OregonianArticleMar2008

Roadwork - A new alignment for the long-planned extension would cost millions less

Beaverton city engineers have come up with a new design and route for the extension of Southwest 125th Avenue that would cut as much as $3.6 million from the price.

That might help speed a project that has been stalled for more than three decades. The change might be good news to commuters who drive Southwest Greenway Boulevard and residents along the earlier proposed route.

The new route, however, has angered residents of the Meeker Townhomes, many of whom would have a 35-mph road outside their back doors. Locals who helped plan the extension a decade ago are frustrated that the route and design they chose might be discarded.

"All that planning we did was for nothing," said Ann Frainey, who lives a block from the planned road and was on an advisory committee for it. "I guess the city can choose to do whatever it wants."

Both the townhome residents and the advisory group said they were disappointed to hear the news from a reporter instead of city officials. They didn't know about a City Council discussion last week until after the meeting.

City officials say the new plan is tentative, and they will have several meetings to gather public comments.

City officials have been talking since the early 1970s about extending the road north from Brockman Road to Hall Boulevard just south of Hart Road. The original plan, finalized in 1998, placed the intersection with Hall between a wetland along Fanno Creek and the Hallwood Apartments.

The new route instead would follow Southwest Green Lane, now a dead end, to an existing intersection with Hall. Engineers would design the intersection so traffic would have to turn onto Hall, avoiding cut-through traffic on Southwest Cresmoor Drive across the street.

The new route would affect fewer residents, including those along Raintree Drive.

The new design, which would affect the entire length of the roughly 3/4-mile road, also would require less excavation than the old one, which put the road as much as 20 feet below grade. Because the road would be more hilly, the posted speed would be 35 mph instead of the original 40 mph.

Being closer to the current grade also would allow more room for wider bicycle lanes, sidewalks and greenways as wide as 56 feet, said Brion Barnett, project engineer.

The changes also would mean less effect on the wetlands next to Hall Boulevard and save $1.5 million in work there, Barnett said.

In total, the changes could mean the project costs $11.2 million instead of an estimated $14.8 million.

The best hope for that is a new Major Streets Transportation Improvement Program levy, which Washington County leaders might put on the ballot in November.

The city is expected to spend $600,000 during the next budget year on engineering and right-of-way purchases for the project.

The project's biggest booster on the council, Cathy Stanton, told engineers at the council meeting that the changes made sense. "I'll buy this," she said. "I'm very pleased with this."

But neighbors along the route worry that the new at-grade design would be noisier and uglier, said Jim Persey, another member of the advisory committee and the chairman of the Greenway Neighborhood Association Committee.

"I still have concerns about the noise," Persey said. "I'm a little skeptical, but I understand what they're trying to do."

Sound walls that were part of the original design would remain, said Gary Brentano, the city's operations director.

The clear losers with the new route are the residents of the 88-unit Meeker Townhomes.

"If I was in the . . . townhomes, I would be outraged," Persey said.

Pat and Dave Nielsen, who have lived at Meeker Townhomes for 41/2 years, said they would sell before living next to a 35 mph road. The new road would be about 20 feet from their deck.

"Of course, my preference would be that it not come through my back porch," said Pat Nielsen, a past president of the homeowners association. "I'm not happy to hear that."

David R. Anderson: 503-294-5199; davidanderson@ news.oregonian.com



	Altered 125th Avenue plans trouble residents Roadwork - A new alignment for the long-planned extension would cost millions less Thursday, March 06, 2008 DAVID R. ANDERSON The Oregonian Beaverton city engineers have come up with a new design and route for the extension of Southwest 125th Avenue that would cut as much as $3.6 million from the price. That might help speed a project that has been stalled for more than three decades. The change might be good news to commuters who drive Southwest Greenway Boulevard and residents along the earlier proposed route. The new route, however, has angered residents of the Meeker Townhomes, many of whom would have a 35-mph road outside their back doors. Locals who helped plan the extension a decade ago are frustrated that the route and design they chose might be discarded. "All that planning we did was for nothing," said Ann Frainey, who lives a block from the planned road and was on an advisory committee for it. "I guess the city can choose to do whatever it wants." Both the townhome residents and the advisory group said they were disappointed to hear the news from a reporter instead of city officials. They didn't know about a City Council discussion last week until after the meeting. City officials say the new plan is tentative, and they will have several meetings to gather public comments. City officials have been talking since the early 1970s about extending the road north from Brockman Road to Hall Boulevard just south of Hart Road. The original plan, finalized in 1998, placed the intersection with Hall between a wetland along Fanno Creek and the Hallwood Apartments. The new route instead would follow Southwest Green Lane, now a dead end, to an existing intersection with Hall. Engineers would design the intersection so traffic would have to turn onto Hall, avoiding cut-through traffic on Southwest Cresmoor Drive across the street. The new route would affect fewer residents, including those along Raintree Drive. The new design, which would affect the entire length of the roughly 3/4-mile road, also would require less excavation than the old one, which put the road as much as 20 feet below grade. Because the road would be more hilly, the posted speed would be 35 mph instead of the original 40 mph. Being closer to the current grade also would allow more room for wider bicycle lanes, sidewalks and greenways as wide as 56 feet, said Brion Barnett, project engineer. The changes also would mean less effect on the wetlands next to Hall Boulevard and save $1.5 million in work there, Barnett said. In total, the changes could mean the project costs $11.2 million instead of an estimated $14.8 million. Still, the city has no money set aside for construction. The best hope for that is a new Major Streets Transportation Improvement Program levy, which Washington County leaders might put on the ballot in November. The city is expected to spend $600,000 during the next budget year on engineering and right-of-way purchases for the project. The project's biggest booster on the council, Cathy Stanton, told engineers at the council meeting that the changes made sense. "I'll buy this," she said. "I'm very pleased with this." But neighbors along the route worry that the new at-grade design would be noisier and uglier, said Jim Persey, another member of the advisory committee and the chairman of the Greenway Neighborhood Association Committee. "I still have concerns about the noise," Persey said. "I'm a little skeptical, but I understand what they're trying to do." Sound walls that were part of the original design would remain, said Gary Brentano, the city's operations director. The clear losers with the new route are the residents of the 88-unit Meeker Townhomes. "If I was in the . . . townhomes, I would be outraged," Persey said. Pat and Dave Nielsen, who have lived at Meeker Townhomes for 41/2 years, said they would sell before living next to a 35 mph road. The new road would be about 20 feet from their deck. "Of course, my preference would be that it not come through my back porch," said Pat Nielsen, a past president of the homeowners association. "I'm not happy to hear that." David R. Anderson: 503-294-5199; davidanderson@ news.oregonian.com ©2008 The Oregonian