active transportation: human-powered transportation.
E.g.: bicycling and walking
Means of engaging in active transportation:
roadways, shoulders of roadways, sidewalks, pedestrian pathways, trails, bike paths, etc.
I love many of these trails and paths and approve the concept of linking them for expanded use. They are a treasure people in the Portland area are lucky to share. However, all of the path linkages are not necessary, and some are unwelcome intrusions into residential neighborhoods. The other problem with the regional projects is when they hit the Lake Oswego Transportatipn Plan (TSP) and Capital Improvement Project (CIP) list, there is no explanation of their total cost and the potential cost to each local entity including maintenance and liability expenses over time.
In the TSP there is no explanation of why a project is needed and what benefit each project has to Lake Oswego taxpayers. Lake Oswego taxpayers will pay the full cost of the projects, or a portion of a matching grant, and most certainly, the maintenance, liability and traffic and neighborhood problems created after a pathway is built. We need to be able to balance the need for a trail with other city needs and apportion local resources where they will do the most good. Much information is missing for citizens to make that judgement.
Many of the local bike and pedestrian pathways in the TSP are listed as "gaps", but here is no explanation of what "gap" the new trail segment is supposed to fill. There is also no list of which trails (local or regional) that cross private residential and commercial property.
In the TSP there is no explanation of why a project is needed and what benefit each project has to Lake Oswego taxpayers. Lake Oswego taxpayers will pay the full cost of the projects, or a portion of a matching grant, and most certainly, the maintenance, liability and traffic and neighborhood problems created after a pathway is built. We need to be able to balance the need for a trail with other city needs and apportion local resources where they will do the most good. Much information is missing for citizens to make that judgement.
Many of the local bike and pedestrian pathways in the TSP are listed as "gaps", but here is no explanation of what "gap" the new trail segment is supposed to fill. There is also no list of which trails (local or regional) that cross private residential and commercial property.
What, Why, Where, and How much?
The Regional Active Transportation Plan will consolidate and replace other regional bicycle and pedestrian plans. Below are maps of the Regional Pedestriantrian Network and the Bicycle Network. .
At this point I was going to post 2 maps from Metro, but I have been struggling to figure out my PDF converter. Until I get it right, please use the following links to see the Pedestrian Network Mapbook and the Bicycle Network Mapbook, both part of the new Active Transportation Plan. Look for trails, paths and bikeways that are in the LO TSP. (In a future post I will hopefully have a list for you.) While paths and trails in general are a good idea, this isn't a wish book, the plans translate into real taxpayer dollars and real impacts - good and bad - for the public.
The links do not work.
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