Pedestrian-Bicycle Bridge Concept Plan WEST a STREET
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Historic Footbridge between Oregon City and West Linn: 1888 June 2021 Oregon City-West Linn Pedestrian-Bicycle Bridge Concept Plan WEST A STREET I-205 West Linn WILLAMETTE FALLS DRIVE UPSTREAM CORRIDOR MOORES ISLAND WILLAMETTE FALLS 2 | Oregon City-West Linn I-205 ABERNETHY BRIDGE I-205 DOWNSTREAM CORRIDOR OR 99E HISTORIC ARCH BRIDGE WILLAMETTE RIVER MAIN STREET Oregon City Pedestrian-Bicycle Bridge Concept Plan | 3 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This project was a collaborative effort between the state, region, and local partner regulatory agencies, stakeholders, and the public. Project Partners Project Leadership Team Technical Committee • Councilor Mary Baumgardner, City of West Linn City Council • ODOT Staff: Magnus Bernhardt, Thomas Braibish, Justin Brandon, Jeffrey Buckland, Raymond Chong, Sarah Eastman, • Councilor Christine Lewis, Metro Council Robert Hadlow, Zachary Horowitz, David McDonald, David • Commissioner Denyse McGriff, Oregon City Commission Mendelson, Teresa Nowicki, Festus Obijiofor, Jennifer Pearce, James Wasch • Commissioner Paul Savas, Clackamas County Board of Commissioners • Oregon City Staff: James Graham, John Lewis • Rian Windsheimer, Region 1 Manager, ODOT • Oregon Metro Staff: Alex Gilbertson Project Advisory Committee Consultant Team • Pamela Barlow-Lind, Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians KITTELSON & ASSOCIATES, INC. • Kat Brigham, Confederated Tribes of Umatilla Indian • Marc Butorac, PE, PTOE, PMP, Project Manager Reservation • Susan Wright, PE, Project Principal • Kate Buehrig, Community at-large, Student/Youth • Nicholas Gross, Deputy Project Manager representative • Alex Garbier, Engineering Associate • Benny Dean, Army Corps of Engineers • Amy Griffiths, Transportation Analyst • Neil de Gelder, Belgravia Investments • Steve Rhyne, Associate Technician • Gregg Kiona, Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation • Sophia Semensky, Transportation Analyst • Nancy Kraushaar, Willamette Falls Heritage Foundation • Jon Sommerville, GIS Specialist • Dan Marsh, Community at-large • Katie Taylor, Publications Coordinator/Technical Editor • Andrew Mason, Willamette Falls Trust • Makenzie Cooper, Graphic Designer • Victoria Meinig, Downtown Oregon Association HDR, INC. • Abe Moland, Clackamas County • Brian Bauman, Environmental Project Manager • Brian Moore, Willamette Falls Legacy Project Manager • Andrew Johnson, Associate Vice President • Kurt Roedel, ODOT/SHPO Archaeology Liaison • Mikal Mitchell, PE, Senior Bridge Engineer • Ashton Simpson, Oregon Walks • Stacy Thomas, Communications and Engagement Lead • Raymond Tsumpti, Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs WE ALL RISE, LLC. Reservation of Oregon • Quincy Brown, Principal Consultant • Eric Underwood, Portland General Electric CONCISE COMMUNICATIONS • Ryan Webb, PE, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde • Cathy Chang, Technical Editor Community of Oregon PKS INTERNATIONAL • Shannon Wheeler, Nez Perce Tribe • Ping Khaw, Community Engagement Liaison Project Management Team • Sandra Hikari, Major Projects Planner, ODOT • Scott Hoelscher, Land Use Planner, Clackamas County • Erich Lais, Assistant City Engineer, City of West Linn • John Mermin, Staff Liaison, Metro • Abe Moland, Health and Transportation Impact Planner, Clackamas County • Maria Sipin, Active Transportation Liaison, ODOT Region 1 • Kristen Stallman, Major Projects Manager, ODOT Region 1 • Roy Watters, Archaeologist, ODOT Region 1 Cover photo: 1888 Oregon City suspension bridge from Oregon Historical Society Library • Dayna Webb, City Engineer, City of Oregon City 4 | Oregon City-West Linn TABLE OF CONTENTS Why is this plan needed? 7 Willamette Falls: The cultural and historical significance of place 11 Engaging the public 15 The Bridge: Deciding where to cross the river 21 Going from vision to reality 29 Supporting documentation 33 Pedestrian-Bicycle Bridge Concept Plan | 5 IN THIS CHAPTER: 3 Who is the bridge for? 3 What is the need for a dedicated bicycle-pedestrian bridge? 6 | Oregon City-West Linn WHY IS THIS PLAN NEEDED? Today, people walking, biking, or rolling between Oregon City, West Linn, Clackamas County, Metro Oregon City and West Linn have to cross the and ODOT through this Concept Plan explored Willamette River using the Historic Arch Bridge on potential alignments for a dedicated pedestrian- OR 43, a busy state highway. The current facilities bicycle bridge across the Willamette River between do not provide an accessible crossing for people Willamette Falls and the I-205 Abernethy Bridge. with limited mobility: cyclists share narrow travel lanes with fast-moving cars and trucks, and people This Concept Plan shares the results of that on foot or mobility devices must use steep and exploration, including the crossing alignments that narrow sidewalks that do not meet Americans with were considered, why the team decided to focus on Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. preferred corridors instead of alignments, and how the public and partner agencies participated in the The OR 43 Historic Arch Bridge is the only local process. and regional multimodal crossing in the area. The nearest upstream and downstream pedestrian and A future crossing will provide a safe, comfortable bicycle crossings are the Canby Ferry, 6 miles south, connection between important regional bike and the Sellwood Bridge, 8 miles north. and pedestrian routes and provide investment opportunities in West Linn and Oregon City, including the Old City Hall District, Industrial Heritage District, Willamette Falls Downtown District, and downtown Oregon City. Project Process Pedestrian-Bicycle Bridge Concept Plan | 7 There are a number of transportation improvements and redevelopment projects planned on both sides of the Willamette River. Major planned projects are shown in the graphic below. Creating this plan now preserves the preferred corridors and informs future project decisions. West Linn OR 43 Conceptual Design Plan I-205 Improvements OLD CITY HALL (Stafford Rd to OR 213) DISTRICT Willamette Falls Drive Concept Plan West Linn Waterfront Project INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE DISTRICT WILLAMETTE FALLS LEGACY PROJECT Today, facilities for people walking, biking, and Who Is the Bridge For? rolling along the Historic Arch Bridge are suitable only for roughly 15% of the general population - Local and regional communities, ‘Enthused & Confident’ and the ‘Strong & Fearless’. tribes, and businesses all have a Constructing a new dedicated pedestrian and stake in the creation of a new river bicycle bridge will address the needs of the crossing near the culturally and ‘Interested but Concerned’ population (55%), historically significant Willamette resulting in over 70% of the population, by providing separated and accessible facilities, comfortable for Falls. The project partners are all ages and abilities. committed to developing a pedestrian-bicycle bridge that FOUR TYPES OF USERS is responsive to the needs of Interested all the affected communities but Concerned 55% and is accessible, equitable, environmentally responsible, and safe. Enthused & Confident 10% Strong & Fearless 5% No Way, No How 30% 8 | Oregon City-West Linn • Identify a new low-stress, comfortable, and The Purpose and Need designated connection across the Willamette River to increase experience for people Statement walking, biking, and rolling – A new low- The following Purpose and Need statement was stress connection between Oregon City and developed, refined, and accepted by the Project West Linn will provide a key linkage within Advisory Committee (PAC), Project Leadership the southeastern portion of the Portland Team (PLT), Project Management Team (PMT), and metropolitan area and will be accessible for all the public: ages and abilities. The purpose of the Concept Plan is to identify and select a preferred • Connect existing and planned walking, biking, and rolling networks – A new connection for bridge alignment for people people walking, biking, and rolling across the walking, biking, and rolling across Willamette River will connect the existing and planned regionally significant active the Willamette River to connect transportation routes on the east (I-205 multiuse the communities of Oregon City path, Willamette Terrace, Riverwalk) and west (Willamette Falls Drive and OR 43 cycle tracks) and West Linn, enhance safety, and sides of the Willamette River. A new connection improve regional connectivity. will increase access to existing destinations and the future Willamette Falls Legacy Project Riverwalk. The Concept Plan will explore potential bridge alignments south of the I-205 Abernethy Bridge and within the vicinity of the existing Historic Arch • Enhance accessibility and cultural experience Bridge. Within the Concept Plan, the need for a new of historic resources – A new connection for bridge is to: people walking, biking, and rolling will provide access and the opportunity to experience and • Address Historic Arch Bridge deficiencies visually imagine the historic significance of the for people walking, biking, and rolling – The river, falls, and adjacent lands. Special attention existing historic Arch Bridge (OR 43) connects will be given to the indigenous connections the two communities and has served the region to the land, honoring active approaches for almost 100 years. The historic Arch Bridge to transportation across the river, and lacks dedicated facilities for people biking acknowledging traditional ways of movement and presents issues related to the Americans across waterways. with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 due to the existing grade