TriMet has issued the results of bicycling related surveys they conducted last August via the web, and subsequently onboard MAX trains. Here is an executive summary of their executive summary:
Background:
According to a recent national study, integrating bikes and transit:
Extends the range of transit
Provides greater mobility options to customers at the beginning and end of their transit trips
Has the potential to increase transit ridership
Encourages cycling by giving cyclists the option of avoiding unsafe streets, hills, fatigue, and poor conditions (darkness and weather) if bikes are allowed onboard
Has the potential to decrease congestion and help reduce air pollution by providing an alternative to driving
Back Story:
Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams believes that a way to fast track the addition of sidewalks and other street improvements to what are called collector streets could be through the use of Halo LIDS, a concept that would spread the cost of improving streets across a larger benefiting area versus a conventional LID (Local Improvement District), which is typically used for local streets in which most or all of the benefiting properties abut the street being improved.
In Bridlemile SW Hamilton and SW Shattuck are its two collector streets.
Last year, Sam Adams asked neighborhood associations to suggest which of their neighborhood collector streets could most benefit from sidewalks or other pedestrian improvements. And after some discussion those attending the January 2007 BNA meeting voted to designate SW Shattuck from Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy to SW Hamilton, and SW Hamilton from SW 60th Place to SW 42nd, as the portions of Bridlemile's collector streets that are most in need of pedestrian improvements.
Representatives from PDOT, Otak, the neighborhood, and others will talk about the Hamilton Halo LID opportunity, answers questions, and listen to your concerns and suggestions regarding the proposed Hamilton Halo LID pilot project.
• Multnomah Historical Association’s president, Patti Waitman-Ingebretsen will share information about the upcoming Multnomah Village Centennial August 8 – 17, 2008.
• Bev Vogt will give a brief update on the Hamilton Halo LID pilot project.
The trail is named for Portland’s alternative transportation modes: trail, tram, trolley and train. It is designed to be a tourist attraction that shows off Portland’s diverse transportation alternatives. The trail will start at the zoo, go through the west hills, with some spectacular view stops along the way. Then, walkers will board the tram (for free since it is the downhill leg) and ride to south waterfront. From there people would take the streetcar and MAX back to the zoo, using just one two-zone TriMet ticket.
On November 16th, 2007 The BNA Halo LID core team, Erica Rooney (the Otak project manager), and Amanda Ownings Otak Civil Engineer walked both sides of SW Hamilton from SW 60th to SW39th to identify challenges, opportunities, solutions and alternatives for each section of the street. Below are a few of the many challenges, followed by one or two possible alternative pathway designs (from Table D-1.pdf, 284KB PDOT Alternative Pathway Concepts) that might be used.
These alternative pathway designs are meant to show what might be possible, and different solutions can be applied along the different sections of SW Hamilton depending on topography and other factors. The street widith between the yellow center line and the white fogline is 10', street right of way along Hamilton varies greatly from just a few feet to 15-20' outside of the white fog line. So the notes below each photo are just meant to be illustrative discussions of the types of challenges and issues with some of the improvements that might be used if there is sufficient right of way to accommodate them, neither are complete... how would you solve or balance them? Add your own solutions here (see bottom of page for how). More to come here soon.
Marianne Fitzgeralds, chair of the SWNI Transportation Commitee will talk and answer questions about the opportunities for pedestrian and bicycle improvements that SW Hamilton’s recent selection as a Halo LID pilot project makes possible.
Come share your ideas and concerns on how to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety along SW Hamilton.
For more than 40 years we have been promised a traffic signal at this intersection. Enough is enough. Only organized grassroots citizen activism is likely to bring enough pressure on our public officials to improve the situation at this intersection. Here’s a plan for action.
Come help free existing pavement of dirt and debris and make Hamilton a safer place to walk, run, and bike.
NOTE: The heavy rain is predicted for Sunday has materialized, so this Sunday's event is officially canceled. Hope to see you next Sunday - see the Work Parties page for details about that event.
In addition to working on an improvement plan, there's 6-36" of already existing pavement available now! All that needs to be done is to clean the dirt and vegetation off it. See to see photos of sections that have already be cleared here.
To report overgrown vegetation in the public right of way, call Tim Thrienen with the Bureau of Maintenance (BOM) at 503.823.1750
To report overgrown brush or vegetation on private property call the Nuisance Hotline at 503.823.7306
If you are interested in helping clean up streets and/or working on a Hamilton and Shattuck Pedesterian Improvement Committee please subscribe to the BNA-HSPi email list .
As of 10/07 thanks to PDOT and volunteers almost all of SW Hamilton is now complete. Just some final sweeping will be needed once the leaves and needles are done falling off the trees.
Here are the 10 potential sites for halo LIDs. The transportation committee is considering choosing two or three of these sites for demonstration projects.
