Sellwood Bridge the top topic at Tomei-hosted open house

By David F. Ashton

The Bee, Nov 4, 2009

When she heard that the City plan for assisting with Sellwood Bridge financing would require adding streetcar tracks to it, Multnomah County Commissioner Deborah Kafoury says she was “caught flat-footed”.

David F. Ashton / THE BEE

Speaking to an audience that topped out at 75 people — including a delegation of ten visitors from Tokyo, Japan — Oregon Representative Carolyn Tomei (D-District 41) and her three guest officials faced an attentive audience on September 23.

Residents and supporters came to express their aspirations and fears regarding the Sellwood Bridge modernization project to Tomei — as well as State Senator Diane Rosenbaum; Multnomah County Commissioner Deborah Kafoury; Carlotta Collette, Metro Council District 2; and Clackamas County Chair Lynn Peterson.

An Ardenwald/Johnson Creek neighbor who was elected to represent Metro Council District 2, Carlotta Collette, said she’s been engaged in the Portland/Milwaukie Light Rail project and the Portland/Lake Oswego Streetcar and trail. “We’re looking at all multi-modal connections; more options for how we get around.”

Part of Metro’s Urban Growth Plan includes a Transportation Plan, Collette said, adding, “We’re looking at transportation issues differently than we’ve done in the past. Not in terms of cars and roads, but as outcomes for the region — including ‘walkable communities’ versus roadways.” It comes down to dollars, Collette added: “We can spend money on expanding the Urban Growth Boundary, or spend it here on the Sellwood Bridge.”

“Multnomah County Commissioner Deborah Kafoury began by saying, “The Sellwood Bridge is a top priority.”

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