Public Input September 1 through October 10, 2017
October 10, 2017
The following pages document public input received since the last Steering Committee on September 11, 2017. Content includes copies of letters, emails and comment forms received, plus a log of public events attended by staff. Personal information such as email addresses and phone numbers have been removed to protect the privacy of participants.
Group Meetings and Tabling Events Event Date Location Metro Staff Other Staff/CAC Staff NotesSt. Anthony's Church (outreach to Vietnamese and Spanish speaking parishioners)
6/11/2017 9905 SW McKenzie St, Tigard, OR 97223
Westside Economic Alliance 6/21/2017 Chris Ford
Portland Planning land use meeting 6/22/2017 NUNM Eryn Kehe Jennifer Koozer Lots of questions about the bridgehead project and how it would work.Tigard Balloon Festival 6/23/2017 Cook Park, Tigard Eryn Kehe
See belowTigard Balloon Festival 6/24/2017 Cook Park, Tigard Susan Hanson, Buff Brown, Jennifer
KoozerTalked to 70‐80 peopleMet many people who said they would like to use a light rail train to Tigard.A couple of people said they were opposed to light rail, but didn't stay to explain.Some questions about crime.
Far SW Neighborhood Association 6/27/2017 Comfort Suites, 11340 SW 60th Ave Eryn KeheMatt Bihn
Jennifer Koozer • 30‐year old agreement, an early 1990s, Good Neighbor Agreement between PCC, Far Southwest, West Portland Park prohibits vehicular access to PCC via 53rd Ave. • 1,000 people per day on 53rd Ave would be a significant change• Today there is traffic congestion around 53rd Ave; cars speed on Pomona to get around it (?)• Why doesn’t PCC shuttle buses travel from station?• PCC had a plan in the past to divert traffic from Lesser/49th/Haines, shuttle buses are part of that• Concerns about security with more people on 53rd Ave
Downtown Tigard Business Alliance 6/28/2017 12850 SW Ash Street, Tigard Eryn KeheMatt Bihn
Jennifer Koozer
Not many questions or commentsPortland Planning land use meeting 6/30/2017 Multnomah Arts Center ‐ Room 30 Chris Ford David Aulwes
Muslim Cultural Festival 7/8/2017 Director's Square, Portland Eryn KeheSamuel GarciaYuliya LeeAndrea PastorAmbar Espinoza
Many people said they were supportive of the project.Some people had never heard of the project before.People asked when it would be built.
Bridgeport Farmer's Market 7/18/2017 Bridgeport Village Eryn KeheYuliya LeeAlan Gunn
Traffic is really bad and something needs to be done.This is a good and idea. I support it.I would ride MAX to BridgeportQuestions about crime and if it travels on the light rail from one location to another.Two people said they were opposed to the project.When will it open/start operating?Where we are currently in the process?Who will make the decisions to determine the final route and stops?How is different from WES?Are there any future plans to connect to places that are not currently on the proposed route? (Salem, Clackamas)What is the feedback so far? (negative/positive?)Who is going to pay for it? Who’s project is it? (many guessed TriMet)What would stop the project from moving forward? (in response that it may or may not be build)
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Group Meetings and Tabling Events Event Date Location Metro Staff Other Staff/CAC Staff Notes
Jackson Middle School SUN school summer program
7/20/2017 TriMet Administrative Office Jennifer Koozer
20 students in attendance Tigard Farmer's Market 7/23/2017 Downtown Tigard Farmer's Market Jennifer Koozer, TriMet
Evelyn Murphy (CAC) Talked to about 60 people. Two anti, two skeptical, the rest very in favor. Tualatin Crawfish Festival 8/4 and 8/5/ Tualatin Community Park Eryn Kehe
Chris FordSamuel GarciaLucy Folau
Christina Deffebach188 peopleThat would be great – now I take WES and transfer at BeavertonA bike trail from downtown to Bridgeport to get on MAX would be great I would definitely use MAX for trips to Portland if it were availableI live in unincorporated Washington County outside of Tigard and was really upset that I didn’t get to vote on the Tigard Ballotthat was against light railImprove WESAdd more bus serviceOne reason to add more bus service is that the lift vehicles for disabled only operates when TriMet service operates. That means no all day disabled service during the day, evenings, weekends when there is no bus service. Someone said she likes the project but never votes to support anything that raises property taxes because property taxes are already too high.
20 youth ages of 13‐18 yearsFeedback about the SW Corridor Light Rail project:• Too young to drive and want more options• Access to other parts of the region• Reduce the carbon footprint• Help with food deserts• To keep roadways open so I can drive• Provide multimodal options including bike paths• Consistent route expectations• Go see friends• Reduce cost of driving and getting places• Reduce traffic and ease of getting places• Consistent and shorter travel times so I can sleep longer; currently traffic is so inconsistent to get to school• See growth in my neighborhood so that more services and places to go can be developed• Bring more bus service to my neighborhood so it’s easier to get around• Bring communities together• Bring people together• Create a sense of community pride in the new places • Go to new places that are farther away without the need for a driver license• Creates places you want to be• Timely service• Revitalize the downtown community (Tigard)• Hate sitting in traffic – gives commuters options• More options• Reliable service that won’t change from day to day• Connectivity to more places• Good use of resources• Opens up opportunities for more people
Leah RobbinsAmy Fandrich
TriMet Administrative Office8/9/2017Portland State University Transportation Camp
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Group Meetings and Tabling Events Event Date Location Metro Staff Other Staff/CAC Staff NotesMultnomah Days 8/19/2017 Multnomah Village Chris
Matt BihnTalked with 156 people• Mostly positive comments• High level of awareness about the projectComment Card comments:"I would love to see sidewalks on Vermont between 45th and Olson How can I advocate for that?"
"Yes! Please let this proposed project pass. I work in Downtown Portland and Must bike ride 7 miles south along Barbur Blvd. to get back home in the Markham Neighborhood. Currently, I have a 45 minutes ride home by bike using Barbur. A MAX line to Tigard would reduce my commute time and make it a safer ride. Thanks!"
"If Barbur stays two lanes the whole way, I will support it. If they take away one of the lanes, I do not."Hillsdale Farmer's Market 8/27/2017 Hillsdale Eryn Kehe
Samuel Garcia Talked with 103 people. The most discussed topic was the Barbur or I‐5 adjacent route options. The majority were supportive of the Barbur option because people wanted to see the roadway change. Concerns were expressed about construction impacts to the surrounding community, needs for improved local bus service and also about needed sidewalks.Comment card comments included:"Excited about the possibility of renovating Barbur as a part of the project. Don't maroon light rail along I‐5! Such a great potential would be lost. Keep up the great work of incorporating bike and pedestrian options.""Prefer Barbur option. Prefer to have it change and improve it's attractiveness.""What is the point of light rail if you have to drive to get to it? We need more reliable local bus service first.""Prefer the through route because of the potential for more riders. You can build up (redevelop) around it. This option has more redevelopment potential. Also prefer Barbur alignment option because of the redevelopment potential." ‐ Brian"The construction of a Barbur Blvd. option would be really disruptive for neighbors trying to drive into downtown Portland using Barbur Blvd."
Tigard Community Roundtable 8/31/2017 St. James Episcopal Church, Tigard Eryn Kehe Jennifer Koozer About 28 people were in attendance.After a brief presentation, participants asked questions about the light rail alignment and the planning process.
Tigard Street Fair & Latino Festival 9/9/2017 Downtown Tigard Matt BihnSamuel GarciaAmbar Espinoza
Jennifer KoozerTalked to a lot of people. I estimated that during the day we talked to around 500 people. I spoke with one person who was anti‐LRT, a few ambivalent and everyone else was eager. Where it’s potentially going is what people wanted to know. The second most common comment was “traffic is getting so much worst….” With an appeal to build it sooner.
OHSU Farmer's Market 9/19/2017 OHSU Samuel GarciaCallan RoemerChevy PhamAlan
Talked to 34 people. 3 comment cards. More light rail! There is no way to expand the freeway system in the metro area, plus it uses clean energy, it's a win/win! (Brogan Conforth)
Would love to see a bike trail or lanes up Barbur Blvd. Love the project. Excited to see what happens (Ed King)
I do not think the light rail will not be able to keep up with the expanding population. I believe this project is an expensive bandaid on the gaping wound that is our crumbling infrastructure. I think there should be significant lobbying and tax incentives for companies that can cut back on fuels that emit carbon. Automated and autonomous vehicles should be put in place to lessen the traffic jams. The roads have no room to go wider but the only way is up. Multi‐level highways will not be financially or structurally feasible. (Philip Dostie)
PCC Faculty event 9/18/2017 PCC Sylvania campus Jennifer KoozerTalked to about 26 people. Many thougt it was a good idea. A lot of the faculty travel to other PCC campuses and must drive.
Tigard Farmer's Market 9/24/2017 Downtown Tigard Chevy Pham Talked to 49 people. 1 comment card received."Please run light rail down Barbur. Also, bus service to Tigard H.S. (Ellen Witham)
St. Anthony's Church (outreach to Vietnam9/24/2017 St. Anthony's Catholic Church, Tigard Eryn KeheChevy PhamSam GarciaAmbar Espinoza
Talk to 40 people. Tabled on the lawn just outside the exit doors, and provided free food (moon cakes from Costco, pan dulce from Sanchez Taqueria). Vietnamese mass was shy to get the free food and come to our table, but Spanish mass priest came out and the entire congregation followed with lots of questions and not shy at all. The most popular question was, "Why not all the way to Wilsonville?" Free food was a hit.
CPO 4M 9/27/2017 CPO 4M Eryn Kehe
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Eryn Kehe
From:Sent: Sunday, October 01, 2017 8:52 PMTo: Southwest Corridor PlanSubject: concerns
Categories: Response in progress-Eryn
I live very near what will become the 53rd Street station and parking area.
There's no question that traffic along I5 and Barbur Blvd has become an unacceptable problem that needs solving.
I am very grateful for bus service, especially Express bus 94 from Barbur Transit Center to down town. I like buses: Buses are flexible, they can change routes as circumstances warrant. They can change frequency of operation as needed. AND you cannot board a bus without showing some proof of payment, plus there is also a bus driver in eyesight of all the passengers . These make them A Whole Lot Safer than Light Rail.
I've ridden light rail to the airport, and its a convenience for sure, but I've seen plenty of people get on and off who were just getting out of the weather and of questionable character. The 'honor" system of payment is a farce, and the recent murders happened in connection with light rail not a bus.
I am not happy about inevitable vagrants in my neighborhood as a result of light rail. I would support increased bus service and increased parking areas to support bus travel. If light rail does have to happen, PLEASE change the system so its safer i.e. pay to board and/or have officials on all cars.
Sincerely Dolores Daigle
From: Sent: To:
Subject:·
Categories:
Hi,
StevefMFriday, September 15, 2017 7:51 PM Southwest Corridor Plan Monorail not lightrail
Response in progress-Samuel, Completed_responded and filed
After reading about the SW Corridor Problems, it became clear that monorail is the solution. As one member
of the steering committee noted, it is better to get it right than on time.
Monorail is not limited by block sizes downtown so it can move far more people than light rail.
Most importantly, it does not interfere with existing roads. Light rail is known for literally destroying road
vehicular capacity as in North Portland. Not counting all the signalized crossings.
Monorail is SAFE. No more accidents and people killed while walking distracted.
BYD Motors already did the work. Check out the website. Reconsider why light rail and not monorail. Los
Angeles is reviewing it according to articles.
http://www.byd.com/news/news-364.html
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From: Sent: To: Subject:
Categories:
Hello,
StevefM Saturday, September 16, 2017 9:41 AM Southwest Corridor Plan Too many Station stops reduces reason to ride
Completed_responded and filed
Upon examining the number of stations shown on the map between Portland and Tigard there is a very large
travel time problem with the current plan.
Time saving is the most important feature of light rail, and it is being squandered with a meandering route
that has far too many stops between Portland and Tigard.
To be efficientand fast, the number of stops between Tigard and Portland need to be reduced drastically. This
is not a bus system and should not be treated as such. The area between Tigard and Portland is already
extensively served by buses and does not need all the light rail stops. It works as a major disincentive to ride
the light rail.
Stops should only occur at major park and ride areas that are served by buses. The area being served is
dependent upon bus and car, not walking. This is not expected to change in the next 50 years either.
In Tigard the route appears to be a private taxi system. Again, to be efficient, the line cannot meander
through the area. It needs to be direct and easy to understand for new riders. As shown, it seems to entertain
a circling effect which will cause confusion and use up precious time.
When 1-5 is clogged, 99W is the relief valve. Light rail that reduces the capacity of 99W as it did on interstate
avenue is needed like a sore thumb.
Also important, whatever is decided, needs to plan on serving the area to the west of Tigard and should
already be part of the plan. Also, an eventual connection with Salem is desperately needed, but only if the
number of stops is limited with the primary function to move people back and forth between Salem and
Portland.
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