Monday's Traffic Safety Forum; SuperFund update, St. Johns annual leaf clean up, and more
St. Johns Neighborhood Association November Newsletter
Photo Credit: Philip Fensterer
Special Transportation Safety Forum
St. Johns residents and other North Portland neighbors shared their concerns about pedestrian, bicyclist, and commuter safety, Monday at the Traffic Safety Forum hosted by the Safety and Livability Team (SALT).
SALT Chair and community activist, Travis Parker, highlighted the abysmal state of safe pedestrian accessibility on N Columbia Blvd. There are zero ADA accessible marked crosswalks that cross N Columbia Blvd, and the bridge adjacent to George Middle School is inconvenient, inaccessible, and ill-maintained. There are 200 homes north of the busy 4-lane truck route. A student crossing N Columbia was struck and killedthis year while walking to school on the first day.
PBOT spoke about major problem areas in Portland, and discussed steps they are taking to reduce all traffic related fatalities and injuries as part of their Vision Zero Plan. The goal of Vision Zero is to eliminate roadway deaths and serious injuries in Portland by 2025. Portland City Council will vote to approval the action plan on December 1st.
Oregon Speaker of the House and North Portland resident, Tina Kotek, also attended and listened to neighbors' concerns. She explained that real change requires collaboration between ODOT and PBOT. A state-wide infrastructure package is a top priority in the 2017 state legislative session, she added.
Monday's forum was an opportunity for residents to identify and discuss pressing concerns. Moving forward, to see change, it will take community citizen engagement and action. For local coverage of the Traffic Safety Forum, visit KOIN 6 and Bike Portland.
What can you do? Stay tuned...The St. Johns Neighborhood Association and the Safety and Livability Team are updating their website to include a wealth of resources, contacts, and tools that you can use. For pressing issues, please email SALT Chair, Travis Parker.
Willamette River Superfund Cleanup - UPDATE
Thousands of Portland neighbors and community organizations submitted comments requesting the EPA to provide a more aggressive cleanup plan for the Willamette Superfund sites.
There is tremendous pressure on EPA to complete the Record of Decision before the end of 2016, however, the history of other Superfund sites across the country indicates that the process normally takes at least 18 months.
Join your neighbors and help keep St. Johns beautiful. Bring rakes and other leaf tools, and meet at the Central Hotel at 8:45AM. Volunteer lunch donated by Thai Cottage for all that help!
12/3 - Ugly Sweater Pub Crawl
Need we say more. Fun begins at 6:30PM, at Leisure Public House. Check the flyer for further stops and all the details.
12/9 - 12/11 Winter Beer Fest
Who loves beer? Drink some good beer and help the community.
Look for the paint cans at local businesses to donate for the holiday tree lights! Or, donate now online. The donations will be used to maintain and expand St. Johns' holiday lights! Donate now via PayPal
