Commercial Street Meta-Demonstration Project

[Zack Barowitz]

Cashel et al;

I've been reflecting on the Commercial Street demonstration project. I think the general consensus at the meeting was that the focus area isn't a particularly high priority from a safety or functionality perspective but rather that Portland City staff chose the location because it is a high profile location. As such, I would consider this a demonstration of a demonstration project or a meta-demonstration product. What this means in terms of design I'm not quite sure, but given the relatively low stakes (e.g., low injury crash rate per capita) it seems like a good opportunity take a half step back from the diligent practicality that we all love and to show the world a demonstration project in all its glory.

Thanks,

Zack

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[Rauschpfeife]

I agree. I think the chaos of Commercial Street is, on the whole, a good thing. The subject of speeding late at night came up. I haven't experienced this personally, not being given much to late-night pub crawls any more. Seems like policiers-couchants would take care of this, and they'd hardly be noticeable at the slow speed of daytime traffic. 

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Best, 

Michael Smith

anacharsis.substack.com

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[Jaime Parker]

Agreed!  Some other ideas to consider:

• Use aesthetically pleasing,natural materials wherever possible (i.e. a wooden "planter"/seat at a bump-out with reflection and protection, instead of flex posts and armadillos alone)
• Parking Day offers some examples; semi-permanent parklets
• Lobster Traps!
• Wooden platforms to extend the curb 
• Curbside seating adjacent to/inside of bump-outs
• Rely on colorful paint/stencils more than white lines and plastic devices
• Make the mega-crosswalk the crown-jewel of the install; PM at all corners
• Blue "Harborwalk Trail" (TBD) stencils for bicyclists (instead of Sharrows?) - This is a Portland Trails goal, and we could likely support it
• Gateways at either end - and consider the interface where the project meets existing conditions - 
• Can we improve the connection to trails; Harborview and E.Prom, with paint/limited signage?
• Explainers posted at various points; - could highlight the goals of the project, Vision Zero, Harborwalk and Trails map (again, PT could possibly support this).

Many of these things may seem like add-ons to the scope, but if you were to go with limited but effective plastic delineation, and focus more $$ and effort on paint and placemaking, most of these are achievable (with additional volunteer labor, most likely).

Jaime Parker

(he/his)
Special Projects Director
Portland Trails
ja...@trails.org
207.329.6180

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