Many questions, few answers — at Ardenwald MAX meeting

By David F. Ashton

The Bee, Jun 3, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009

David F. Ashton / THE BEE

Leah Robbins, TriMet East Segment Director, addresses Johnson Creek mitigation at the planned Tacoma Street park-and-ride location.

ADVERTISEMENTS

Judging by their reactions, some concerned Ardenwald-Johnson Creek neighbors appeared to be a bit frustrated with Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail project officials at a May 18 meeting.

During the well-attended meeting at Ardenwald Elementary School, neighbors peppered officials with questions. Most of the questions went unanswered — with officials saying it was too early in the project to be able to provide details.

Neighbors seemed flabbergasted that the Ardenwald MAX park-and-ride station, originally slated as a 600-vehicle facility near S.E. Tacoma Street, has ballooned in the plans into a 1,000-car structure.

“Originally, this was listed as a probable 600-space park-and-ride,” noted neighbor Dave Mayfield. “I noticed later, after the decision was made, footnotes indicated that it could be one with a greater capacity. It looks like the 1,000-space structure is now a ‘done deal’. To me, this is too much of a concentration of traffic impacts in one place.”

Matthew Rinker, chair of Ardenwald-Johnson Creek Neighborhood Association asked, “If other park-and-ride locations don’t work out, what are the absolute maximum number you're considering having the facility accommodate? I’ve heard 1,200 or more.”

TriMet design engineer, Amy Fandrich, replied, “Right now we don't know. I don't think that we are looking to make it the park-and-ride for all East Portland. There is a balancing act about where other park and ride locations are. I’ve never heard a number higher than 1,200. Right now it's at a thousand.”

Others at the meeting were caught off guard when they learned that the park-and-ride station would not be built at the mostly-industrial Southgate Theater site. Instead, plans are being drawn up to build the facility just south of S.E Tacoma Street, on the east side of McLoughlin Boulevard.

“There were a number of reasons why it’s not being sited in the industrial district,” commented City of Portland Office of Transportation lead engineer, Teresa Boyle.

“[That location] would required an additional right-of-way acquisition,” Boyle noted. “There were safety and security issues in having an above-grade station located in an area not often frequented for other uses.”

1 | 2 Next Page >>