SW Neighborhoods, Inc.

Vermont from 30th to 37th Tues., April 1, 7 - 9 pm Mittleman Jewish Community Center, 6651 SW Capitol Hwy 35th from Stephenson to Arnold Thurs., April 3, 7 - 9 pm Jackson Middle School, 10625 SW 35th Vermont from 45th to Shattuck Tues., April 8, 7 - 9 pm Mittleman Jewish Community Center, 6651 SW Capitol Hwy Hamilton from 39th to 60th Pl. Thurs., April 10, 7 - 9 pm Bridlemile School, 4300 SW 47th Drive More than 5,000 property owners within a half-mile of four study areas have recently received letters, surveys and invitations to open houses to explore Halo Local Improvement Districts (LIDs) in their neighborhood. Last September, Southwest Neighborhoods, Inc. (SWNI) Transportation Committee recommended that Portland Department of Transportation (PDOT) and local neighborhood teams study four street segments for pedestrian and bicycle improvements. Neighborhood representatives assembled a project team for each pilot project. The task of the teams is to identify improvement alternatives and to evaluate project costs versus project benefits. The neighborhood teams had a kick-off meeting last November and began working with the help of the engineering firm OTAK. Now, people living within a half-mile of the project streets have received surveys and cover letters publicizing four public open houses, one for each of the street segments. Agendas for the open houses are not finalized yet, but will generally follow this pattern: 1) Presentation by the neighborhood team on their role and by OTAK on the preferred alternative they have identified. 2) OTAK’s estimate of costs. 3) Information from PDOT on ways to pay the costs. Commissioner Adams’ initial idea was to pay for the improvements with assessments on properties in broad oval areas circling the street segments (halo local improvement districts). But subsidies may be found to cover some of the costs. 4) Questions and comments from the public. Background Residents of southwest Portland have been concerned for many years about the lack of pedestrian and bicycle facilities in their part of the city. Urban streets should include facilities for motor vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians in order to best serve the public. However, it has not been possible in the past to construct all of the needed improvements with public funding. City Commissioner Adams met with the SWNI Transportation Committee in July 2006 and recommended that residents address the problem locally, using alternative designs acceptable under the city’s Pedestrian Design Guide. Commissioner Adams suggested using the “Halo” Local Improvement Districts (LIDs) to fund our needed improvements. Under a conventional LID, most or all of the participation in an LID is by property owners abutting a proposed local improvement. A Halo LID is based on the principle that many more properties enjoy the benefits of improvements on major streets beyond just the abutting properties. This would include properties a distance away but in close enough proximity to use the improvements. With a larger number of benefiting properties, the project costs are shared with many benefiting properties, which make the individual shares more affordable. SWNI took the challenge. SWNI’s transportation committee reviewed 10 candidate projects with the help of PDOT and its contractor, OTAK, where pedestrian and bicycle improvements are needed. Four pilot projects were selected for study. If a local improvement district project were to be initiated by the neighborhood and approved by the city council, property owners abutting the proposed project streets and located within walking distance from the project streets would be obligated to contribute the major share of the money needed for engineering and construction. We will be providing information at the open houses on how local improvement districts are formed, options for equitably sharing costs, and financing options. We are seeking comment and participation from residents. Affected residents have been mailed an opinion survey for them to express their thoughts on the proposed projects, and we have invited neighbors to attend an open house neighborhood meeting on these projects. If you have questions or would like to learn more, please contact Leonard Gard, the SWNI program manager, at 503-823-4592, or leonard@swni.org. Also, the Portland Office of Transportation (PDOT) Pedestrian Design Guide has numerous illustrations and photographs of pedestrian facility designs that meet city and federal standards. You can view these at the PDOT website. Type www.portlandonline.com/transportation, click on “Permits and Guidelines” and then on “Pedestrian Design Guidelines.” We want to make clear that no local improvement district have been formed yet, and no one is being asked to contribute any amount of money as part of this study. We are simply looking at conceptual designs and potential project cost information and want input as early as possible. Thoughts and opinions from residents will help the project teams as they work through the complex design and funding issues. If you have received a survey; we want to know what you think. Mail, fax, or hand-deliver your survey to the SWNI office in the Multnomah Center (room 4) at the intersection of SW 31st Avenue and Capitol Highway. The mailing address is SWNI, 7688 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219. The fax number is 503-823-3161. To help ensure equal access to city programs, services and activities, the City of Portland will reasonably modify policies/procedures and provide auxiliary aids/services to persons with disabilities. Call 503-823-2036 or Leonard Gard at 503-823-4592 with such requests.