Executive Summary

TAYLORS FERRY ROAD VISION PLAN

from Capitol Highway to the County Line
Joint Neighborhood Task Force
Report and Recommendations

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Even though SW Taylors Ferry Road (TFR) west of Capitol Highway is designated a Neighborhood Collector Street it remains inhospitable to pedestrians and bicyclists. It has never been upgraded to modern standards.

TFR remains what it originally was, a paved county road with ditches on the side. There are no sidewalks, no bike lanes and no bus shelters. Traffic moves too fast. It does not serve well as the area’s “main street.”

The City of Portland is not unaware of these facts. The problem is there is no money to build the upgrades.

The number and scope of transportation needs throughout the city far exceeds the funds available. Projects like TFR are put off into the future.

The City’s Transportation System Plan (TSP), adopted in 2002, is meant to guide and coordinate the City’s transportation investments over the next 20 years. The TSP includes: “Project #90064 Taylors Ferry, SW (Capitol Hwy - City Limits): Bicycle & Pedestrian Improvements. Provide bicycle lanes, including shoulder widening and drainage, and construct sidewalk for access to transit (40th - 60th). Portland $3,000,000 (Years 6 - 10).” Again, there is simply no money to implement this project.

In 2003 citizens from Ashcreek and Crestwood Neighborhood Associations formed a task force to address these conditions. They worked with City staff to explore alternatives and lower cost options that could be implemented in phases over time.

Overall Concept:

• Work with partners to improve TFR (jurisdictions, advocacy groups, property owners, neighborhood residents)
• Publish an overall “vision plan” document for the study area (Capitol Hwy to County Line)
• Divide the study area into planning segments
• Implement in phases

Phase One (easy):

• Use existing side streets & unimproved ROWs both north and south of TFR to create safe side routes for Bikes & Peds. Several overgrown ROW sections must be cleared to make the side routes accessible (see map for details)
• Install permanent maps at key locations to inform neighborhood about the safe side routes
• Remove plant encroachments on existing TFR ROW by working with property owners first, then City enforcement second
• Spread gravel on selected TFR shoulder areas to improve ped conditions
• Work with jurisdictions (ODOT, Metro, PDOT, City of Tigard and Washington County) to better manage traffic impacts on TFR (such as speeding, use of TFR as a diversion route)
• Require new development on TFR to install interim pedestrian paths and sign a waiver of remonstrance for full improvements when feasible
• Request traffic calming techniques and infrastructure improvements such as:
• speed enforcement by police
• speed enforcement by automated, self-contained reader boards
• speed enforcement by photo radar
• curb extensions at key locations
• Four-way stop signs at 55th & 62nd

Phase Two (not so easy):

• Widen road base to make room for bike lanes
• Apply new asphalt, stripe for bike lanes
• Build simple, separated ped paths that meet ADA requirements
• Develop “Green Street” stormwater management solutions
• Add left turn lanes on TFR at the traffic signal at 48th

Phase Three (more challenging; longer term)

• Seek engineering funding and make plans to widen the narrow land bridge (just west of Capitol Hwy)
• Seek construction funding and build wider land bridge
• Work with City of Tigard and Washington County to insure TFR is not inundated with traffic; consider developing a connection with SW 80th to Pacific Highway.
• Work with ODOT to consider changing location of Capitol Hwy exit to alternate location
• Seek funding to eventually build the complete TSP project #90064