Metro councilor Carlotta Colette joined Oregon City mayor Alice Norris today at the city's waterfront enhancement dedication celebration. The enhancements include three projects – improvements to McLoughlin Blvd. between 10th and 15th streets and the Willamette Terrace river viewing deck, the completion of John Storm Park, and the first major segment of the non-motorized Willamette River Trail.
McLoughlin Blvd. now has improved access to the Willamette River. The work also contributes significantly to Oregon City's role towards Metro's 2040 Growth Plan. Metro allocated $3.9 million through the Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program, which allocates money from the federal government to pay for a variety of transportation projects, and is managed by Metro.
"Metro is proud to be a partner in building a better Oregon City," said Councilor Collette. "I want to thank the city, the Oregon Department of Transportation and involved residents for contributing to the success of these projects."
The boulevard improvements are part of Metro's ‘Boulevard' program. The retrofit helps make McLoughlin safer and more comfortable for people on foot, and reconnects Oregon City's downtown with the river. Key street features are landscaped medians, widened sidewalks, added and improved pedestrian crossings, street trees, on-street parking, new traffic signals, a new 12th St. extension, a riverfront esplanade viewing area, and dramatic public art features.
The efforts by Oregon City to revitalize its downtown - including these projects - are consistent with Metro's goals for safer and more livable communities throughout the region.
Metro will be partnering with the city and ODOT to build the next phase of the McLoughlin project in 2012-2013, bringing similar boulevard enhancements and accompanying safety benefits northward to the Clackamas River.