A new $135m bridge over the Willamette River will include designated lanes for pedestrians, bikes, and public transit vehicles, but not private cars.
Officials originally contemplated adding space for cars, but found the higher price tag, cumbersome federal design standards and projected traffic impacts forbidding, according to Michael Burnham. The structure is a key component of a 7-mile light rail extension and will be the first of its kind in the U.S. Completion is expected for 2015.
It may surprise some that even in transit-friendly Portland, the project has outspoken critics, writes Burnham:
"San Francisco-based architect Donald McDonald's bridge, more than 1,700 feet long, will feature two 181-foot-tall towers that anchor cables that rise from the river like a sea monster's fins...The Oregonian newspaper dubbed the bridge 'Godzilla on the Willamette' and charged it would 'severely limit' residential development on both sides of the river."
FULL STORY: Who's Scared of a Transit Bridge?
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The Portland Bureau of Transportation and Multnomah County agree on a 30 mph speed limit on five downtown bridges, but the state's department of transportation denied the change on two key spans.
A Game-Changing Bike and Pedestrian Bridge Opens in Portland
A bridge in the works since the 1970s marks significant progress for active transportation in Portland, Oregon.
Opinion: Transportation Funding Priorities Are Outdated
Investing in technology and promoting innovation in the transportation sector can further the Biden administration's goals of reducing carbon emissions and improving public transit.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
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Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
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Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service