On June 22, Mayor Sam Adams posted comments on his blog regarding new thoughts about the Burnside corridor.  He stated that he “will not bring the 2007 $80 million couplet and streetcar proposal back to the Council for implementation.”  So the grand scheme couplet with the streetcar is officially off the table!

However, what remains on the table is a very controversial pared down $18 million “basic couplet” project along with TWO NEW concepts.  The two new concepts are a result of the Mayor hearing the concerns of the Better Burnside Alliance and other stakeholders who seek a better alternative to a car-centric couplet plan for improving Burnside.

Last fall, in response to these concerns, the Mayor directed PBOT to prepare a viable alternative to the couplet proposal.  The two DRAFT plans that PBOT is currently working on are the following:

“The first, so-called “Hybrid” concept reduces West Burnside to three traffic lanes between 4th and 19th Avenues. This provides left-turn opportunities at 3rd, 4th, 5th, Broadway, 9th, 10th, 13th, 14th, 15th and 19th, which could be extremely helpful to business in the corridor. Removing a travel lane and portions of the existing median islands (existing trees would be moved) might also create an opportunity to add some combination of wider sidewalks, bike lanes, and parking to this section. The DRAFT Four Lane/Three Lane Hybrid Concept presentation is available online”.

ftp://ftp02.portlandoregon.gov/PBOT/DA/WBC%20Alt%201.pdf

“The second concept, referred to as the “Skinny Couch” couplet, is a variation on the original couplet design. In this concept, Burnside would carry eastbound traffic and Couch would carry westbound traffic. However, the Couch half of the couplet would be reduced to one lane between Broadway and 14th. The intent of “skinnying” Couch would be to reduce the traffic volumes moving through this section of Couch, preserving the pedestrian-friendly qualities of the street. At this time, we have one DRAFT slide of the Skinny Couch Concept online that shows the aerial view of Couch. Click the slide to zoom in and see details.”

Both the “Hybrid” and “Skinny Couch” concepts are interesting alternatives, but they are still in development. The Mayor has promised to work with all the stakeholders to review these new concepts. We appreciate the Mayor’s acknowledgment of the importance of pedestrian friendly streets and his recognition that this project should be viewed within the context of the Central City Plan and The Portland Plan, both of which are in the works and both of which look at the city in its totality.

We look forward to working with the Mayor to find the best possible solution for improving Burnside, while at the same time preserving Couch street.

Many thanks to all of you who have supported our efforts in advocating for a better Burnside.  We welcome and appreciate your comments.

Btw: check out what Jonathon Maus has to say on the Bikeportland.org website:  http://bikeportland.org/2011/06/22/mayor-adams-unveils-new-concepts-for-w-burnside-couch-project-5533