
EngineerScotty Says:
The Westside Branch used to continue to Eugene, but the tracks south of Monroe were abandoned and ripped up years ago.
Were passenger rail to reach Corvallis--not a bad idea because the train passes right through OSU's campus, through downtown, and through much of the employment center--the best way for that to happen might be a routing through Albany; not any attempt to rebuild the Westside Branch south of there (or rehab it north of Corvaliis--it's in pretty bad shape).
