The Clackamas County Tourism & Cultural Affairs office has announced 10 projects that will split $200,000 in grant funding and seven of the projects support bicycle-related tourism. This news will surely continue the strong momentum for bike tourism in “Mt. Hood Territory” that we reported on back in July.

These tourism development grants are funded through Clackamas County’s 6% lodging tax which was passed by voters in 1992. It applies to all lodging receipts over $15 per day from county hotels, campgrounds, events, vacation home rentals, and other types of lodgings.
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Newly paved, now open.
(Photo: Clackamas County)

As promised last month, Clackamas County has just announced that paving is complete on the final segment of the Springwater Corridor Trail from Rugg Road to Boring Station Trailhead Park. This 2.25 mile section now means the popular paved path extends 21 miles from downtown Portland to Boring.

The new section is 10-feet wide with 2-4 feet of compacted gravel shoulders (for people on horses). The County has also added a new bridge deck and railings and improved intersection treatments and signage at street crossings. Funding for the $1.9 million project came from a $1.2 million federal Transportation Enhancement grant and addition funds from Metro’s 2006 Natural Areas Bond Measure and Clackamas County Parks. (more…)

If you live in Clackamas County, there are lots of spots open on their Pedestrian/Bikeway Advisory Committee… See the official notice below:

Three-year volunteers needed for Clackamas County Pedestrian/Bikeway Advisory Committee
What’s on your mind?

Clackamas County is seeking up to seven volunteers to serve for three-year terms on the Pedestrian/Bikeway Advisory Committee. The committee advises the county on policies, regulation and ordinances that affect pedestrian and bicycle facilities in Clackamas County.

The committee’s mission is to promote and encourage safe bicycling and walking as a significant means of transportation in Clackamas County. Its goals include:
• the development of a coordinated system of safe and convenient bikeways and walkways,
• financing options for bicycle and pedestrian projects, and
• increased public awareness of bicycle and pedestrian issues.

The committee’s accomplishments include developing the Clackamas County Bike It! map, a recently-implemented Bike Sign Plan for urban Clackamas County and a Bike Sign Plan for a portion of the rural county that is expected to be implemented by the end of 2013.

The Pedestrian/Bikeway Advisory Committee meets on the first Tuesday of every other month from 6:15 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Development Services Building in Oregon City.

Individuals interested in serving on this committee are asked to complete an application form and submit it no later than Thursday, Aug. 22. Applications may be completed and submitted online through the county’s website athttp://www.clackamas.us/miscapp/application.jsp or by contacting Clackamas County Public and Government Affairs at 503-742-4353.

Additional information about on the Pedestrian/Bikeway Advisory Committee can be found athttp://www.clackamas.us/engineering/pbac.html.

For more information: Lori Mastrantonio-Meuser, 503-742-4511, or Scott Hoelscher, 503-742-4524.

The newly completed Rosemont Trail, a paved path that connects downtown Lake Oswego to West Linn in Clackamas County, should be cause for celebration — except for that fact that bicycling is banned on about half of its entire length.

After The Oregonian covered this story yesterday, we got several emails from readers who were disturbed by this lack of bicycle access. The ban is especially unfortunate given that the adjacent Rosemont Road is a narrow, high-speed thoroughfare without wide shoulders for bicycling on. According to The Oregonian, many people expected the path to allow bicycling, and there is considerable consternation now that it doesn’t. Hoping to better understand the background and context of this project, we reached out to Clackamas County and the group who paid for and created the trail, The Columbia Land Trust. (more…)

Clackamas County is updating their Transportation System Plan (TSP) and the time is now to make sure key projects make it into the final version. Getting the right, bike-friendly projects into the TSP is crucial because the plan is the county’s guiding document for investment and planning for the next 20 years. The Bicycle Transportation Alliance is monitoring this TSP update because there are several projects — including the Monroe Neighborhood Greenway that was one of 16 projects in their recent “Blueprint” — that could have a vast impact on bike access in the coming years.

BTA advocate Carl Larson singled out four projects that need support in the Clackamas County TSP update. Check them out below and weigh in via the online “Virtual Workshop” (descriptions below taken from BTA blog post): (more…)

First City Cycles employee Adam Beykovsky
is helping promote bike tourism in Oregon City.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Clackamas County is once again placing its bets on bicycle tourism as a way to bolster local industry and economic vitality. As The Oregonian reports, the Urban Renewal Commission in Oregon City voted Wednesday to support a proposal by a local bike shop owner to develop a bike tourism hub inside a vacant Amtrak station.

The idea for the “First City Central Marketplace & Bistro” was conceived by Blaine Meier, owner of First City Cycles. Meier’s shop opened in July of last year and he wasted no time in getting the idea off the ground. In September Meier told the Clackamas Review newspaper, “I’m excited about the opportunity, and I think it’ll be a great way to promote Oregon City tourism.” (more…)

Freshly laid sharrow on the (still closed for repairs) Oregon City/West Linn Arch Bridge.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

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Lewelling Elementry student Nikolas McKinney (green shirt) stands with Milwaukie PD Cadet John Pyle and Captain Steve Bartol. His friend Kayden Miller is in the background.
(Photos: North Clackamas School District)

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(Photos: Clackamas County)

A tricky crossing of the Springwater Corridor path in Clackamas County just got a bit easier. This morning, county engineers turned on a new, bike-only signal where the path crosses the intersection of SE Johnson Creek Blvd and Bell Ave (in unincorporated Clackamas County, just south of Portland city limits).

The new signal allows bike traffic to cross diagonally from the northeast corner of the intersection to the southwest corner (and vice versa), instead of having to use two separate crosswalks — a situation that was far from ideal, both from a connectivity and safety standpoint.The $70,000 project began one year ago. (more…)

It’s free for bikes now, but Board
vote tomorrow could change that.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

The Clackamas County Board of County Commissioners could approve a $2 fee for people with bicycles who hop on the Canby Ferry to cross the Willamette River south of Wilsonville. Facing a strapped operational budget and a costly engine upgrade, Commissioners had considered closing it altogether; but overwhelming support for the ferry as a tourist draw from both the public and the Canby Chamber of Commerce has now set them on a new course.

A recent survey made it clear that not only was the ferry popular, but surprisingly over 80% of the respondents said they’d be willing to pay more to use it. And these days, a County is not likely to pass up an opportunity to generate transportation revenue — especially one that is popular with the public.
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