Community input helps shape the Westside Trail Bridge Study
Community input is helping THPRD understand the community’s preferred features for the bridge design. We heard from hundreds of local community members who shared their ideas through community surveys, virtual meetings, and an outdoor community event. Learn more by following these links for the 2020 Survey Results and 2021 Survey Results.
Based on the community input, we will continue to focus on the following design considerations:
- Connectivity: Trail connectivity is an integral part of this project and a priority for the community. We are happy to share that THPRD secured a Community Paths Programs grant from Oregon Department of Transportation to connect nearby sections of the Westside Trail to the area’s broader transportation system.
- Accessibility & Safety: The bridge’s design will promote visibility, easy movement, and safety as much as possible with features like a 12-foot-wide pathway, minimized grades, directional signs and gentle curves for bike users.
- Environmental Impacts: THPRD will continue to minimize impacts to wetlands, habitat, and natural resources and explore design opportunities for increasing habitat in the bridge area.
- Visual Design: Community members requested a wide variety of different visual elements for the bridge’s design. We plan to balance these requests to create a consistent and cohesive look for the bridge.
As we move forward with this feasibility study, THPRD will make every effort to carefully evaluate each of these factors while also considering budget availability, right-of-way limitations, and construction feasibility.
What’s next?
THPRD’s Board of Directors provided guidance and approval on the bridge’s alignment and approaches. THPRD then studied technical aspects of the bridge’s engineering and developed a cost estimate for bridge construction. In total, THPRD anticipates the bridge will cost $18.1 million to develop. Depending on regulatory, engineer, and construction constraints, the total project costs could range from $14.5 to $27.2 million. As we move forward with planning and development of the bridge, we will continue to refine these cost estimates.
Depending on funding availability, THPRD staff hope to start the next phase of finalizing the bridge design and engineering in fiscal years 2022 or 2023.
To learn more about this feasibility study or receive updates about the future Westside Trail bridge, please visit the project webpage.
This project is funded by THPRD’s system development charge fund and by Metro’s Regional Flexible Fund.