Streetcar project sees five options identified

By Rebecca Randall

The Lake Oswego Review, Dec 31, 2009 (8 Reader comments)

ADVERTISEMENTS

The Portland to Lake Oswego Transit project is inching forward as Metro identifies five areas with additional options for streetcar routes. The agency is analyzing each one as a part of its Draft Environmental Impact Study, which is due for completion next fall — in time for the agency to request construction funding from the Federal Transportation Administration.

The study analyzes an enhanced bus route, a no-build option and a streetcar route using the Willamette Shore Line, where the historic trolley currently operates. Metro staff has identified five areas where it would potentially leave the right of way. The five option areas are: South Waterfront, Johns Landing, Sellwood Bridge, Dunthorpe/Riverdale and Lake Oswego.

For the South Waterfront segment, the study looks at how the streetcar will connect with the existing line in Portland. One option is to use Southwest Moody Avenue and Bond Avenue for the southbound track and then cut west on Southwest Bancroft Street to meet up with the Willamette Shore Line. The northbound track could potentially take another route up to the existing Portland line and connect using Bond Avenue. This would depend on the timing of planned road improvements in Portland.

In John’s Landing, the route could either stick to the Willamette Shore Line or take one of two hybrid options along Macadam.

In both options the streetcar would run south on Landing Drive between Hamilton Court and Boundary Street, connect to Macadam Avenue and then return to the Willamette Shore Line via Carolina Street. The streetcar would run with car traffic on Landing Drive, Boundary and Carolina.

The first option examines the feasibility of the streetcar running on Macadam both southbound and northbound in auto traffic. The second option would use the outside lanes on Macadam for a southbound route and construct a separate lane for the northbound streetcar and cars making right turns.

For the Sellwood Bridge segment, the project is considering the streetcar alignment in connection with the bridge’s reconstruction, which is being managed by Multnomah County. Laying streetcar track across the Sellwood Bridge is not being considered as a part of this project; however, Metro said that it has not been ruled out for a future project.

Through Dunthorpe, one option being analyzed is to run the line down Riverwood Road rather than in the Willamette Shore Line.

In Lake Oswego, the plan is to run the streetcar under the freight tracks north of Stampher Road. Then, the line would either follow the Union Pacific Railroad right of way along Highway 43 or it would follow a future Foothills Road extension further down grade from the highway. If the Foothills Road route were chosen, it would be coordinated with the city of Lake Oswego’s potential redevelopment of the area.

The streetcar would end near a terminus at the Albertson’s complex on State Street.

1 | 2 Next Page >>