Earlier this month, Lake Oswego to Portland Transit Project Community Advisory Committee members and neighbors met with city and project staff to discuss the community effects, cost differences, and ridership and development potential for the streetcar design options in their neighborhoods. The input from these breakout sessions will help frame local preferences at the October community advisory committee meeting.
The Lake Oswego discussion explored the possibilities for supporting Foothills redevelopment to enable downtown living, different housing choices and a more walkable community that will, in turn, support all kinds of residents, including young families and seniors. One participant noted that great transit is a good fit for a progressive city like Lake Oswego, providing an opportunity for Lake Oswego to lead by example. The Dunthorpe/Riverdale meeting focused on potential impacts, with concerns expressed about local access, parking, neighborhood character and property values. The Johns Landing discussion investigated the design option that best leveraged the investment to benefit the businesses and jobs, making the neighborhood a connected extension of the downtown urban environment.
At the October meeting, the committee representing community interests in the Highway 43 corridor will begin focused deliberations on the transit alternatives in the corridor. Members will continue discussions on the benefits and trade-offs of streetcar, enhanced bus or no-build alternatives, leading to the committee’s final recommendation this winter.