NTNA Transportation Committee Meeting Minutes, October 14

th
. 6:30-8:00pm, Laurelhurst
Cafe
This is a secondary meeting focused entirely on transportation issues with maps being available.

Attendees: Terry and Beth (NTNA board); Kevin (community member)

1) Halsey Redesign. Let us discuss, and endorse a letter to PBOT.

Background: Back in May PBOT did an outreach representation at Rose City Park NA that included
bike lanes from 65
th
east to 74
th
to provide conductivity and increase safety. Sometime this summer the
decision to make this change, was changed without our notification. To push PBOT to re-examine this
discussion we need to officially endorse this new roadway configuration (See attached slide). The
residents of the Pocket between 60
th
, Glisan and Halsey have no way due to Rosemont Bluff and the
steep hill on 67
th
to get directly east without going onto Glisan or Halsey, neither of which are family
friendly for bikes. If Halsey was redesigned from 67
th
to 74
th
crossings could be safely built and bike
lanes could be added so residents could get north and east. The official complaints that killed the
project was the loss of four parking spaces just east of 65
th
, endorsing the alignment east of 67
th
pulls
this issue off the table.

Discussion/Decision: The committee members endorsed the proposal to present a draft letter of
support around the Halsey Redesign to the NTNA board for approval.

The remaining action items are all should we include this in the second comprehensive letter in the
city, and if so in what fashion

The goal of all of these projects is to have a safe transportation network so all of our residents will have
family friendly routes to walk, bike or take transit to our parks school and comercial zones. This is not
meant to supplant our first letter approved last February, but to augment it and further clarify what our
transportation priorities are long term. This is not meant as a built this nowstatement, but rather as a
long-term plan to provide a safe network for all users as our neighborhood grows over the next
generation.

2) Bike Lanes for Glisan 62
nd
to 71st, endorsement to remove a row of parking 62
nd
to 71
st
and
convert long term into a two way bike lane/cycle track (see attached file).

Background: Unlike on Glisan west of 58
th
where the center lane could be converted into bike space,
due to the pedestrian islands at 78
th
and 65
th
and the higher traffic volumes the center median space
needs to be kept for safety and turning movements. Should NTNA endorse removal of a row of
parking (which is hardly ever utilized) from 62
nd
to 69th-71
st
(depending on Montavilla) to facilitate
local bike access to Fred Meyer and points East.

Discussion/Decision: The committee members endorsed this recommendation to be included in the
draft comprehensive plan letter, to be presented to the NTNA board for approval.

3) Endorsement of Metro's Regional Active transportation Plan

Background: Much of Metro's regional active transportation plans has already been built, or has
previously been endorsed by NTNA, in our first comprehensive letter. Let us solidify this endorsement
with a global statement reinforcing that the city should built this transportation network as soon as
financially feasible.

Discussion/Decision: The committee members endorsed this recommendation to be included in the
draft comprehensive plan letter, to be presented to the NTNA board for approval.

4) Endorsement of sidewalk infill on Thorburn/Gilham including a lead pedestrian warning light
at 62
nd


Background: In our first letter we endorsed a greenway to Mount Tabor Park based on 62nd and SE
Scott Drive, which includes a crossing at 62
nd
/Stark/Thorburn. This is part of Metro's regional ATP
from Burnside to Montavilla Business district, plus a sidewalk on Thorburn from Gilham to Stark is on
the city's radar for possible sidewalk infill. If and when this occurs, let us endorse a lead yellow
flashing warning light east of 62
nd
on Thornburn to allow for a safe crossing for the 62
nd
/SE Scott
drive Greenway and residents accessing the commercial node at 60
th
and Stark.

Discussion/Decision: The committee members endorsed this recommendation to be included in the
draft comprehensive plan letter, to be presented to the NTNA board for approval.

5) Fire Engine friendly speed tables for 47
th
and 67
th

Background: We previously endorsed solutions to the cut-through issues at 45th and NE Willow.
There are also chronic safety problems with speeding coming down the hills at 47
th
between Glisan and
Stark, especially at the off-set greenway intersection at Davis-Everett. On 67
th
, Drivers speed down
the hill past Fred Meyer making it dangerous because of poor visibility to access the store from "the
Pocket" and further north/ east. Should NTNA include an endorsement of fire friendly speed tables for
these stretches of roadway.

Discussion/Decision: The committee members endorsed this recommendation to be included in the
draft comprehensive plan letter, to be presented to the NTNA board for approval.

6) SRTS route network
Background: We are a neighborhood without a school. As such, we have multiple school districts.
Based on the Greenways of 41
st
, Davis-Everett and 62
nd
/NE Oregon let us approve an official SRTS
network throughout the neighborhood.

Discussion/Decision: The committee members endorsed this recommendation to be included in the
draft comprehensive plan letter, to be presented to the NTNA board for approval.

7) As a corollary, should we request that if and when the JAG shop at 5710 redevelops they be
required to build a 14 foot wide sidewalk instead of a 9 to provide room for a bus shelter and a
cross-direction bike route for Mount Tabor Middle School Students?

Background: Previously we have endorsed a modernized Burnside with buffered bike lanes through
this stretch. Due to the roadway width and the need for an 8 foot median center refuge island we have
limited space to fix this off set intersection for a safe crossing for MTMS (Mount Tabor Middle School)
students. We will be applying for a SRTS grant to build this crossing soon. If we had another five feet,
this would significantly decrease the cost and likelihood we will get funding when it come time to
repave and modernize East Burnside. Should we endorse this concept (see attached slide).

Discussion/Decision: The committee members endorsed this recommendation to be included in the
draft comprehensive plan letter, to be presented to the NTNA board for approval.

8) Requesting the 19 be upgraded to frequent service, the 20 move towards 24 hour service
Background: We have previously requested modern shelters that align with upgraded safe crossings on
our bus lines of the 71, 20 and 19. Should we go a step further and request that the 19 be upgraded to
frequent service, including a turn around with a direct stop at Providence hospital entrance to facilitate
more mass transit to the hospital? On a corollary, should we request that the 20 be moved to 24 hour
service?

Discussion/Decision: The committee members endorsed the recommendation of the #19 to be
upgraded to frequent service, which will be included in the draft comprehensive plan letter, to be
presented to the NTNA board for approval. The committee, however, did not endorse the idea of
proposing that the #20 move towards being a 24-hour service.

9) Endorsement of Montavilla's Transportation Requests:

Background: A representative from PBOT suggested that we would have more gravitas in our requests
if North Tabor and Montavilla cross-endorse our transportation priorities. Our organized group ride co-
sponsored with Montavilla on Oct 12
th
will highlight many of these requests. Should we include this
generic cross endorsement, or should we just choose specific projects? Lew from Montavilla
recommends we do a general we cross endorse each other as it would have more authority and create
a conductive network, giving us more chance of having it built.

Discussion/Decision: The committee members endorsed this recommendation to be included in the
draft comprehensive plan letter, to be presented to the NTNA board for approval.

10) Long term 45
th
as a Greenway alternative:

41
st
as a greenway has serviced the central east side for a generation, but has significant wanderings
and off-set intersections that cause it to be a difficult and slow north-south bikeway. Long term, should
NTNA endorse making 45
th
a secondary bikeway as this provides a direct north-south route from NE
Host just north of the bike lane drop off at 47
th
and Glisan south to Powell without turns. As part of
this, should we include an endorsement of center median diverters at Burnside and Glisan to solve the
cut-through problems on 45
th
which happens in the evening and morning rush time during traffic light
back-ups.

Discussion/Decision: The committee members endorsed this recommendation to be included in the
draft comprehensive plan letter, to be presented to the NTNA board for approval.

NEXT NTNA LAND USE AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING:

Tuesday, November 3
rd
, 2014, 6:30-8pm, location TBA.