Members of the public are invited to attend the next meeting of the Community Task Force for the Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge project on Monday, October 21 from 6 - 8 pm at Mercy Corps, 45 SW Ankeny Street, Portland. The meeting will be in the Aceh Room.
The Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge project is studying four build options that would create a resilient lifeline crossing over the Willamette River in the event of a major earthquake. The task force will provide input on the environmental review and recommend a preferred alternative in 2020.
Meeting agenda items include:
- Review and discuss feedback received during summer/fall outreach
- Review and discuss recommended refinements of the draft criteria and measures that will be used to compare alternatives
- Recommend alternatives, cross sections, construction traffic management options, and evaluation criteria for the formal Environmental Impact Study phase.
- Time for public comment
The project team has recommended dropping the fixed bridge alternative from further study, due to its height, length, impacts to adjacent properties and the road grid, and cost, compared to the other three alternatives. The project’s Policy Group will consider and act on the task force recommendations on October 28. On November 14, Multnomah County’s Board of Commissioners will vote on the recommendations, which will become part of the project’s formal Notice of Intent to the Federal Highway Administration.
Task force members represent residential areas, business districts, and interests including auto commuters, transit users, freight, pedestrians, bicyclists, people with disabilities, bridge history, social service agencies, and other organizations based near the bridge.
There are several transit options near the meeting location, including the TriMet Skidmore Fountain Max Station and buses #12, 19, and 20 Stop ID: 9526, 689. Limited on-street parking is also available.
For more information, visit www.burnsidebridge.org. Meeting materials will be posted to the website before the meeting. Multnomah County maintains the Burnside Bridge and leads the Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge project.