Portland - Milwaukie Light Rail

[JordanL]

Originally Posted by NJD

Yes. With the congruence of the Springwater trail, Eastbank Esplanade, Clinton and Lincoln bike boulevards, and a potential new connector along the MAX tracks from the river to 17th Avenue (as mentioned also in the LPA decision).

I would only ever walk through there grudgingly...

The Eastbank Esplanade will never be a generally attractive place to walk until they do something about I-5 and the Marqam Bridge.

[alexjon]

I think it's 12' on both sides?

[zilfondel]

Originally Posted by JordanL

From all those people walking to the south eastside industrial area?

You clearly haven't been down there when its busy. Last Saturday it took me almost 45 minutes just to walk across the Hawthorne bridge, because there were so many people.

They should have 12' pedestrian + 12' bicycle (eastbound) + 12' bicycle (westbound) at a minimum.

Originally Posted by JordanL

I would only ever walk through there grudgingly...

The Eastbank Esplanade will never be a generally attractive place to walk until they do something about I-5 and the Marqam Bridge.

Ten's of thousands of people use the Eastband Esplanade everyday. You don't have to, but that doesn't mean it is not used.

[JordanL]

Originally Posted by zilfondel

You clearly haven't been down there when its busy. Last Saturday it took me almost 45 minutes just to walk across the Hawthorne bridge, because there were so many people.

I take the Hawthorne bridge every day, however the Hawthorne Bridge dumps right into Tom McCall Waterfront Park, not a development area a mile south boxed in by the Marqam and Ross Island bridges.

Unless it's not crossing at the south waterfront.

Ten's of thousands of people use the Eastband Esplanade everyday. You don't have to, but that doesn't mean it is not used.

So somewhere on the order of 4-10% of the population of Portland uses the Easbank Esplanade everyday? Seeing as Trimet doesn't crack 20% on a busy day, I'm gonna have to say bullshit.

(And are you really trying to tell me you don't think that the construction and zoning around and of I-5 on the east bank impedes foot traffic?)

And for the record, my name is in the original pamphlet for the Eastbank Esplanade that Vera Katz had. She didn't even ask to use my name.

[zilfondel]

(And are you really trying to tell me you don't think that the construction and zoning around and of I-5 on the east bank impedes foot traffic?)

No, I'm saying quite the opposite: many people have to walk all the way up to the Hawthorne Bridge because you cannot cross at the Marquam or Morrison bridges. So, in fact, a new crossing would likely be a draw for additional people to cross the river by foot or bicycle, as it would be closer and more convenient than walking a 1/2 mile out of your way.

So somewhere on the order of 4-10% of the population of Portland uses the Easbank Esplanade everyday? Seeing as Trimet doesn't crack 20% on a busy day, I'm gonna have to say bullshit.

I do not know precisely how many people are using it; my point is that during the busy times of day it can be extremely crowded and "congested" by pedestrians and cyclists. Since the Hawthorne bridge has 2x10' sidewalks, it would seem prudent that this new bridge have larger ones, to accommodate Portland's increasing population.

For instance, ped & bike traffic on the bridges is increasing exponentially.


also...

More than five percent of city residents report that they usually bicycle to work. For those who do not use a bicycle as their primary means of transportation, another 9% report the bicycle as the "other mode" they use instead of their primary mode. While rates of bicycle use vary across the city, both for primary and secondary use, we see that approximately 14% of city residents reported using a bicycle for commuting in 2006. This is a significant increase from the reported 11.4% reported as recently as 2004.

[urbanlife]

14% percent, just another reason why I love this damn city.

[pdxman]

Just discovered Trimet's more organized, complete website on the south corridor project. Not sure how long its been there but here it is: http://www.trimet.org/pm/

[pdxtraveler]

Originally Posted by pdxman

Just discovered Trimet's more organized, complete website on the south corridor project. Not sure how long its been there but here it is: http://www.trimet.org/pm/

Great find! That has to be new, I was just on the Trimet site looking for info and it was pretty lacking. Though I noticed the openning date has moved out about 3 years (or is that my mistake). I thought it was 2012 not 2015. But with things in the world the way they are I am happy that is still in progress!

[65MAX]

Not 2012. The original completion date was 2013, then 2014, but that was never carved in stone (obviously). The timetable now seems a little more realistic.

[alexjon]

I'll post this in both threads: The Cable-Stayed 2-pier version was selected for the Willamette crossing.

[PacificNW]

This one?:

[alexjon]

Yeah-- unless I read wrong.

[Okstate]

What ever happened to the Portland Spaces blog rumoring a light rail bridge with a "market" in the middle of the bridge?

[davehogan]

Originally Posted by PacificNW

This one?:

How often do I get to look at it from that point of view?

[Okstate]

^ Parasailing?

[urbanlife]

Originally Posted by davehogan

How often do I get to look at it from that point of view?

whenever you jump off the Ross Island bridge?


I like it, I think it will be a good addition for Portland.

[RoseCtyRoks]

^^ This will be a nice addition for Portland. I hope it doesn't get delayed much from money problems because of the economy and the fact that the interstate and pedestrian bridges are also being planned, which we need.

Love the cable-stayed design. The pylons holding the cables could go as high as 200 ft. and the bridge (over troubled water!) will be between 65 and 75 ft. over the Willamette. High enough to allow tugs and other vessels to clear w/ no problem. Compare that to the Marquam at 130 ft. and the Hawthorne at only 49 ft.

Lookin' forward to this....Any timelines on start/const. and completion?

[pylon]

Originally Posted by Okstate

What ever happened to the Portland Spaces blog rumoring a light rail bridge with a "market" in the middle of the bridge?

That would really be something. A market might be a stretch, but an area for vendors, buskers (street musicians), and people to hang out and enjoy the view might help turn the bridge into a real destination instead of just something to cross over; and be a better "social bridge" with the east side as well.

I wish they would consider a "something in the middle" approach with the Columbia River Crossing too- a place that arches over the traffic lanes to have an afterwork beverage/bite on the way home north and enjoy the view, as well as an incentive to take light rail as there would be no parking.

[cab]

It’s a dream, but I'd argue for this to be housing as well. Think of those enclosed bridges in Venice, just much larger with the max and driveway for parking under the housing area. You could have a walk way/emergency lane in-between two sets of two story homes with some restaurants mixed in for views. Just think of the views from the homes and retail. It would be stunning.

[electricron]

Originally Posted by cab

It’s a dream, but I'd argue for this to be housing as well. Think of those enclosed bridges in Venice, just much larger with the max and driveway for parking under the housing area. You could have a walk way/emergency lane in-between two sets of two story homes with some restaurants mixed in for views. Just think of the views from the homes and retail. It would be stunning.

Not only is it a dream, but completely unrealistic.

Electric power for homes and business, water lines, sewer lines, telephone lines, cable TV lines, and all sorts of other infrastructure would have to be run on the bridge. Which means you'll have to make the bridge stronger and much more expensive. What's so wrong building just a bridge?