So far, the actual TSP Update has not been released. The document is undergoing changes because of the shift in directions by the new City Council. It is Up Sucker Creek's understanding that after (how long?) over a year of work on the document, the Council-appointed Transportation Advisory Board has not yet seen the draft TSP and has had no direct input except as part of the limited TSPAC. meetings Corrections are welcome if this information is not correct!
Here are some of the Public Works and Planning Departments' work that is on the web. Please be advised that this is not current. The handouts from their December meeting (the most current information available to the public, though not online) will be scanned by your hard-working reporter and posted here shortly.
This is a link to a technical memo from Kittelson Associates Inc. (KAI), sent to Lake Oswego (department or person?). Lots of information on current conditions and recommendations about how the city might change transportation conditions/options to facilitate growth.
City of Lake Oswego Transportation System Plan Update
EXISTING CONDITIONS
Date: April 3, 2013 Project #: 11187
To: Project Management Team
EXISTING CONDITIONS
Date: April 3, 2013 Project #: 11187
To: Project Management Team
From: Erin Ferguson, PE; Jessica Horning; Jesse Boudart; Phill Worth
Project: City of Lake Oswego Transportation System Plan Update
Subject: Technical Memorandum 7.1 Existing Conditions
Design Guidelines (Pg. 29)
Technical Memo 4.1 Modal Plans includes a summary of existing roadway design standards in Lake Oswego. Bike lanes are currently included in the design standards for arterial and collector streets; the design standards also recommend sidewalks on both sides of the street on all street types. Technical Memo 4.1 also includes discussion questions to determine potential changes to design standards in order to preserve design flexibility while increasing the availability and attractiveness of transportation options. This discussion will inform future TSP development tasks.
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Up Sucker Creek lives on a collector street - a lovely residential road with sidewalks on both sides and room to park cars on the sides of the street. There are a couple of young boys who ride bikes around, and a few scattered oldsters stretching their legs. According to the KAI crash study for LO, there have been no bike crashes, or crashes of any type in this neighborhood in the last 5 years. But bike lanes on both sides of the street? If this were to occur, all that would accomplish is an additional expense for the city, and the removal of parking spaces for the neighborhood. The objective for this type of street design seems dubious - more of a knee-jerk wish to make the city into a Portland-style biking community. Is this what the public really wants?
This bike lane thing seems to be more of the "do gooder" attitude. It is well intentioned but not economically tested. It is exactly like the replacement of street lights that the City Council fell for from Public Works - good for the environment. Economically not as good decision and now expensive City employees will undoubted be need to "maintain" the street lights. Is Public Works a "problem" in this regard?
ReplyDeleteThe bike thing is an ideology, a religion and a job creator. I'm all for bike lanes - IF we can afford to build AND maintain them, but let's call them bike lanes and not "active transportation!" Now that's a term I would like to throw away!
ReplyDelete