Eastside — one of life’s finer pleasures.
(Photo © J. Maus)
The City of Portland Office of Transportation wants to hear from anyone who works and/or lives on the Central Eastside.
They’ve launched the Central Eastside Transportation Survey (take it here) to learn more about how Portlanders “use the transportation system today and what your expectations are for the future.”
According to Dan Bower with PDOT, the survey is similar to others being undertaken throughout the city and they’re all meant to aid in a major effort to update the Central Portland Plan.
Elly and I just finished taking the survey (BikePortland.org headquarters are in the CEID) and here are a few of the questions they’re asking:
- How do you normally travel to and from your work site or school?
- If you drive to work, which statement best describes the parking situation at your work site or school?
- In your opinion, what is the biggest transportation concern for Central Eastside employees or students today?
- Please indicate which, if any of the services or amenities would help you reduce car travel if they were provided to Central Eastside residents or employees?
One reader, who is an employee in the CEID emailed to voice his concerns that the business advocacy group the Central Eastside Industrial Council (CEIC) is encouraging their members to take the survey to “encourage more parking spaces”.
He forwarded an email from the CEIC that stated (emphasis mine):
“Given that respondents of the survey will be eligible for a discounted ZipCar membership, it is obvious that the city sees ZipCars as one solution to driving around our area. This may appear to be a logical answer to driving around our area, however, please remember that the more ZipCars that they put in our district will result in less parking spaces for those of us who work in the district. In a recent survey to CEIC members, the number one goal was to increase the number of parking spaces in the district, not take parking spaces away.”
It’s important that everyone who lives and/or works in the Central Eastside clicks over to CentralEastsideSurvey.com to make sure transportation planners get the full picture. The survey closes today.
[UPDATE: PDOT has decided to re-open the survey. See this comment from Dan Bower for more information.]