The Community Advisory Committe has Spoken: Now it's your Turn to Talk!

By Kimberly Schneider

Proposed changes to the City of Portland's Transportation System Development Charge (TSDC) program, as well as the list of improvement projects, reflect the direct involvement of several hundred stakeholders over the course of the TSDC Update study. The Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) -- representing a broad spectrum of Portland's residents, business community and interest groups -- oversaw the project from its inception.

The project to update the TSDC program is nearing its final destination: a public hearing before the Portland City Council on Sept. 5. Culminating a year-long study process, the CAC will present to Council its recommendations for TSDC program changes that will be effective through 2017. This includes a recommended list of "capacity-increasing" transportation improvements eligible to receive TSDC funding over the next 10 years.

You're Invited to voice your opinion online and/or at the Public Hearing:
Date: Wednesday, Sept. 5 Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Council Chambers, 1221 SW 4th Ave., Portland

The Council will consider the following CAC- endorsed TSDC program changes during the public hearing:

Phase out an existing Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) discount over four years.
Apply the principles of geographic equity - make sure projects are spread throughout the City - when determining a list of TSDC-qualified improvement projects, while also supporting projects that have identified leverage and/or are regional in nature.
Keep TSDC rates charged to new development comparable to current 2007 rates, recognizing that the phase-out of the TOD discount will generate additional TSDC revenue.

Proposed Project List:

The Council will also consider a list of 43 proposed capacity-increasing transportation projects. Besides 41 projects recommended by the Citizen Advisory Committee, the project list includes a Twenties (Avenue) Bikeway project and a proposed Flanders Bike/Pedestrian Bridge to serve areas with high potential for future non-motorized trips. (The full list can be viewed on the project's Web site.)

The TSDC project list was developed to maximize funding opportunities from local, state and federal sources in order to fund as many projects as possible. All TSDC projects require some amount of matching funds because none can be fully funded by TSDCs. Realistically, inclusion on the final TSDC project list is no guarantee of funding or construction.

Community Involvement:

Meeting 12 times over 16 months, the Citizen Advisory Committee worked with Portland Office of Transportation (PDOT) staff and the project team to evaluate rates, discounts and exemptions, geographical and modal equity, and prioritize a list of projects qualified to received TSDC funding.
To ensure affected citizens among Portland's business community, neighborhoods, and special interest groups had a voice in the process, interviews with 20 key stakeholders were conducted in September 2006. These included developers; property owners; business associations; bicycle, pedestrian and freight advocates; City staff and elected officials. These interviews were followed by presentations to 21 neighborhood and business groups. Information gathered during interviews and presentations provided important input to the Citizen Advisory Committee.

Finally, to involve other interested citizens, two public open houses were held in February and May, 2007. Those attending the first open house were asked to comment on project priorities and economic/equity issues, which later helped the Citizen Advisory Committee refine the TSDC project list. At the second open house, participants were asked to comment on TSDC rates, geographic equity and the TOD discount. Again, this feedback helped the Citizen Advisory Committee draft its final recommendation to Council.

The project team wishes to thank all those who participated in the TSDC Update Project.

If you have questions about the project, contact Kathryn Levine, PDOT Project Manager, (503) 823-7085, Kathryn.Levine@ pdxtrans.org. You can also learn many details about the project on its Web site: www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index.cfm?c=40692.

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Posted Wed, 08/22/2007 - 12:08pm.

I support TSDC proposal

Submitted by Jessica Roberts on Tue, 08/28/2007 - 1:47pm.

Here are the comments I sent to Council earlier this week:

I am writing to express my strong support for this program. When new development puts demands on our transportation infrastructure, it is fair and reasonable to require developers to contribute to the cost of infrastructure.

While in the past TSDC funds have been reserved for "capacity-increasing projects" that have been narrowly defined as vehicle capacity, I am particularly pleased to see that the new proposal before you acknowledges the potential for bicycling trips in the draft project list. This is important because:

* Development will increase demand for bicycling facilities and will increase bicycling trips (as we have seen in Portland's four-fold increase in cycling over the last decade). It would be unfair to ignore these trips by only constructing new vehicle facilities.
* Some potential new auto trips can be mitigated by converting them to bicycle trips if seamless, high-quality facilities are provided. This is a cost-effective way to encourage biking and mitigate the negative impact of new auto trips in our community.
* Portland has a stated goal to decrease greenhouse gases and emphasize sustainable development. Encouraging bicycling as a way to reach local businesses is an outstanding tool to help us reach that goal.

In particular, I strongly support both the Twenties Avenue Bikeway element and the proposed Flanders Bike/Pedestrian Bridge project.

Please support the TSDC program, and please ensure that the non-motorized component stays in place.

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SE Tacoma St (Sellwood)

Submitted by Dr. Carl E. Ditch on Fri, 09/21/2007 - 4:20pm.

Why doesn't anyone care about SE Tacoma St in Sellwood???

I have called the the various departments of the City police about the traffic on SE Tacoma, but nothing is done except a cruser drives up the street without even stopping to observe the traffic situations.

Traffic is bogged down during the early hours from7 to 9 am and from 1:00 pm to 7 or 8 pm. When there is a clear moment, the drivers step on the pedal to beat the light on Tacoma at 17th or 13th street. When the car to 16th St and sees the light on 17th, that's when the "pedal hits the metal." I've seen many near accidents of cars driving north on 17th. The left lane should be for left turn only, and those "hot rods" would not have the chance to speed in the right lane, because many people turn right on 17th from Tacoma.
I'd like to invite the police or a commisioner to park on the Goodwill lot on 17th and SE Tacoma to observe what happens with the traffic.

There is small a section between the 16th & 17th that allows parked cars in the right lane (going East), betwen 9am & 4 pm daily. Today, a car was parked there and the traffic was so bad during the legal time, that cars were stopped behind the parked car trying to get into the left hand lane, causing traffic jams. The sign needs to be replaced with a "No Parking" sign.

I sat on the corner of Tacoma & 13th street today, and within15 minutes, five cars going west on Tacoma ran the stop light (not a yellow light), as cars going East had the right of way to turn left on 13th.

I have other suggestions that would help traffic on Tacoma. I have watched this traffic for a year ana a half and it gets worse every day.
There are children who cross Tacoma daily, and the sign reads "20 MPH when children are present." What a dumb sign. By the time the speeders see the children approaching, it's too late to slow down.
Please have someone sit and watch the traffic instead of cars like the police, just ride by.

Dr. Carl E. Ditch

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