tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5666195730630249633.post6138816218681825814..comments2024-03-25T17:49:41.408-07:00Comments on Salem Breakfast on Bikes: City Council, September 29th - Portland RoadSalem Breakfast on Bikeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15618055627843335993noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5666195730630249633.post-56956281002111459442014-09-27T10:46:36.075-07:002014-09-27T10:46:36.075-07:00Perhaps the most crucial part of this project is c...Perhaps the most crucial part of this project is completing sidewalks from the railroad underpass to Hawthorne. There's lots of gaps in sidewalks, yet the city has said this neighborhood has the highest density of people without access to a car in the city. Combine that with the fact that you've got a food bank, two community centers (Kroc and the one run by Salem-Keizer Coalition for Equality) and several social service agencies all in this stretch of Portland Road, and the need becomes even more apparent.<br /><br />I also wouldn't characterize this fund as $22 million just burning a hole in our pockets. This fund exists because my neighborhood association (Northgate) and Highland NA came together and ensured its creation. It was intended to clean up a run-down Portland Road corridor, raise property values throughout the area and create an attractive gateway into the city. Speaking in broad terms, this is the whole point of urban renewal.<br /><br />Fairgrounds Road has certainly seen the benefit of this project as well - look at the before-and-after. Significant private investment came as a result, and it's much safer to walk and bike. Right now Portland Road businesses are just waiting on the city to come through and do what was promised. It's time to get the job done.Jason Coxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5666195730630249633.post-44085337209264738842014-09-27T09:02:34.758-07:002014-09-27T09:02:34.758-07:00I think one of the most cost-effective ways to mak...I think one of the most cost-effective ways to make Portland Road a "place" where people want to be is a good road diet in the vicinity of the railroad bridge. A roundabout at Pine and at Lana would likely handle all of the traffic and allow one or maybe even two of the traffic lanes under the bridge to be repurposed. Silverton Road could be road dieted also. Maybe the four lanes gets converted to three lanes plus bike lanes. If anyone has had discussions with the city about these kind of projects, I'd like to hear about those. -garyGaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16103558153390537865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5666195730630249633.post-72873462241120482222014-09-26T16:52:41.203-07:002014-09-26T16:52:41.203-07:00Perhaps a cheaper and more effective method to get...Perhaps a cheaper and more effective method to get kids to the KROC is to give away free bus passes. Problem is not just how to get Keizer kids to the center, it is also how to get other kids from all parts of Salem there. Or maybe they could run a school bus there from some of the schools. Access is an issue for most of the kids in the Hayesville, Yoshiki and 4 corners areas. They don't even have a Boys and Girls Club in those areas.<br /><br />Street improvements like the City has been doing in the last bond are extremely expensive and it is hard to tell what good they have done for anyone.<br /><br />The Wallace Road $10 million project is almost done and we can't tell what benefit it is. The $10 million Swegle/Market Street realignment has changed nothing either. The City tosses money around like it is free and with only theories of what benefit is will bring...and then we see none. <br /><br />Even a relatively cheap 'fix' like the addition of a light at the bottom of the Center Street Bridge at Front Street did not create the solution that it was supposed to have. They said, it would stop the stacking on the bridge in that lane, but it has changed absolutionly nothing. That bit of miscalculation has cost taxpayers $250,000! And on and on it goes.<br /><br />If there is so much money in the URA for Portland Road burning a hole is their pockets, why not use it to build a new police facility on Portland Road for about $20 million? No wait, that would make sense!Susann Kaltwassernoreply@blogger.com