Burnside-Couch Couplet & Streetcar

This is really more of a PDOT project than a PDC project, but PDC via TIF dollars is helping to fund it.

•Recent Couplet and Streetcar proposal from PDOT (Commissioner Adams). This is basically the last Couplet proposal with an addition of a Streetcar alignment.

•February 26, 2007 PDOT Planning Memorandum.

•But see the Portland Planning Bureau (PPB) full study, July 2006, offering an alternative [before the Streetcar addition] to PDOT's Couplet while achieving many, if not all, Couplet goals : see Extracts from the study containing the executive summary, 7 alternatives & conclusion.

•See City Planning Bureau documents November 2005 re the western portion the Couplet: Summary; full assessment.

•The Couplet shortfall [PDC Report 06-25, Attachment B, March 22, 2006] for the Old Town portion is $12 & $20 million.

• See Traffic page for statistics on Burnside and Couch.

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL:

See too PDOT movie (Flash) simulation (September 2005) of the project on the west side. Requires Macromedia Shockwave/Flash player. Takes a little time to download - be patient. See Tools page if a player is needed.

From Burnside/Couch Transportation Urban Design Plan Technical Refinements, Final Draft June 2005:

"The plan provides a vision and strategy for “humanizing Burnside” by transforming the Central City’s most blighted area into a “people place” that is comfortable, safe and exciting. Street improvements and new development will create a place to walk, congregate, work, live and visit. "

"The proposed improvements eliminate the barrier between the adjacent neighborhoods and businesses that Burnside presents today. Burnside is envisioned as a gateway to Portland’s most dense neighborhoods, with diverse and interesting districts and activities. " [Hyperlink temporarily deleted].

Burnside and Couch Transportation and Urban Design Plan Phase II Catalyst Development Study, June 2005. Development study goals include:

• Determine private development interest that might result from proposed capital improvements
• Analyze development potential of future catalyst sites and study area
• Calculate the economic impact of capital investment and catalyst development on assessed property value within the study area.

 <<Great picture from the Development Study.

 See the project map for traffic flow on the west side of the Willamette.

 See the catalyst map for west of the Willamette River

A 10-20-05 Town Hall Meeting produced the above maps and some other documentation about the Burnside-Couch Couplet. See the Catalyst Study and the Town Hall Meeting.

Revised: 03/22/2007