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...)
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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Survey results from Clackamas County show that charging people a fee to roll onto the Canby Ferry with their bikes is very popular idea.
The County is in the process of figuring out how to raise money to keep the Canby Ferry afloat. As we reported back in January, the county faces a major expense in keeping the ferry operational and options on the table include closing it for good, or raising the user fees.
Currently, the ferry (which just opened for the season yesterday) is a beloved connection over the Willamette River for people bicycling between Wilsonville and Canby en route to the great rural roads and campgrounds in the Willamette Valley (home of Oregon's marquee State Scenic Bikeway, Champoeg State Park, wineries, and more). Fares for bike-riding customers have always been free.
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[Patrick Croasdaile contributed reporting to this story.]
This coming Monday, the Wilsonville City Council will convene an important work session that could determine the future of the French Prairie Bike-Ped Emergency Bridge over the Willamette River.
The City of Wilsonville was awarded a $1.25 million federal grant in 2009 to develop a feasibility study and design alternatives for the bridge. At Monday's meeting, the Council is expected to vote on whether to formally accept the grant and invest the required 10% local match ($125,000) to keep the project moving forward. Or, they could choose to hit the pause button. (more...)
Reader Chris S. came across a story in The Oregonian yesterday that made him do a double-take. In a report about the 'State of the County' event held by the Clackamas County commissioners, the topic of bicycles came up. The event allowed citizens to ask commissioners any question they'd like. The Oregonian reporter shared a few of the questions and summarized the answers.
Here's the first question in the story — and the one that Chris said he "had to read a few times to make sure I read it correctly."
Q: Bicyclists and studded tire users cause considerable road damage. Why shouldn't bicyclists and studded tire users be required to pay an annual fee to the county for wear and tear? (more...)
A 50 year old woman was found dead on the I-205 multi-use path in Clackamas County at 1:00 am on Friday morning (11/25) and law enforcement officials are now searching for clues in what they believe to be a homicide.
According to the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office, Dana Crippen — who they say "was previously to be known to be homeless and living in the Eugene area" — was found on a the path where it goes under SE Johnson Creek Blvd, just west of I-205. Here's more from the sheriff's office: (more...)
Sandy, Estacada, Molalla, West Linn and Wilsonville are among the cities in Clackamas County lining up to learn more about how to position themselves as bicycle touring destinations.
Travel Oregon, an organization that promotes tourism statewide, is co-hosting a 'Bicycle Tourism Studio' event on November 8th along with Clackamas County Tourism and Cultural Affairs. The Bicycle Tourism Studio concept is part of Travel Oregon's focus on tourism development in rural communities. Funded by our state's 1 percent lodging tax, the initiative aims to train local agencies, governments, and organizations to capitalize on sustainable tourism.
Kristin Dahl is Travel Oregon's Sustainable Tourism Development Manager. She says Clackamas County has a big advantage over other counties when it comes to bike tourism. "They've got public transportation connections to Portland like the MAX line and the Springwater Corridor." (more...)
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