SW Portland Pedestrian SW Portland Pedestrian Challenges and OpportunitiesChallenges and Opportunities

1. Background Information & Existing Conditions

2. Barriers and Obstacles 3. Plans & Policies4. Solutions & Alternatives?

Roger Averbeck / 503-679-1447 /roger.averbeck@gmail.com

SW Portland Streets with SidewalksSW Portland Streets with Sidewalks Portland Bureau of Transportation Portland Bureau of Transportation -- 20082008

Portland Arterial Streets without SidewalksPortland Arterial Streets without Sidewalks

SW Portland Bike & Ped Crashes: 1995 SW Portland Bike & Ped Crashes: 1995 -- 20072007

Yellow = PedestrianYellow = PedestrianGreen = BicyclistGreen = BicyclistRed = FatalitiesRed = Fatalities

Portland Plan 20 Minute Portland Plan 20 Minute Neighborhoods: SouthwestNeighborhoods: Southwest

(based on (based on WalkscoreWalkscore))

Hillsdale Town Center & FarmerHillsdale Town Center & Farmer’’s Markets Market

Multnomah Village Historic District

A pedestrian friendly main street with numeroussmall businesses, a community arts center and post office.

Garden Home Shopping Center Washington County

West Portland Crossroads: West Portland Crossroads: Barbur Blvd / IBarbur Blvd / I--5 / Capitol Hwy5 / Capitol Hwy

/ Taylor Ferry Rd / Huber St./ Taylor Ferry Rd / Huber St.

2010 West Portland Crossroads Residential Survey:2010 West Portland Crossroads Residential Survey:(327 respondents from 6 neighborhood associations) (327 respondents from 6 neighborhood associations)

86% of respondents favor adding more sidewalks.86% of respondents favor adding more sidewalks.82% requested improved pedestrian crosswalks.82% requested improved pedestrian crosswalks.78% favor improved access to transit / bus stops.78% favor improved access to transit / bus stops.97% use cars to access grocery stores.97% use cars to access grocery stores.74% use cars to get to work.74% use cars to get to work.

Barbur Blvd: Barbur Blvd: Sidewalk GapsSidewalk Gaps Huber StreetHuber Street

Traffic SignsTraffic Signs

SW Neighborhood CollectorsSW Neighborhood Collectors Common Characteristics:Common Characteristics:

Minor Emergency Response Routes;Minor Emergency Response Routes;Posted Speed limits usually 30 or 35 mph;Posted Speed limits usually 30 or 35 mph;Actual speeds often in upper 30Actual speeds often in upper 30’’s / lower 40s / lower 40’’s s Transit Routes with unimproved bus stops; Transit Routes with unimproved bus stops; Designated City Walkways and Bikeways;Designated City Walkways and Bikeways;Few marked crosswalks;Few marked crosswalks;

Substandard Streets due to lack of curbs, Substandard Streets due to lack of curbs, gutters, storm drains & sidewalks.gutters, storm drains & sidewalks.

Woods Creek Drainage and Woods Creek Drainage and Curves on Garden Home RoadCurves on Garden Home Road

Common SW land uses along collector Common SW land uses along collector streets: Mostly single family residential streets: Mostly single family residential (R(R--7 or R7 or R--10); some irregular or large 10); some irregular or large lots; riparian areas zoned conservation lots; riparian areas zoned conservation or environmental protection. or environmental protection.

SW 49th Ave & Garden Home Rd60 ft ROW with two 12 ft traffic lanes 60 ft ROW with two 12 ft traffic lanes

36 ft of ROW available: 36 ft of ROW available: Storm water mgmt;Storm water mgmt;utilities; on streetutilities; on streetparking; bus stops;parking; bus stops;bike & pedestrianbike & pedestrianfacilities. facilities.

Multnomah Boulevard Multnomah Boulevard –– 45 mph speed limit; 45 mph speed limit; frequent pedestrian use of bike lanes. frequent pedestrian use of bike lanes.

Multnomah Blvd: Sidewalk GapMultnomah Blvd: Sidewalk Gap (Access to Grocery Store)(Access to Grocery Store)

Capitol Hwy Capitol Hwy –– Encroachments in ROWEncroachments in ROW

Garden Home Road: Garden Home Road: Access to TransitAccess to Transit

On-street parking – a barrier

for pedestrians.

Unimproved Bus Stop: Vermont St.Unimproved Bus Stop: Vermont St.

Capitol HighwayCapitol Highway

SW Palatine & 64SW Palatine & 64th:th:

Students walking home from school bus stopStudents walking home from school bus stop

Containers in the right of way: a barrier for pedestrians.

Vegetation in ROW: Barrier for PedestriansVegetation in ROW: Barrier for Pedestrians

Vermont Street Vermont Street –– Vegetation in ROWVegetation in ROW

Ashcreek Neighborhood Association Ashcreek Neighborhood Association Volunteer Workday: Trim vegetation Volunteer Workday: Trim vegetation in right of way; Jan. 24th, 2010in right of way; Jan. 24th, 2010

Ashcreek Neighborhood Association Ashcreek Neighborhood Association Volunteer Workday Volunteer Workday

SW 46SW 46thth Pl. & Vermont: School CrossingPl. & Vermont: School Crossing

Narrow shoulders and exposed ditches: a challenge for pedestrians.

SW Taylors Ferry Road (Cap Hwy to city SW Taylors Ferry Road (Cap Hwy to city limit): RTP Fed. Priority Project: Add bike limit): RTP Fed. Priority Project: Add bike lanes, shoulder widening, improve drainage, lanes, shoulder widening, improve drainage, construct sidewalks for access to transit. construct sidewalks for access to transit. Cost est. = $4.2 MillionCost est. = $4.2 Million

SW Vermont St & 62SW Vermont St & 62ndnd Place: RTP State ListPlace: RTP State List Multi modal bike & ped improvements Multi modal bike & ped improvements from SW 45from SW 45thth to Oleson Rd: to Oleson Rd: Cost estimate = $7.9 millionCost estimate = $7.9 million

Ditches to Swales: Bureau of Environmental Services storm-water management program; not an ADA walkway; not for on street parking.

(Before) (After)

BES Ditch to Swales Program: BES Ditch to Swales Program: Fanno & Tryon Creek WatershedsFanno & Tryon Creek Watersheds

Garden Home Rd: Use of finer gravel or paved shoulder would improve walking conditions.

SW 45SW 45thth Ave Ave –– Gravel Swale used for Gravel Swale used for On Street ParkingOn Street Parking

Capitol Hwy Green Street Curb ExtensionCapitol Hwy Green Street Curb Extension

City of Portland Pedestrian Design Guide: Section D;

Pathways and Stairs; page 9

Paved Shoulder on Taylors Ferry RdPaved Shoulder on Taylors Ferry Rd

Pedestrian Alternatives:

Gravel Pathway: An inexpensive solution: installed by homeowner?

Off street paths and trails in public ROW:Off street paths and trails in public ROW: Maintained and supported by neighbors. Maintained and supported by neighbors.

Off street trails in public ROW: Need for Off street trails in public ROW: Need for maintenance & improvement: clear vegetation, maintenance & improvement: clear vegetation,

add gravel, convert to asphalt or add gravel, convert to asphalt or

permeable pavers?permeable pavers?

SW Urban Trails: SW Urban Trails: Supported by the SW Supported by the SW Community Plan and Community Plan and

SW Neighborhoods, Inc.SW Neighborhoods, Inc.

Pedestrian Alternatives:

Asphalt Pathway on Garden Home:

Estimated cost $34.00 / square yard.

This is the least cost solution that would meet This is the least cost solution that would meet ADA compliance; preferred alternative in AshcreekADA compliance; preferred alternative in Ashcreekneighborhood survey. neighborhood survey.

City of Portland Pedestrian Design Guide: Section D; Pathways and Stairs; page 12

Standard street design with bike lane, curb, gutter and sidewalk

(Oleson Road / WA County Example)

Estimated costs ofconcrete sidewalk:

$40.00 square yard

Does not include: Preliminary engineeringEnvironmental permittingPublic involvement

Infill Development & Waivers of RemonstranceInfill Development & Waivers of Remonstrance

A waiver of remonstrance means that a property is A waiver of remonstrance means that a property is automatically counted in favor of a street automatically counted in favor of a street improvement improvement for a future Local Improvement for a future Local Improvement District (LID). District (LID).

A remonstrance is a formal appeal to an action being A remonstrance is a formal appeal to an action being taken by City Council to form an LID.taken by City Council to form an LID.

The City receives waivers from the original developer The City receives waivers from the original developer in lieu of requiring a street improvement. The waiver in lieu of requiring a street improvement. The waiver discloses to property owners their future responsibility discloses to property owners their future responsibility to share in the cost of street improvements.to share in the cost of street improvements.

Infill with Sidewalks: SW 52ndInfill with Sidewalks: SW 52nd

SW Pedestrian Project Summary:Challenges: Scarce funding, added expense

due to topography, cooperation between city bureaus, preservation of neighborhood character, resistance to change among residents.

Opportunities: Reduce local dependence on autos for short trips, improved safety, community livability, resident’s health and fitness, multiple benefits to people and environment.