There's still time to add your voice to the Southwest Corridor Plan, as an online open house continues through July 31.
More than 500 people have participated in the open house so far, sharing their thoughts on projects they think are important, and if the process to narrow the list of projects reflects the values of their communities.
Many of the responses show that people think the screening process that planners will use to move the project forward will promote promising, cost-effective solutions for communities to achieve their visions.
Where is the list of projects?
Some people said they wanted to see a list of projects before they suggested what else the Southwest Corridor project should study. Said one person: "As the projects are not listed, just the sources of the projects, I have no idea as to what projects might need to be added."
Analysts with partner agencies are sorting hundreds of project ideas, ranging from suggestions from residents to plans already on the books in the southwest part of the region. New ideas, based on a look at the way things are right now in the Southwest Corridor, are also among the ideas that will be part of the study.
The open house questionnaire is meant to provide an opportunity for community members to write in their ideas, so they'll be included in the range of projects that will be studied.
What are people asking for?
Participants are adding helpful ideas to the list of projects that will be studied. Some of the suggestions so far talk about:
- Pedestrian facilities, including safety improvements and adding sidewalks
"Sidewalk improvements need to be dealt with now, as many communities in the metro area have none, or ditches, making it a dangerous or non-existent area to walk!"
"I'd like to see pedestrian-safety fixes (sidewalks, crossings, signal syncing, etc.) implemented as promptly as possible." - Highways, arterials and the freeway, including expanding the Highway 99W or Interstate 5, adding new roads and a westside extension of Interstate 205, changing signal timing, adding bus turnouts
"Add lanes to 99W and Tualatin-Sherwood Road."
"Expand the freeways and change the combination exit ramp/on ramps that exist now. One lane should not fight to get to the right while another lane fights to get to the left." - Signal timing and intersection improvements
"So much of our traffic problems in the Portland area are due to poorly managed traffic signals, and the technology exists to fix this." - Bike facilities, including adding or widening bike lanes
"Safe bicycle access from downtown Portland along the Barbur corridor. The lack of space for bicycles on several bridges is particularly dangerous." - Environmental, including street drainage improvements, invasive plant removal and adding street trees and native plants
"Use only native plants and trees in any new green streets, bioswales or other storm water management facilities, green walls,parks, other landscapes." - Transit improvements, both to local bus service or adding high capacity transit
"Create TriMet bus service between suburban cities not just from Portland to the suburbs."
"High capacity transit to southern Washington County should be a major priority."
A few comments addressed the need for maintenance of streets, bringing a sense of community to neighborhoods and developing employment centers in the corridor. Some respondents are adamant about leaving light rail or other high capacity transit out of the final plan, while others are saying that nothing should be done in the corridor ("Lower taxes and provide only essential services").
Who is responding?
Metro and project partners ask about participants' ethnicity and education level to measure whether they are reaching a cross-section of the public. About 7 percent of respondents identify as part of an ethnic minority and more than 50 percent have a post graduate degree, indicating that minorities and those without college degrees are, so far, underrepresented in the responses to the questionnaire.