Sustainable City Year Reports 2020-21 (Troutdale)

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Browsing Sustainable City Year Reports 2020-21 (Troutdale) by Author "Brown, Anne"

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    Connecting Troutdale: Options for Future Transportation Choices
    (University of Oregon, 2021-06) Josephson, Brian; Brown, Anne; Haley, Clare
    Sustained population and employment growth in the City of Troutdale have benefited the city in a variety of ways. However, this growth has amplified demand on the city’s transportation system and impacted people’s ability to get around. The class proposed several possible solutions to address these issues. For example, the City could paint crosswalks more clearly, stripe bike lanes, and ensure that sidewalks are continuous in their construction. This provides pedestrians and bicyclists with more certainty and comfort as they navigate the city. In addition, the class recommended different ways to connect downtown to the rest of the City via a shuttle or trolley. After assessing both options, it was concluded that a shuttle could provide a better replacement for personal vehicle trips to the downtown area. The class also recommended a golf cart zone be added to augment the shuttle in low speed zones and offer even greater flexibility in transportation choices. An additional system of electric bicycles and scooters throughout the City could also offer new and exciting methods of transportation for many residents, tourists, and commuters. These scooters could be paired with a multi- use path near a bus stop to transport workers to and from the Amazon and FedEx facilities in the Troutdale Reynolds Industrial Park. Finally, in order to facilitate the movement of goods and people in the City center, a system of three different loading/ unloading zones could be implemented during certain hours of the day to maintain space for deliveries and drop offs without obstructing the flow of traffic. These recommendations offer diverse alternatives to help improve and increase opportunities to get around within the City of Troutdale.
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    Finance, Economics, and New Mobility: 21st Century Transportation Challenges and Solutions for Troutdale, Oregon
    (University of Oregon, 2021-06) Keough, Nick; Brown, Anne
    The following report reviews and synthesizes work completed by University of Oregon students regarding potential transportation polices for the city of Troutdale, Oregon. Students focused on three categories: transportation finance, transportation economics, and new mobility options. TRANSPORTATION FINANCE Students investigated transportation finance in Troutdale, which included current funding mechanisms used by Troutdale such as the State of Oregon Highway Trust Fund and a local gas tax. Students reflected on why there is a need for municipalities to start exploring other funding mechanisms and ultimately recommended pricing parking, implementing payroll taxes, increasing the current system development charge rates, raising the local gas tax, and enacting a street utility fee to enact more secure and sustainable transportation funding for Troutdale. TRANSPORTATION ECONOMICS Students researched transportation economics specific to alleviating congestion in Glenn Otto Park. Students began by reviewing the current conditions at Glenn Otto Park, analyzing congestion management literature, and highlighting existing parking pricing approaches at similar recreation areas. Students advocate for a tiered parking fee that has varying rates for residents and non-residents. Specific dollar amounts of the fees are suggested, with Troutdale staff encouraged to make modifications to the pricing structure based on demand. In doing so, students hope this approach will not only reduce congestion in the park, but will help the city raise funds for transportation maintenance and improvements. NEW MOBILITY OPTIONS Students turned their attention tothe ways new mobility options will impact cities, specifically suburban cities like Troutdale. The catgory defines and provides background on three key areas in new mobility: (1) autonomous vehicles, (2) micromobility, and (3) ride-hailing. A discussion of the major trends in new mobility and the impact that new mobility options will likely have on municipal policy follows. Recommendations include an autonomous vehicles corridor, an autonomous goods delivery service, a bikeshare program and hybrid micromobility system, and an expansion of ride-hailing, among other options. While all three categories consider different transportation challenges for Troutdale, there is a significant amount of crossover between the three topics suggesting that different areas of transportation policy do not operate independently. This highlights that transportation solutions will likely need to be multi-faceted as well as suggests that collaboration will help bring about transformative transportation change in Troutdale.
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    The Overlook: Affordable Housing in Downtown Troutdale
    (University of Oregon, 2021) Irsfeld, Brendan; Arroyo, John; Brown, Anne; Sandoval, Gerard; Knudson, Kaarin
    Graduate students in the University of Oregon’s Community and Regional Planning program collaborated inthree research groups to propose an affordable housing development on a parcel of land close to downtown Troutdale. The parcel is designated as Opportunity Site 7 (referred to as the Overlook Tract) in the City’s recent Town Center Plan. Each proposal examined affordable housing from a specific topical lens: climate justice, racial justice, and housing instability. Due to the restrictions in place resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the three teams worked mainly in a virtual environment under the guidance of a faculty advisor. Students presented three forward- thinking proposals for developing affordable housing on the site. The groups incorporated many similar elements while also distinguishing each proposal by introducing unique recommendations. Using a mixed-use design to support future residents emerged as a predominant theme of each proposal. Commercial space can serve as a place that provides community services and introduces vibrancy to the area when incorporated with housing space. Another similarity among each proposal was to improve Troutdale’s downtown transportation network to better accommodate pedestrians and biking. To conceptualize their proposals, students employed a variety of research methods, including quantitative analysis, content analysis, a literature review, case studies, and participating in a virtual design charette led by faculty at the University of Oregon. This research period allowed each team to form a comprehensive understanding of Troutdale as a place and community. Teams envisioned affordable housing with an understanding of the socioeconomic and demographic shifts within the context of local housing markets, with particular emphasis on living spaces for low-income individuals. Efforts were concentrated on the potential of the parcel to provide affordable housing, in addition to residual benefits for the future growth of the downtown area, a vital concern to Troutdale’s city officials. Of the key recommendations from each group, notable features also include: • Utilizing open space within the development for community- supportive activities, such as maintaining a community garden. • Providing first-floor commercial space to introduce jobs and amenities to the area close to downtown Troutdale. • Creating connections between existing built infrastructure and the site, in addition to downtown neighborhoods in Troutdale. • Incorporating placemaking elements, such as public art and community centers, to reflect the cultural diversity of Troutdale’s citizenry. This report briefly presents the central themes, notable highlights, and key recommendations contained within each group’s proposal for an affordable housing development on the Overlook Tract.