BLOG: Support Proposed Portland Freight Master Plan
Sam Adams
It deserves your strong support.
We need this plan!
- Portland boasts modern port facilities at the confluence of two rivers with inland and deep water access, national highway access to the rest of the nation, two main railroad lines connecting the whole of the west coast and points east, and an international airport. The unique and significant infrastructure of Portland presents opportunities for further economic development;
- Portland’s economy is dependent on transportation-related jobs, which are predominantly living wage jobs;
- Portland’s roads serve as the "first and last mile" access to the multitude of public and
private freight intermodal and terminal facilities inside its boundaries;
- Recent economic forecasts indicated that Portland could expect to see freight movement double over the next 15 years;
- Efficient goods delivery supports Portland’s vibrant, mixed-used centers and main streets;
- Inherent conflicts exist due to the close proximity between Portland’s residential neighborhoods and freight facilities, which generate significant local and regional truck traffic.
The proposed plan emphasizes freight mobility and access to regional and state highways, industrial areas, intermodal and terminal facilities, 2040 centers, main streets, and station communities and at the interface of residential neighborhoods and freight districts.
The research and analysis has focused on the identification of system needs and deficiencies, opportunities, street project design and project prioritization.
The proposed master plan also addresses:
- Truck street system efficiency in terms of access and mobility;
- Where or in what situations major delays occur;
- Where truck traffic and neighborhood conflicts are the greatest;
- Potential remedial actions for the identified system needs, deficiencies or conflicts; and
- Ways to capitalize on existing advantages and opportunities for freight and distribution in Portland.
and/or Site Projects; TSP Modal Plan Amendment/Update (Freight and Air, Rail, Water and Pipeline Mode Plans); and Education/Public Involvement Funding for the second phase is through a Transportation Growth Management Grant from the Oregon Department of Transportation.
Posted by Sam Adams on November 25, 2005
(4) Comments | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Jobs & Economy, Office of Transportation, Transportation
Comments by site visitors
Chris,
As always thanks for being the uber-transportation advocate. I read your comments and offer the following thoughts:
1. The challenge of planning for freight and urban goods movement at the municipal level is that the big issues span far beyond our city limits – to our connections to Gresham and Hillsboro, to the California and Washington, to the world. It is imperative that we understand how we fit in to the global economy but also understand where we can make an direct impact here at home.
Portland's Freight Master Plan is intended to address what was in our City's span of control - basically the roads while acknowledging our role in the bigger picture.
I will be adding the world view in the months ahead.
2. The plan’s name captures half the story. This epiphany came after the plan's name had become "institutionalized".
While Portland is a "gateway" for bulk commodities moving in, out, and through, the day to day issues for most Portland citizens relate to the delivery of goods and services by truck – the beer to the tavern, the coffee to the cafe, the bread to the local New Seasons.
The plan's implementation strategies became more about this side of the equation, addressing what Portland could or should be doing to manage trucks.
3. The big questions like rail v. truck are to be addressed with the region and state.
Certainly, Portland has a key role in these discussions but it is in partnership with neighboring jurisdictions and with the service providers.
I know that this was a source of frustration, which may have been tempered had the region's freight planning efforts occurred prior to the City's plan. It is now underway.
4. The freight plan is focused on just one part of the overall transportation system.
The City's Transportation System Plan is where the needs of goods movement are incorporated and balanced with the other system users.
That transportation demand management was not discussed in great detail in the freight plan - although there is an action item to relook at TMA formation in industrial areas ( there are challenges because of employee density and swing shifts) - is okay because the TSP includes a detailed discussion of Portland's TDM measures.
I will be continuing to push the topic.
I argue that this chapter of the TSP should be updated to discuss TDM benefits to freight mobility.
The lesson learned here is to lead with the TSP as the overarching policy and implementation document and show the interdependency between modes and how the individual system user is accommodated.
Sam
Posted by: Sam Adams | Nov 28, 2005 11:20:26 AM
Thanks, Sam - at least you understand the deficiencies...
Posted by: Chris Smith | Nov 28, 2005 4:42:21 PM
There is some good news in this Plan...see page 11 at the bottom. Neither Going Street nor Columbia Blvd...key arterials serving the bulk of Portland's industrial areas... are now experiencing congestion caused delays, nor is that projected to be the case in 20 years (see TM #4). In fact on Going Street # of vehicles over the last several years has declined. This may be due to the efforts of the Swan Island TMA and to the slow economy, but more likely to the changing economy. The Shipyards have reduced employment due to global circumstances; Freightliner closed its parts plant, yet adidas...adjacent to Swan Island...has brought in 900 new (but very different) jobs. Almost half of its employees do not drive alone to work; many live in the neighborhood, but most important, adidasNA does not ship one shoe out of Portland.
As I look across to idle Terminal 2 every morning...hardly a ship a month...I think we need to rethink what drives our economy and what will in the future. Chris Coleman was on the money.
Posted by: Lenny Anderson | Nov 29, 2005 9:09:46 AM
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Sam, while I appreciate the objectives of the plan I have my doubts about how well the plan really achieves them. I've expressed these on Portland Transport a couple of times:
- Reviewing the Portland Freight Master Plan
- "Goods and Services" or "Freight"
- Freight Plan Grinds into Gear
Care to respond? Thx - Chris
Posted by: Chris Smith | Nov 25, 2005 8:03:02 PM