A D V E R T I S E M E N T
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
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The supplemental draft environmental impact statement for the proposed light-rail line from Portland to Milwaukie has been released on Metro's Web site as the clock starts ticking on public comments.
The report contains in-depth analysis of expected costs and impacts, including effects on traffic and quality-of-life issues such as noise.
The report can be found on the Web at www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id/223.
The official release of the document on Friday, May 9, will initiate a 45-day public comment. Residents from throughout the region can weigh in on specific aspects or the general light-rail plan by:
Sending written comments to:
Portland to Milwaukie Light Rail Project,
600 N.E. Grand Ave.,
Portland 97232
E-mailing comments to trans@oregonmetro.gov
Leaving a verbal message by calling 503-797-1900, option 6
Residents may also provide their comments at any of the various public meetings that will occur before the decision on the line is made in July.
May 9, SDEIS released, public comment period opens.
May 21 from 6 to 8 p.m., Light rail study open house at Cleveland High School, 3400 S.E. 26th Ave., Portland.
May 22 from 6 to 8 p.m., Light rail study open house at Marriott Residence Inn, 2115 S.W. River Parkway, Portland.
May 27 from 6 to 8 p.m., Light rail study open house at Rex Putnam High School, 4950 S.E. Roethe Road, Oak Grove.
May 28 from 6 to 8 p.m., Light rail study open house, Milwaukie High School, 11300 S.E. 23rd Ave.
May 29 from 6 to 9 p.m., Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Project citizen advisory committee meeting, location yet to be determined.
June 3 at 7 p.m., Milwaukie City Council meeting at City Hall, 10722 S.E. Main St.
June 5 from 6 to 9 p.m., Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Project citizen advisory committee meeting, location yet to be determined.
June 9 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Project steering committee public hearing, at Metro, 600 N.E. Grand Ave., Portland.
June 17 at 5:30 p.m., Milwaukie City Council work session at City Hall, 10722 S.E. Main St.
June 23 at noon, public comment period closes.
July 14 and 15 at 7 p.m., Milwaukie City Council meetings at City Hall, 10722 S.E. Main St. (the council will make its final recommendation at the July 15 meeting).
July 24 at 2 p.m., Metro Council Meeting at Metro, 600 N.E. Grand Ave., Portland. (Metro Council will select the Locally Preferred Alternative for the corridor at this meeting.)
"Will we be paying for this with taxes?"
No John, we will be shaking the Magical Money Tree that grows on the hill on the edge of town.
(email verified)
Wed, May 07, 2008 at 07:14 AM
When I was in the Portland/Milwaukie area last July and August, I noted that the property for the light-rail along the McLoughlin corridor was already being prepared which means it had already been purchased. My question is Why have public meetings and conduct a study now? This is not only useless and expensive, it is truly insulting to realize that our local govenmental bodies believe the people who will pay a ton for this are just too stupid to know what is being done to them.
It just never seems to change, does it? Probably why I moved out of the country.
(email verified)
Wed, May 07, 2008 at 07:25 AM
Oh yeah, like it matters what the public thinks... I can tell you for a fact that this has been planned since the late seventies. I heard about the proposal way back then from an informed source at TriMet. This will go forward no matter what anyone says, you can bet on it.
(email verified)
Wed, May 07, 2008 at 07:50 AM
DUMP THE PROJECT. WAY TOO EXPENSIVE. BUS WORKS FINE!
(email verified)
Wed, May 07, 2008 at 09:11 AM
70% of the funds for the Milwaukie project will come from the Federal Transit Administration. If that money does not come here to build our new light rail project - it will go to another city in another state. These funds cannot be used for anything other than a transit project- somewhere. Period.
Building this light rail line, even if you don't currently plan on using it, will create hundreds of well paying construction, demolition, and transit service jobs- here in Oregon. Those jobs may be jobs that your kids or friends and relatives could work.
Most of the remaining 30% of the funds needed to build this project will come from the State of Oregon lottery proceeds fund. A small portion of the 30% local funding will come from Metro, and other jurisdictions in the form of contributions of parcels of land that are already owned by cities and are planned to be incorporated into the right of way for the line.
The local tax money that will eventually be required- AFTER THE PROJECT HAS BEEN BUILT AND ALL CONSTRUCTION PAID FOR- is for operation and maintenance of the trains and track. This money comes from a payroll tax that business within the Tri-County area are already required to pay to TriMet. You, as an individual resident of Milwaukie, Oregon City, or Gladstone are not being asked to contribute one cent to this project.
Gas costs $4.00 per gallon, and it will only go up from here. STOP being uninformed, lets take the free federal cash- get some jobs, build some rail, and start trying to get ourselves off of oil. Your unwillingness to understand this is endangering the future of our children, the environment, and our local economy.
(email verified)
Wed, May 07, 2008 at 02:44 PM
Lets see My kids (Portland metro Area) need new School Supplies (Roads Infrastructure the majority Use) but Ford (The Feds) are offering a Rebate (Transit Money) if I contribute now and buy a car.
Forget the Kids I'll by the car even though I can't Afford it Right Now.
Sure Wish I Could Do What The Govt Does.
(email verified)
Wed, May 07, 2008 at 03:12 PM
Wow,,,just who is being uninformed when they refer to federal money as free? Like it grows on trees eh hahaha... Let get real...and also wise up to the facts of the matter..
Free federal money is not really free!
Think about it.
(email verified)
Wed, May 07, 2008 at 05:09 PM
David-
It is true that federal money is not really free. But is has already been collected and given to the FTA to spend. And it was collected from taxpayers all over the US.
If we don't take advantage of it it WILL go to create jobs in another city in another state building transit. The wages and materials that the $900, 000, 000 in federal money will pay for could be spent, and respent by the earners here in our towns.
(email verified)
Thu, May 08, 2008 at 03:29 AM
Nick,
What you conveniently fail to mention is that the "transit" project does not have to be light rail. It could be a dedicated bus lane system that has worked in many other places due to its greater flexibility in both schedules and destination.
To say nothing of the fact that our system works by having the representatives VOTE on how to spend the money, thereby leaving open the option (*cue the trumpets*) of VOTING to spend the money on something else.
You know, the "free federal money". Amazing comment, that. What PDX counselor are you an intern for?
(email verified)
Thu, May 08, 2008 at 03:47 AM
"Nick", if the fedes were paying 100% for the line, I'd agree with you, but they are not.
The taxpayers in this city / state can't afford anymore " Pie in the sky" light rail lines. Right now our priorities should be the upkeep and replacement of our current infrastructure.
The 1.1-1.4 billion dollar figure is at least a year old. Figure in the price rise in materials and fuel over the last year and it will be closer to 2 billion, of which the feds are paying 750 million and the state is paying 150 million. 2 billion is generous, considering the average cost overruns of the other lines.
That much for 6.2 miles, I don't think so, keep the buses!
(email verified)
Thu, May 08, 2008 at 04:46 AM
Nick - Let the money go - Sure the Feds/Taxpayers pay for 70% of the building costs, but the loss in productivity that MAX/TriMet builds into the project - More Transfers - fewer riding choices - extended travel time - lost income tax revenue - and high maintenance cost - out weighs any economy provided by "Federal" money. The "Tax" upon us that we are all compelled to pay with Light Rail is ridicules.
The East Side Light Rail, though I hate to admit it, benefited all residents, because it included upgrading the Banfield Freeway. Unfortunately all other MAX Projects have impeded traffic and removed capacity from existing roads. West Side MAX forced High Density housing, yet did nothing to increase road capacity along the line. Interstate MAX removed capacity from one of the busiest Truck Routes in N/NE Portland and moved it directly onto I5 without adding capacity to the freeway.
I still cannot grasp the reason the Clackamas/Gateway MAX is being built. It cannot replace buses on 82nd Avenue/Hwy 213 and few people live/work along the line. It would take 3 hours to get from Clackamas to Hillsboro who would put up with that when you can drive. I predict a reduction of ridership along the Clackamas line after it is open.
(email verified)
Thu, May 08, 2008 at 07:26 AM
I am meth head in the Milwaukee area, and it is very difficult for me to get to other places in the city to steal mail. this light rail would really help me out.
(email verified)
Thu, May 08, 2008 at 08:16 AM
"the property for the light-rail along the McLoughlin corridor was already being prepared..."
That is absolutely not true. What activities did you see, and where exactly was it? Be specific.
"I am meth head in the Milwaukee area"
Well, since you are 1,500 miles away, we don't have much to worry about, now do we? Idiot.
And Chris, I think the early bird special is on at Denny's, don't you have an appointment to get to?
(email verified)
Fri, May 09, 2008 at 05:16 AM
And "", your mother called and wants you to go straight home after middle school gets out.
Did you hear about all the mindless posting on the internet and decide you wanted to try your hand at it?
You are truly gifted in the mindless area.
Way to strive for a goal.....
(email verified)
Fri, May 09, 2008 at 06:28 AM
"Did you hear about all the mindless posting on the internet and decide you wanted to try your hand at it?"
No Chris, you're the king. Nothing better to do at the nursing home, eh?
(email verified)
Fri, May 09, 2008 at 06:42 AM
Disputes like that always build some controversy among people directly affected by the problem. Despite the end part of the opinions which went in a little wrong direction while being more personal vendetta, It was a pleasure to read most of your comments. So where we are with the decisions? Seem like our opinion does not count- as usual, and everything is done behind our backs; or maybe after to many times when we were disillusioned by people we have voted on, we are to paralyzed to take any action... I live in Milwaukie for almost 4 years so far and I see changes, to many of them lately. There are people like me around who choose this area because of its beauty, scenery, big lots around the houses, small schools for our children and this local charm of the small town not to far from big agglomeration, but far enough to left this whole noise near to Welcome to Milwaukie road sign.
Those are my arguments to verify the project and preserve our town.
*People does not change! We love our cars,drinking coffee and talking on the phones while driving, let's face it...
*It will just create more traffic ( look at the Hillsboro and Beaverton or Gresham area, are people there stop using their cars because of gas prices or because they have Max?)
*Recent projects on McLaughlin blvd. almost paralyzed the traffic, and we talking just about some pavements construction (which by the way was one of the brilliant decision), plus the stupidity of those who want to save every second on the road is unbelievable here! What is going to happened if we allows those long term constructions.
*I see people everyday running through the crosswalks fighting with the busy cars, because it is not enough time for pedestrians to cross the street safely ( recently it looks a little better)
*More housing? Because of couple of new developments in the area, the place is not peaceful anymore, lets destroy it completely, who needs it anyway! And let's build those beautiful American suburbs fence to fence, wall to wall with the specification about 1 inch grass. There is a lot places around Portland like that for those who love it.
*More housing- more people, more children in already packed schools, less space.
*More rental apartments, more letters about dangerous child molesters without cars...
*More crime in general.
...And it all for the promise of money, promise that it will not cost us more than it is worth? Talking about future, we have already Portland sometimes in ours addresses, and as I see it perfectly goes in that direction. More jobs? People, we live 20 minutes from down town! It is a lot of construction there if you need the jobs. About those new ones, let's build new schools and parks it will be enough new jobs from that.
I really appreciate future comments to my arguments, with the only one exception: At least please be constructive in your critic, and please concentrate your response on the problem not on me!
(email verified)
Fri, May 16, 2008 at 04:21 AM
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Re: Milwaukie light-rail environmental study ready for comment
Will we be paying for this with taxes? In that case Sho Dozono needs to pony up like the rest of us did. It was great to see the depressed looks of the 3 people holding his sign on hawthorne bridge LOL
"John Q Taxpayer"
(email verified)
Wed, May 07, 2008 at 06:45 AM