Category Archives: Roads & Transportation
Road News February 2023
• Thompson Road surveying work
• Huntington Ave. sidewalk open house
• Traffic easing programs encounter high barriers in Washington County
Transit News February 2023
• 2023-24 TriMet service changes
• Share feedback on major transit proposals
WashCo News January 2023
• Housing voucher waitlist
• Participants needed for Veterans History Project
• Washington County 2023 Legislative Agendas
• Boards and Commissions Vacancies
• Land Use and Transportation Annual Report
Road News November 2022
• Barnes Road widening nears completion
• Repairs to Cornell near Sunset High completed
• Ridge Road at McDaniel now open
• Springville Road Open House
Neighborhood Streets Program: A county program needing reform
Urban unincorporated Washington County—for example Aloha, Bethany and Cedar Mill—are expanding rapidly. And for many neighborhoods that can mean streets suddenly change from being local roads to major traffic collectors. The result is often an increase in speeding and traffic accidents. It makes other road users, like cyclists and pedestrians, feel unsafe. In my neighborhood in North Bethany, Joss/Brugger Avenue was intended to be a neighborhood street but, due to delayed development of new larger streets around us, Joss has become a permanent traffic collector.
September 2022 Road News
We asked LUT Public Affairs and Communications Manager Melissa De Lyser for an update on the various road projects in progress or scheduled for the roads we travel.
CPO 1 News August 2022
• Neighborhood meetings
• Development applications
• Gas station next to a wetland
• Cedar Hills Apartments
• Leahy Estates appeal is denied
• CPO 1 July meeting notes
Road News August 2022
• Help plan Washington County’s transportation future
• Dangerous sidewalk puddle gets fixed
Thompson Crossing decision raises questions about county planning
We asked Stephen Roberts, Director of Washington County’s Land Use and Transportation Department (LUT) to clarify the department’s reasoning in allowing the exceptions to county standards and plans for the Thompson Crossing development. While he didn’t explicitly answer every question, we’re including his responses below.
Road News May 2022
• Cornell Tunnel update
• County seeks input on two options for Saltzman Road
CPO News May 2022
• May Meeting: Ballot Measures, Cedar Hills development
• CPO 1 appeals the Thompson Crossing development approval, Biggi sues the county
• CPO 1 April Meeting Summary
Where the sidewalk starts: Washington County pedestrian facilities
Because there has been confusion and frustration among neighbors recently over what the county requires in the way of “road amenities,” we asked Melissa De Lyser, Public Affairs and Communications Manager for the county’s Land Use and Transportation Department, to give us a rundown on what the county requires in various situations.
CPO News April 2022
• April meeting: Candidate Forum
• Land use and your CPO
• Neighborhood meetings
• Development applications
• CPO March Meeting Summary
TriMet redistricting proposal lumps us in with downtown! Comment now…
All three scenarios lump our area together with the northwest and southwest Portland (downtown), with the Willamette River as a dividing line. The transit needs and deficiencies of people in the Tualatin Valley are quite different to those areas, so people interested in transit may want to attend an Open House and/or provide feedback by April 15 by emailing feedback@trimet.org or calling 503-238-7433 (RIDE).
Cedar Mill Pathway System
One day a Cedar Mill resident discovered a heavy cedar plaque in her shed. It was beautifully carved and included the words “Cedar Mill.” Its origin was a mystery until Virginia Bruce published a request for information in the October 2020 issue and the community came forward with a wealth of memories.
Cornell tunnel update
Cornell tunnel update
Drivers from our area who used to use Cornell to get to Portland have been asking when the tunnel repairs will be complete. We finally managed to get some information from Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT).
Cleaner Air: Coming soon to a highway near you
Sunset Highway is a well-used corridor for traffic, including heavy diesel trucks. In 2018, ODOT counted as many as 285 commercial trucks in a 24-hour period on that route. That translates to a hefty amount of air pollution spewing out of tailpipes, creating health problems for anyone along their path.
Road News January 2022
• Saltzman PAC meeting
• Thompson Road/Kenny Terrace Online Open House
• Cornell Road project now underway
• Filbert sidewalk project delayed
• Walker-Murray intersection construction update
• Oregon 217 Auxiliary Lanes Project
• TriMet service reductions start January 10
• Cornell tunnel update
Road News December 2021
• Barnes/CHB intersection improvements
• Upper Saltzman—another PAC meeting, Open House, BCC briefing
CPO 1 News December 2021
• December meeting: Why our water rates must go up
• CCI requests Planning Commission changes
• Development Applications: West Union gas station; Leahy Estates
• Neighborhood Meeting online rules
• CPO 1 November Meeting Notes
A Short History of the Thompson-Saltzman Road Intersection
The corner of NW Thompson Road and NW Saltzman Road historically had a curious offset configuration, probably due to quarter section allotments when the property was homesteaded by the family of Laurence Lehman and other early settlers. In the course of time, it became necessary to upgrade the disjointed four-way stop to be safely aligned and controlled by traffic lights.
CPO 1 News November 2021
• CPO 1 November 9 meeting
• Neighborhood Meetings
• Development applications
• CPO 1 October meeting notes
Why the white bike?
“Ghost bikes” are a traditional way of honoring and memorializing a cyclist killed by a motor vehicle. Here in Cedar Mill you may have noticed a white bike attached to a pole at the intersection of Cornell and Old Barnes Rd., near Sunset Veterinary.
Transit News October 2021
“A Better Red” increases Red Line airport service. The project will extend the MAX Red Line west into Hillsboro and Beaverton to serve 10 more stations. The Red Line currently only runs between the Beaverton Transit Center and PDX.
Road News September 2021
• Cornell Road closing through the tunnel
• Thompson Road realignment
• MSTIP 2023-2028 Funding Allocation Process Work Plan is in progress
Road News July 2021
• Ridge/McDaniel gate update
• Kenny Terrace bike-ped and widening
• Walker/Murray intersection project
• Maintenance and mowing on our roads
• Laidlaw road closure
• ODOT News
• Night paving on Sunset Highway
Life Time Fitness at Barnes & CHB
With construction finally underway on the Life Time Fitness complex west of Cedar Hills Blvd. (CHB) south of Barnes Road, we have been receiving questions about this development and future plans for the remaining Peterkort properties in the vicinity. Here’s a brief review and a timeline of the Peterkort Master Plan.
Road News
• Intelligent Transportation Systems Open House
• Which bike/ped projects are important to you?
County leaves ped-bike safety on the table
People who want safer routes for bicycles and pedestrians look to Washington County to, if not build them, at least encourage them. In some cases, a developer is required to build them when new houses go in.
Development News April 2021
Target application is approved, turn lane can stay for now
Washington County has approved the application to allow Target to move into the former Bales grocery location. There was considerable anxiety over a possible Land Use and Transportation (LUT) requirement to close the left turn lane from Cornell into the lot, but in a decision sent out on March 25, LUT has decided it can remain “on a temporary basis until such time as alternative access meeting the access spacing standards becomes available—providing that [they] continue to operate safely.”
Road News March 2021
• Upper Saltzman
• Filbert Sidewalk
• Thompson/Kenny road project
• Cornelius Pass now Highway 127
• Complete Streets Open House
Oregon updates traffic speed rules
In January’s discussion on speed limits, we talked about the speeding complaints in our community; ways some communities faced this problem; and measures you can take to help solve speeding problems.
Ride Connection expands
Ride Connection is a free service for individuals (primarily those who have disabilities and/or are senior citizens) in select regions of Oregon. In the past month, this transit program has received funding to better serve Oregonians.
Road News February 2021
• Thompson Road realignment bike-ped options
• Saltzman update
• Saltzman “Phase 2” improvements
• Cornell Road Improvement Project
• Fire gate at McDaniel & Ridge Road may be removed
CPO 1 News January 2021
• CPO 1 January Meeting
• CPO1 December Meeting Summary
• Neighborhood Meetings
• Proposed 10-lot subdivision “Thompson Crossing”
• Proposed 10-lot subdivision “Lynnridge Estates”
Do we have a speed limit problem?
If you’ve been on local social media, you’re used to seeing complaints of speeding in neighborhoods in the Cedar Mill area. With more people going out to walk around the neighborhood to escape the confines of their home this quarantine, it’s more important than ever that we keep these residential areas safe.
CPO 1 News December 2020
• December CPO 1 meeting
• CPO1 November Meeting Summary
• Short-term Rentals Online Open House December 4 – January 8
• Neighborhood Meetings
• Development applications
December 2020 Development News
Thompson is designated as a minor arterial on county plans, which means it needs to be three lanes with curbs and sidewalks, and a total width of 90 feet.
Road News December 2020
• Saltzman Road PAC recommends western alignment
• Comment now on changes planned for Highway 217
• Expansion of Neighborhood Streets Program
• Comment on the Walker Road Phase 3 Project
• Cornell/Barnes turn lane on county budget
November 2020 Saltzman improvement update
Washington County engaged JLA Public Involvement to manage a community discussion on alternatives for improving the northern end of Saltzman Road. The third meeting of the Saltzman Road Public Advisory Committee (PAC) was held on October 22, 2020.
October 2020 Road News
• Temporary paving at Murray/Cornell
• Walker/Murray appeal denied
• Cornelius Pass reopens
• Comment on Metro projects
Saltzman project update
A public involvement process is underway to collect community opinions on the proposed alternatives for improving the north end of Saltzman, between Bayonne at the top of the ridge, to Laidlaw.
Road News September 2020
Cornelius Pass news
Saltzman solution?
Walker-Murray intersection project is appealed by Beaverton Councilors
Springville Road construction
Road News June 2020
• Butner Road culvert construction
• Culvert replacement and waterline at Autumn Creek
TriMet schedule changes
Starting on April 2, no more than 10-15 riders can be on a bus at one time—10 individuals, or up to 15 if people are riding together (such as couples or parents with children). TriMet is also closing off some seats—there will be a sign that says you can’t sit there…
