Let's Talk About Lents

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Let's Talk About Lents » Lents Urban Renewal

31. 

    Cora
    

    admin
    Joined: Apr '07
    Posts: 141

    BTW, you might actually have a nicer and safer walk exiting the MAX platform at Ramona and using the Multi-use path to get to Harold Street and then cross under the Freeway using the underpass, if you're on the North side of Foster.

    If you're on the South side of Foster/Woodstock, you may try using the new bike/ped overpass from the Foster MAX platform to cross Foster and Woodstock. The ramp crossings on the south side of Woodstock are a little bit easier to navigate and there are less blind corners for the automobiles.

    Also (IMHO) the #1 thing you can do to improve the pedestrian crossings and access from the East side of 205 to the West side of 205 is to support adding a streetcar on the Foster corridor. Not only will it provide an easy transit crossing on a neighborhood scale, the land-use changes and pedestrian infrastructure that will come along with it will do wonders to re-connect the neighborhood.

    The good news is...we can fix Ramona and support a streetcar. The two projects work together and aren't competing for funding.

    Posted 10 months ago #
32. 

    Jeffrey
    

    preferred member
    Joined: Apr '07
    Posts: 105

    I agree with JNTN on a couple of points. One- that we desperately need a better way to get people by the freeway easier and safer- and more comfortably. For MAX users- crossing to the other side using the bike bridge is a good idea- for those on ground level walking between the two sides, it isn't as useful. Having the trolley out here will help- but only for some. If someone just needs to cross under the freeway- they probably won't either wait for the trolley- or agree to pay a fare to go just a few blocks. This crossing would be high on my list of priorities- we should really push ODOT to help come up with a solutions, and we should also (while we're on the topic) work on getting the plan for under the freeway implemented. Where are we on that one?!!

    The other thing I was going to agree with JNTN on is the need to make it easier to cross 92nd Ave. We should paint a crosswalk at every single intersection for 10 blocks on either side of Foster! We should also look at other ways of calming and slowing traffic (without resorting to speedbumps!) If there is a minimum lane width for 92nd- AND Ramona for that matter- we should be lobbying for a variance, if that's possible. We should try to get angled parking where we can- that slows traffic! Making pedestrians feel safe crossing the street at every intersection should be a BIG priority- even bigger than widening the sidewalks, if you ask me!

    Thanks for the input JNTN!!

    Jeff

    Posted 10 months ago #
33. 

    Cora
    

    admin
    Joined: Apr '07
    Posts: 141

    Jeff, widening the sidewalks and creating bulb outs to shorten the distance at a crossing is one of the main tools to making crossings safer and slowing traffic. So, widening the sidewalks is a solution - it's not something you do instead of changing the crossings. Plus, paint is cheap, so we can paint crosswalks and widen the sidewalks. Better yet, we can make a cool paver treatment crossing that really stands out and looks more like a town center main street than a nondescript arterial.

    As far as streetcar is concerned, if you've paid a fare for MAX, that works as fare for streetcar. So, on a return trip home on MAX, there would be no additional fare involved. For local traffic, we could look at a TMA solution to provide lower cost passes to residents. It is well over 1/2 a mile to walk from the residential areas on the East side of the freeway in most cases. For a lot of people (older adults, people with kids in tow, people with disabilities, folks toting groceries) having a streetcar would help greatly and would be worth the fare, especially if it's a reduced fare.

    But, even so, the capital construction portion of the streetcar could involve sidewalk and crossing improvements. If we have center platforms, where the couplet comes together, they make excellent pedestrian refuges and crossings. There are a lot of ways you can leverage a streetcar project into some significant pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure improvements.

    Posted 10 months ago #
34. 

    Jeffrey
    

    preferred member
    Joined: Apr '07
    Posts: 105

    Maybe a major focus of this effort should be a paver treatment at 92nd and Ramona- which could set a standard for other intersections along 92nd in and near the town center!

    What does "TMA" stand for? Somehow it seems that I should probably know that! In any case- I think that creating better foot access over the great divide will continue to be important no matter what kind of transit solutions we create. Where are we with the streetcar effort anyway?

    Posted 10 months ago #
35. 

    jntnfamily
    

    new member
    Joined: Sep '09
    Posts: 3

    I just realized that my comments really havent been about the 'Pedestrians or Drivers' topic necessarily, but I do have one question it seems someone here may be able to answer:
    "Where to we call to ask for the crosswalk to be repainted across the northbound 205 on ramp?" There is almost no evidence left of the crosswalk right now.

    I thank you for the comments and suggestions. Since I live nearly directly East of the Foster steps to Max, the Harold and Pedestrian bridge North of Harold would be too far for me and my direct neighbors, more than doubling our walk. Sadly, if the crossing gets any more scary, and now that we are entering the 'dark' time of year, I am afraid it may negate my use of the Greenline MAX I had been so anxious for. Though I do like a good walk, after working 9 or 10 hours I am usually anxious to get home or stop for something to eat and/or take home, instead of heading the other way. I may have to start driving my car to where I can park. Maybe I will just be a fair weather daylight MAX traveler in/out of Lents. What it does is increase the chances that I will just stop at businesses along the route to/from the MAX stops safer for me to get to.
    While I love the easy access to the freeway, it seems that few of the improvements I have seen recently help those Lent-ites like me to get on/off of the island surrounded by the freeway, Foster Rd, Harold, and the Springwater Trail.
    For pedestrians: Sidewalks to travel down Foster to Lents Town Center have telephone poles in the middle and there is no way to push a baby stroller without going into the roadway. Harold has limited/no sidewalks beyond SE 103rd.
    For Cars: Traffic goes so fast on both Foster and Harold that it is dangerous to pull in/out. The alternative seems to be using the stop light at SE 101st and Foster, yet that makes the side streets much busier.
    Oh well, I am known to ramble. Bottom line for where I think I may be able to help is that repainting or re-marking the crosswalk(s) would make me feel a bit better about walking across those freeway ramps. I am willing to make a call if I know where the call would be most effective. THANKS!

    Posted 10 months ago #
36. 

    Jeffrey
    

    preferred member
    Joined: Apr '07
    Posts: 105

    I forwarded on your questions- and when I find out something, I'll let you know! Also- check out my "stupid idea" post on the yahoo group and let me know way you think!

    Jeff

    Posted 10 months ago #
37. 

    Twelvizm
    

    member
    Joined: Feb '10
    Posts: 43

    As far as Ramona goes, I think that is should be blocked off to cars completely and turned into pedestrian-only area. The residential property on the street should be re-zoned to commercial-only and the parking lot in the center of the block turned into a city-owned, free parking lot, for people shopping in the area (using a parking validation system). Making this a very green area to setup shop. It handles the parking problem and makes it very pedestrian-friendly.

    Posted 6 months ago #

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