Table of Contents 1. Summary of Key Attributes: Emergency Link for I-5 Historical Context & Topography Regional TTrail Connections 2. Media Coverage: French Prairie Articles Opinion Editorials Bike-Ped Emergency 3. Supporters: Governments Bridge Organizations 4. Master Plan Excerpts: Briefing Booklet 1993 Bicycle and Pedestrian 1994 Parks & Recreation ______________________ 2007 Bicycle, Pedestrian and Transit March 2012 5. Public Involvement: Master Planning Efforts History of Public Input Planning Commission Metro MTIP Award Process 1. Summary of Key Attributes: Emergency Link for I-5 Historical Context & Topography Regional Trail Connections WILSONVILLE, OREGON French Prairie Bridge Regional Significance PORTLAND Reconnecting the missing, historic Willamette River link of the Portland see inset map WILSONVILLE area with the Willamette Valley k Champoeg State Park Key Attributes of the Proposed French Prairie Bridge at Wilsonville • Historic route reestablished at Boones Ferry crossing, linking the French Prairie region of the north Willamette SALEM Valley to the greater Portland metro area. • Safe bicycle and pedestrian access across the Willamette River without the hazards of using I-5. • Improved connectivity between the Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway and new Portland area Tonquin Trail. ALBANY • Emergency access to highway accidents for police, fire and CORVALLIS safety vehicles responding to incidents occurring on I-5. • Tourism development opportunities featuring French Prairie, the Willamette River Greenway, Champoeg State Heritage Park and “Oregon Wine Country.” • Practical, cost-effective transportation solution with multiple public benefits. EUGENE Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway Route For more information, contact the City of Wilsonville, Tonquin Trail Regional Trail k French Prairie Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge Public & Government Affairs Section, at 503-570-1505 1 - 1 French Prairie Bridge FrenchFrench Prairie Prairie Bridge EmergencyBike-Ped- LinkEmergency for I-5 Bridge WILSONVILLE,Emergency OREGON Link for I-5 urrently, when incidents occur near Boone urrently, when incidents occur near Boone CriticalBridge, Historical Interstate-5 and the entire surroundingSafe, Bridge, Multi-Modal Interstate-5 and the entire surrounding Transportationfreeway system shut Ldownink for hours. WithConnectivity Cfreeway system shut down for hours. With C an average daily traffic volume of 120,000 vehicles, an average daily traffic volume of 120,000 vehicles, Restoration In additionthis interstate to corridor providing - also a predominant seamless truck this interstate corridor - also a predominant truckroute - can become a regional bottleneck. The Theroute French - can Prairiebecome Bridgea regional will bottleneck. pro- Theconnectivity French Prairie Bridgebetween would servemulti-use as a rapid incident videFrench the missingPrairie Bridge link would to restore serve as a a rapid incidenttrailresponse systems, system, the allowing French for authorized Prairie vehicles to flow around freeway incidents. The bridge will give seamless,response non-highway system, allowing connection for authorized vehiclesBridgeODOT to will and other also Frenchresponsible provide Prairie authorities connec Bridge the -ability to betweenflow around Portland freeway and incidents. Eugene. The The bridge willtions giveclean to upthe faster; Westside andWater police, Trail fire,Express andConnections other emergency ODOT and other responsible authorities the abilityvehicles to will have faster access to incidents. At $20 bridge will link the metro regional Servicemillion,ilsonville is well(WES) positionedthe cost-effective to take advantage at thethe Willamette WilsonvilleFrench River, providing Prairie a great opportunityBridge to will clean up faster; and police, fire, and other emergencyalwaysof its regional locationbe available as the “Gateway” to theand reconnect commandeerable residents of the region with the river. as Existing an CommuterWPortland Metro Area and toRail serve as a major Station, access locations in Wilsonvillewith include Memorial Park and Tonquinvehicles Trail will have with faster the access Champoeg to incidents. Atwater $20 trail destination and stop over point. Situated Boones Ferry Park, while additional access points might between twoemergency major state parks — Champoeg utility. and Molalla be feasible at Meridian Landing, the Water Treatment Trail, and to the Willamette Val- service— Wilsonville is a logical beginning refueling point for float trips inPlant, and Fall Metro property. 2008. The million, the cost-effective French Prairie Bridgedown thewill Willamette River. Currently, both Champoeg Opportunities exist to develop facilities that foster and Molalla provide entry and exit opportunities for safe entry to the river for non-motorized watercraft at always be available and commandeerable asbridge anwater trail users. Day usealso facilities are facilitatesavailable at both access to and ley Scenic Bikeway. Building the the Boones Ferry Park terminus of the Bridge. While locations, and Champoeg also has yurts, cabins, and three bottleneck, impacting traffic formalizing a connection to the river, there is an group tent areas to provide overnight accommodations emergency utility. opportunity to develop a park and river access facility fromfor water trail users.the Willamette River Water French Prairie Bridge will connect that celebrates the historic uses of the River. This site throughout the Portland metro and Current east-west travel routes in Wilsonville provide offers opportunities to develop a possible storage the Portland metropolitan area to Trail,little opportunity which for people to know that stretches they are facility. It also from provides excellent Eugene economic development traveling along a river corridor. Businesses and residential opportunities for the Old Town along Boones Ferry Road North Willamette Valley regions. developments are situated in such a way that blocks as a tourist and traveler destination spot. the entire regional trail system of tovisual Portland. and physical access to the river. The French Prairie Bridge will create a strong link to and along The French Prairie Bridge would the Willamette Valley. serve as a rapid-incident, emer- gency response system, allowing Regional Trail Connections authorized vehicles access to an incident on the freeway. The bridge will give ODOT and other responsible authorities the ability to clean-up faster; and police, fire, and other emergency vehicles will The bridge will permit safe pas- have better access to incidents. sage across the Willamette River At $20 million, the cost-effective for both bicyclists and pedestrians, French Prairie Bridge will always who otherwise risk personal safety be available for this purpose and if they try to cross over the heavily will be fully commandeerable by trafficked I-5 Boone Bridge. The emergency services personnel. French Prairie Bridge will be the only safe bike-ped bridge over the Contextually and Willamette River located within a Environmentally 30-mile (48 km) stretch between Sensitive Newberg and Oregon City. The French Prairie Bridge is de- The proposed location of the signed to preserve the surrounding French Prairie Bridge is at the site Interstate Freeway riparian area and to complement of Boones Ferry, which operated Emergency Utility the design of nearby highway and from 1847 to 1954. Founded by Currently, when traffic incidents train bridges. The foundations of the grandson of famous explorer occur near Boone Bridge in Wilson- the bridge will be at higher eleva- Daniel Boone, the ferry and Boones ville, I-5 and the entire surrounding tions, and the bridge will touch Ferry Road were key components freeway system can shut-down down gently in a non-sensitive of a major land-based thoroughfare for hours. With an average daily portion of the river channel. With in pioneer times that linked fledg- traffic volume of 120,000 vehicles, graceful horizontal and vertical ing Portland with the pre-territorial this crucial West Coast interstate curves, the design of the bridge government at Champoeg, and corridor—also a predominant truck suggests the movement of skipping later the state capital of Salem. route—can become a regional stones across the river. Rev. 4/4/2008 1 - 2 French Prairie Bridge Restoring a Critical Transportation Link in the Willamette Valley 1 - 3 and other responsible authorities the ability to clean up faster; and police, fire, and other emergency vehicles will have faster access to incidents. At $20 million, the cost-effective French Prairie Bridge will always be available and commandeerable as an emergency utility. Critical Historical Transportation Link Restoration The French Prairie Bridge will provide the missing link to restore a seamless connection between Portland and Eugene. The bridge will link the regional Tonquin Trail with the Champoeg Trail, and to the Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway. This will connect Portland, the largest city in the state, to the entire regional trail system. Multi-Modal Connectivity The bridge will provide critical connections to Wilsonville’s commuter rail (service beginning in Fall 2008), as well as to the Willamette River water trail system. Interstate Freeway Emergency Utility Contextually & Environmentally Sensitive Currently, when incidents occur near Boone Bridge, Interstate-5 and the entire surrounding freeway The French Prairie Bridge is designed to preserve system shut down for hours. With an average daily the surrounding