Sunday, June 21, 2009

Of Bikes and Bridges: Portland Sentinel Article 10

Of bikes and bridges SENTINEL NEWS SERVICE

SENTINEL NEWS SERVICE

By Carolyn Neuhausen

Two upcoming transportation projects for the Piedmont neighborhood focus on improvements for the proposed bike lanes on Rosa Parks Way near I-5, and the Bryant Street Bridge.

Piedmont currently has funding for bike lanes on Rosa Parks Way, and designs have been created. But the Portland Department of Transportation is working out the details, said Brian Borrello, the land-use chair of the Piedmont Neighborhood Association.

PDOT and the Oregon Department of Transportation are currently coordinating efforts to explore design alternatives that take into account safety and mobility for all modes of transportation. The agency will meet in early October to finalize plans.

The Piedmont neighborhood has also been planning for improvements to the Bryant Street Bridge crossing. A few designs have been chosen as concept ideas and are posted on the Piedmont website: piedmontneighborhood.com.

$90,000 in grant funds has been awarded to the neighborhood to improve the safety of the pedestrian bridge crossing. Some of the safety recommendations include improving lighting and possibly opening up the walls.

Besides safety, Borrello said, “We want to create a project that is aesthetically pleasing and uplifting in the neighborhood.”

What makes this project unique is that local resources are being used. Instead of their usual open-bid process, ODOT will hire local contractors, craftsmen, and designers. Further developments on the Bryant Street Bridge project are expected in the coming months.

For more information go to www.portlandsentinel/northalbina

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