Meeting Notes 2001-07-12 [Part B]
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Portland State University PDXScholar Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation Oregon Sustainable Community Digital Library 7-12-2001 Meeting Notes 2001-07-12 [Part B] Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation Follow this and additional works at: https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/oscdl_jpact Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation, "Meeting Notes 2001-07-12 [Part B] " (2001). Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation. 324. https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/oscdl_jpact/324 This Minutes is brought to you for free and open access. It has been accepted for inclusion in Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation by an authorized administrator of PDXScholar. Please contact us if we can make this document more accessible: [email protected]. Priorities 2002 Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program 2002-2005 Project Ranking Public Comments June 12-July 11, 2001 METRO Priorities 2002 MTBP Project Ranking Public Comment Report July 12, 2001 This report is a compilation of public comments regarding funding priorities for the fiscal years 2002 - 2005 Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program (MTCP) in summer 2001. Public input was solicited on the ranking of projects from June 12 to July 11, 2001. A public comment meeting was held at Metro on Monday, June 18 from 6 to 9 pm. Comments have been summarized from that meeting, plus written communications (mail, fax and e-mail) and the telephone hotline. Anonymous letters and comments are not included in this summary. The report is divided into the following sections: 1. Summary of Comments - This section provides a general summary of all comments, written and oral, received during the public comment period, June 12 - July 11, 2001. 2. Oral Comments - This section contains a brief synopsis of oral comments received at a public comment meeting on June 18 at Metro. All comments have been summarized to best reflect each person's sentiments. Attachments to the oral comments are included at the end of this section. 3. Written Comments - This section includes written comments received during the public comment period from June 12 to July 11, 2001. Each written response has been summarized, similar to the oral comments, and all letters/cards are included in this report. 4. Post Cards - More than 100 pre-printed post cards were received regarding support of funding of the Springwater Trail. Since the post cards all supported funding for the same project, this section lists the names and addresses only. 5. Appendix - This section includes sample copies of public notices, advertisements, press releases and other associated materials. Please note that the comments received after this document was prepared will be compiled as a separate supplement to the Public Comment Report. Table of Contents Introduction Section One Summary of Comments 3 Section Two Oral Comments Received at the Public Meeting of June 18, 2001: Meeting Report, Metro Council Annex 11 Attachments 19 Meeting Report, Metro Room 370 31 Transportation Telephone Hotline Comments 51 Section Three Written Comments ...55 E-Mail Comments 126 Section Four PostCards 137 Section Five Appendix 143 Section One Summary of Comments Priorities 2002 Summary of Public Comments June 12, 2001 Introduction This report provides a summary of public comments received to date on transportation funding priorities in the 2002-2005 Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program (MTIP). All comments received during the public comment period, June 12 — July 11, 2001 are included. Both oral and written comments were received during a public comment meeting held on Monday, June 18 at Metro. The MTIP is a regional transportation funding program that identifies projects to be constructed or programs to be funded with federal transportation revenues over the next four years. Local jurisdictions submit transportation projects to Metro for funding consideration. Eligible projects range from freeways, roads and highways to buses, bicycle lanes, boulevards, pedestrian improvements and planning projects. For the first time, freeways improvements are in the proposed project list. A public comment packet, with project descriptions and the draft project rankings, was mailed to interested parties on request and available at the public comment meeting. The public was asked to comment on the following: 1. Of the transportation projects under consideration for funding, which do you think are most important? 2. Do you think that regional funds should begin to fund freeway improvements (work formerly paid for by the Oregon Department of Transportation)? 3. Does the recommended technical ranking seem reasonable? If not, why not? 4. Are there other project considerations that would interest decision makers?" 5. Do you have recommendations for the modal mix (freeways, roads, buses, bike lanes, sidewalks, etc.) of projects that should be included in the final package? Most comments focused on the first and last questions regarding the most important projects for funding and the modal mix desired. A public comment meeting was held at Metro on June 18, 2001. More than 50 oral comments were received by panel members consisting of Metro Councilors and JPACT members. All oral comments were summarized and may be found in Section 2. Comment cards may be found under Section 3, Written Comments. July 11, 2001 MTIP Priorities 2002 Project Ranking Public Comments Page 3 General Comments Many comments were received in favor of a balance of transportation investments, especially those that will reduce the number of cars on the road. Many of these comments requested that public transit be the top consideration, followed by bicycle and pedestrian paths. Bicycle advocates strongly requested more bike and pedestrian paths, noting that these multi-use paths would take cars off the roads during the peak commute times, as well as provide more weekend recreation. The value of bike and pedestrian improvements on non-freeway bridges was also stressed. Other general comments focused on the need for sidewalks in neighborhoods, and the need for more TDM projects in the region. Many comments related to safety of streets and crossings with the growth of traffic congestion. The TOD program in general was praised for providing public/private partnerships for successful mixed-use projects in high-density town centers. Summary of Comments Summary of all comments received A total of 460 comments, oral and written, were received on specific MTIP projects in the project ranking public process. The most support was shown for the bike projects (49 percent), road modernization (18 percent), boulevards (7.4 percent), and transit projects (6.7 percent). This represents a balance of project modes around the region, with bicycle trails (especially the Springwater Corridor) being the focus of this comment period. Fewer comments were received on pedestrian projects (5 percent), freight projects (4 percent), TDM projects (3 percent), TOD projects (2 percent), planning projects (1.5 percent) and road reconstruction (.04 percent). Project Comments by Mode Bike projects A total of 227 comments were received on all the bicycle projects, with the most received on the East Bank Trail/Spring water Trail. East Bank Trail/Springwater Trail A majority of bike comments (150) were in favor of the East Bank Trail/Springwater Trail Connector project. Of these comments, 112 were pre-printed post cards with Page 4 MTIP Priorities 2002 Project Ranking Public Comments July 11, 2001 personalized notes. It was a unified response, urging the linking of trails for bicyclists and pedestrians. Many people noted the potential to increase bicycle commuting and reduce the number of cars on the road by creating a trail to downtown Portland. The project is seen as a critical link to other regional trails, to OMSI and to the Eastbank Esplanade. Morrison Bridge Bicycle/Pedestrian Facility Many comments (38) were in favor of the multi-use pathway across the Morrison Bridge. It is considered a vital link to downtown Portland for bicyclists and pedestrians traveling to work and school, as well as for recreation. Gresham-Fairview Trail Twenty comments were received in favor of constructing this bike/ped path, to help gain more access to downtown Gresham, as well as more recreational opportunity. Fanno Creek Trail, Phase 2 Fourteen comments on the Fanno Creek Trail emphasized this trail as a critical link in the only bike path system in Washington County. Washington Street Boulevard Project PE: 12th/16th This project received four comments in favor of mixed-use bike, transit and pedestrian amenities as improving livability in Oregon City. Pedestrian Projects Twenty-seven comments were received on four pedestrian projects in the MTIP ranking process. The Jennings Avenue: 99E/Portland Ave. Ped Access Project This project received the most comments and support (11) of all pedestrian projects. Regional Pedestrian Access to Transit Program Eight comments stressed the need for more access to bus lines through more sidewalks and pedestrian amenities around the region. 257th Avenue Pedestrian Improvements Five comments were received on the need for improvements for pedestrians along this transit corridor. Molalla Ave. Boulevard Project Three comments stressed the need for boulevard status for Molalla Avenue. The other pedestrian projects received no comments. July 11, 2001 MTIP Priorities 2002 Project Ranking Public Comments Page 5 Boulevard