Below are some of the many opportunities to get involved and make a difference on transportation projects and issues throughout our region this week…
Tuesday, November 8th
TV Highway Corridor Plan Open House
4:00-7:00 p.m. Hillsboro Civic Center (150 E Main St, Hillsboro)
ODOT is considering rebuilding the Tualatin Valley Highway, either as a 6 lane freeway or a 4 lane highway. From the website it’s difficult to tell how serious they are about building a freeway, and the survey focuses more on trip reduction than road size. But that could just be greenwashing for a freeway project, like the N/NE Quadrant study in Portland is a mask for widening I-5.
If you have opinions on this or would like to learn more, come to the Open House or take the survey and speak your mind.
Portland Plan Open House
The Portland Plan is a road map for what the city will prioritize in the next 20 years. Rather than a geographic plan, it’s more of a business plan or management plan. According to Planning and Sustainability Commission member Chris Smith, “The Portland Plan will create the strategy that drives the update of the Comprehensive Plan (which includes the Transportation System Plan). The “Comp Plan” will be finished in about two years, but if you want to see a policy in the Comp Plan you better look for the strategy that supports it in the Portland Plan.”
If you think bicycles should be prioritized in the city’s decisions over the next 20 years, come to an open house and see what they’re presenting, and speak your mind. There are three Open Houses this month in N, E and downtown Portland.
Expect to spend an hour to go over the posters and make comments. As with all open houses, you can speak to the city staff and ask questions, but if you want your comments to be weighted, you should plan to write them down and submit them.
Race Talks: Coming Together on North Williams Avenue: Reconciling Neighborhood’s Past with Proposed Bike Lane
6:00 – 9:00 pm, McMenamins Kennedy School Gym (5736 NE 33rd Ave.)
(Doors open at 6, program begins at 7)
“Race Talks” is a monthly meeting to discuss racial issues in Portland. This month’s topic is the N Williams Ave. Traffic Safety and Operations project. BikePortland publisher Jonathan Maus is one of four panelists. For more info, see the RaceTalks website or last week’s BikePortland post.
Wednesday, November 9th
Skyline Blvd Traffic Safety Community Forum
7:00 – 9:00 pm, Skyline Grange (11275 NW Skyline Blvd)
The West Hills offer safety challenges to bicycles. At this forum, all road users will discuss the issues and hopefully learn how to safely, appropriately and legally interact. More info.
Thursday, November 10th
Presentation by urbanist Gordon Price
6:40 – 8:40 pm, Portland Building, 2nd Floor Auditorium (1120 SW 5th Ave)
Gordon Price is a former City Councilor from Vancouver BC. For over 30 years he has taught, practiced and theorized the building of the post-car city. He is an engaging speaker, and always has a new presentation each year. He’s been following Portland closely, and is one of the few people intimately acquainted with both of the Northwest’s leading “green cities.” Expect about 50 people. For best results, be seated about 5 minutes before the event begins. More info.
Monday, November 14th
Portland Bicycle Advisory Committee (Note: not the usual date)
6:00 – 8:00 pm, City Hall, Rose Room
The BAC meets once a month to review bicycle plans and policies. Expect about 20 BAC members, a few city staff, and about 10 members of the public. Come and go at any time, coffee and refreshments provided. Agenda will be posted a few days before the meeting.
Upcoming
Tues Nov 15
* Portland Pedestrian Advisory Committee meeting More info
* Portland Plan Open House, Parkrose High More info
Tues Nov 15
* Adult Bike Riding Class, Part I (PBOT). More info.
Wed Nov 16
* Adult Bike Riding Class, Part II (PBOT). More info.
Thurs Nov. 17
* Bicycle Brown Bag discussion series More info.
* N/NE Quadrant Stakeholder Advisory Committee Meeting More info.
* BTA Open House More
info.
Mon Nov 21
* Start Your Own Bike Train workshop. More info
Mon Nov 28
* North Williams Community Forum More info.
Tues Nov 29
* Portland Plan Open House, 1900 SW 4th More info
Wed Nov 30
* Streetcar Open House More info.
* Deadline for comments on The Portland Plan
Comments, corrections, additions?
What are in your plans this week?
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