Tom, thanks for coming to
the
Pedestrian Advisory Committee.
Attached is the note I mentioned relating to the costs and
benefits of
extended shoulders.
SWTrails PDX met last week and unanimously requested a letter
be sent
to you to you to propose the Portland Bureau of Transportation
select a
candidate to do a demonstration project for a combined
extended
shoulder for pedestrians and a climbing bike lane for the bike
blvd.
We propose SW Marquam Hill Road for the following
reasons:
1. Marquam Hill Road is on the very popular tourist oriented
4T Trail
route, and many out of town walkers traverse it, mainly going
downhill. Metro considers the 4T the most popular of
thier many trails
in the Walk There book of trails published by Metro and on
line under
the same name. Under current conditions, walkers must
walk with
traffic to the point near where Marquam Hill Road connects to
SW Gibbs,
where the signage suggests they change sides of the
road. If one were
to walk facing traffic on this street where there is no room
off the
asphalt for walkers, one risks being hit by fast moving
autos going up
hill.
2. The Marquam Hill Road Neighborhood Greenway is one of the
key areas
where a climbing bike lane is needed to make bicycle travel
safer. The
route is steep and bicylces must travel slow on the uphill
climb. A
combination climbing bike lane and a two way pedestrian path
would be
much safer for all parties. Many commuters use this
route for walklng
and bicycling to OHSU and the VA. Having a safer route
will encourage
more to use the route.
3. We need a physical example of how such a combination
extended
shoulder would work, and what it costs in this location
and
construction environment. I find having physical
examples is very
important. We need to move from discussion to
actually doing a real
world example, work out the issues, so we can do more of these
low cost
alternatives elsewhere in our city.
Please keep us informed of the progress on implementing this
request.
--
Don Baack
6495 SW Burlingame Place
Portland OR 97239
503 246 2088
baack@q.com