City Club Presentation on "Multi-Modal" Improvements at Bridgeheads Misleading, even False

This is old news, clips from a presentation to the City Club back in February - but only just recently posted to the City's "third bridge" website.

It's hard to know what to think of some of the materials created by transportation "experts." This set of "multi-modal transportation system changes" looks like only something a person who drives a car exclusively would create (and love).

I mean, if you spent any time at all in this area on foot and on bike, you'd know this list is wildly off-base.

It looks, in fact, like something drawn by someone from a map and list of projects - and perhaps a few drive-bys in a car.

A more cynical interpretation is that it is auto capacity increase with a light greenwash, self-serving claptrap to shore up support for the giant bridge and highway proposal.

Only the Union St. RR Bridge is an Unambiguous Improvement
(and getting across Wallace and Commercial is still difficult)

I count one genuine multi-modal improvement, a few neutral net-zero things, and a bunch of unhelpful, anti-multi-modal stuff done mainly to speed car through-put.

A new bridge is a "solution" to no actual problems
for people who bike; instead, it creates
a bunch of new problems and exacerbates yet more.

This lousy analysis joins the other misinformation about supposed benefits that big, car-centric infrastructure offers to people who bike.

Bridge Alternatives and Assessment of Connectivity to Existing and Proposed Bicycle Facilities within the S...

This matters especially because people who ought to know better have been misled by claims that a giant bridge and highway will help multi-modal connectivity.

A giant bridge and highway multiplies barriers for people who walk and bike. To count a new connection across the river as enhancing system connectivity is utterly false.

Although the public hearing is on the 24th at Council, the record will close at 5pm on Friday the 21st - that's today.  So if you haven't submitted comment, now's the time.  Email Council here.

Councilors

	Ward 1  Councilor: Chuck Bennett Email: crbennett@cityofsalem.net Phone: 503-399-7801 Term Expires: December 31, 2016 Address: 555 Liberty St SE, Room 220, Salem OR 97301
	Ward 2 Councilor: Laura Tesler Email: ltesler@cityofsalem.net Phone: 503-399-7802 Term Expires: December 31, 2014 Address: 555 Liberty St SE, Room 220, Salem OR 97301
	Ward 3  Councilor: Brad Nanke Email: bnanke@cityofsalem.net Phone: 503-399-7803 Term Expires: December 31, 2016 Address: 555 Liberty St SE, Room 220, Salem OR 97301
	Ward 4  Councilor: Rich Clausen  Email: rclausen@cityofsalem.net Phone: 503-399-7804 Term Expires: December 31, 2014 Address: 555 Liberty St SE, Room 220, Salem OR 97301
	Ward 5 Councilor: Diana Dickey Email: ddickey@cityofsalem.net  Phone: 503-399-7905 Term Expires: December 31, 2016 Address: 555 Liberty St SE, Room 220, Salem OR 97301
	Ward 6  Councilor: Sheryl A Thomas Email: sthomas@cityofsalem.net Phone: 503-399-7806 Term Expires: December 31, 2014 Address: 555 Liberty St SE, Room 220, Salem OR 97301
	Ward 7 Councilor: Warren Bednarz  Email: wbednarz@cityofsalem.net  Phone: 503-399-7907 Term Expires: December 31, 2016 Address: 555 Liberty St SE, Room 220, Salem OR 97301
	Ward 8 Councilor: Dan Clem Email: dclem@cityofsalem.net  Phone: 503-399-7808 Term Expires: December 31, 2014 Address: 555 Liberty St SE, Room 220, Salem OR 97301

Click on this link to email the entire City Council:
Citycouncil@cityofsalem.net
Citywide Ward Map


For more on the River Crossing / Third Bridge see a summary critique and all breakfast blog notes tagged River Crossing. The No Third Bridge advocates also have lots of useful information.