Update 6/27/12: With the Portland - Milwaukie Light Rail construction ramping up Milwaukie’s Monthly Light Rail meeting of July 16th will focus on construction methods and sequencing, schedule, roadway impacts, the Trolley Trail detour for pedestrians and cyclists, and the noise variance for nighttime construction.
The monthly meetings are held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Project’s East Field Office located in Milwaukie’s North Industrial Area, located at 2300 SE Beta, Suite A.
Update 6/15/12: Planning Commission approved TriMet’s Design Review application for the downtown Milwaukie light rail station at its May 23, 2012, meeting. Images and design materials of the station are are available here.
Update 3/20/12: Milwaukie Monthly Meeting agenda posted here.
Update 3/2/12: View new project renderings and post comments at online Open House: http://trimet.org/pm/
Update 2/21/12: February 27th Milwaukie Monthly Light Rail Meeting agenda posted here.
Update 2/21/12: View TriMet's Downtown Station public art presentation to the Design & Landmarks Commission here.
Update 1/30/12: Milwaukie's project Open House will take place Wednesday, March 7, 6 to 8 p.m., Milwaukie High School. Click here for more details.
Update 1/12/12: City Council made the City's final decision on the Kellogg Bridge land use application at its regularly scheduled meeting on Jan. 17, 2012. Council unanimously voted to affirm the Planning Commission’s approval of the bridge with revised findings and conditions of approval specific to TriMet’s use of Kronberg Park for construction staging. As a result of Council’s decision, the City will hire an arborist to determine if the Oregon white oak in Kronberg Park, that had previously been slated for removal, is healthy enough to survive bridge construction.
If the arborist determines that the oak can survive and any safety issues that may exist can be addressed, TriMet will be required to take all reasonable and necessary measures to protect it from harm during construction. If the arborist recommends removal of the oak, TriMet will be required to provide double the amount of mitigation required by the City’s habitat conservation area regulations and repurpose the wood from the oak in or near Kronberg Park.
Update 1/12/12: Council requested staff work with the City Attorney to draft a condition of approval that would require TriMet to consult with arborists to determine how and whether to save an oak tree in Kronberg Park that's slated for removal as part of the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail at its Regular Session on Jan. 3.
City Council held a public hearing to review Planning Commission’s decision to approve the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail bridge that will span Kellogg Lake and McLoughlin Boulevard. As expected, the appeal focused on the proposal to remove the white oak tree in Kronberg Park to allow for construction of the bridge.
City Council listened to staff and applicant presentations, and many people came to testify. At the end of the four hour hearing, council requested that staff work with the City Attorney to draft a condition of approval that would require TriMet to consult with arborists to determine how and whether to save the tree. The hearing was continued to Jan. 17, when Council will decide on the final conditions of approval and make the City’s final decision on the application.
The full record of the Planning Commission’s decision is available at City Hall, the Library, and at the JCB Public Works Facility.
The City Council decision will be the City’s final decision on the proposal, but parties with standing may appeal this decision to the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA). Those who submit comments or sign in at any of the public hearings related to the application will have standing to appeal the decision to LUBA.
Update 12/20/11: The City’s application for an Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) grant that would pay for the pedestrian bridge envisioned underneath the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail bridge over Kellogg Lake did not advance to the second round of consideration.
Update 12/20/11: At its Regular Session on January 3rd, City Council will open a public hearing to review Planning Commission’s decision to approve the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail bridge that will span Kellogg Lake and McLoughlin Boulevard.
Update 12/20/11: The City’s application for an Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) grant that would pay for the pedestrian bridge envisioned underneath the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail bridge over Kellogg Lake did not advance to the second round of consideration.
City staff learned the disappointing news on Friday, Dec. 16, 2011, when it received an email showing the projects that had moved on, and the City’s ped bridge wasn’t among them.
The ODOT Flexible Funds Program funds Bicycle, Pedestrian, Transit and Transportation Demand Management (TDM) projects, plans, programs and services through a competitive process. Overall, the Flexible Fund program received 105 applications requesting over $89 million for only $21 million in available federal funding.
City and TriMet staff will continue to actively seek state and federal funding for the pedestrian bridge that would link Kronberg Park and the Island Station Neighborhood with Downtown Milwaukie.
The most promising funding window is open until February 2013, the point in which the in-water construction structure for the Kellogg Bridge that could also be used to construct the pedestrian bridge is expected to be removed. After that time, the cost to construct the pedestrian bridge will increase significantly.
Update 12/20/11: At its Regular Session on January 3rd, City Council will open a public hearing to review Planning Commission’s decision to approve the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail bridge that will span Kellogg Lake and McLoughlin Boulevard. The appeal is expected to focus on the proposal to remove the white oak tree in Kronberg Park to allow for construction of the bridge.
Written comments may be submitted before the hearing and all are invited to attend and provide verbal comment. Due to the specific rules for this type of appeal hearing, new evidence will not be allowed. However, new testimony and arguments about the evidence that was presented to the Planning Commission will be allowed. City Council will evaluate the evidence and testimony that was presented to the Planning Commission as well as any new testimony and arguments. The full record of the Planning Commission’s decision will be available at City Hall, the Library, and at the JCB Public Works Facility on 12/28.
The City Council decision will be the City’s final decision on the proposal, but parties with standing may appeal this decision to the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA). Those who submit comments or sign in at any of the public hearings related to the application will have standing to appeal the decision to LUBA.
Update 12/6/11: View the landscape plan for the downtown station area here. These plans illustrate what TriMet is proposing to plant in the downtown Milwaukie segment of the light rail project. The planting areas are primarily along the sections of street that will be rebuilt, and in "rain gardens" designed to handle stormwater runoff.
Update 12/2/11: After a total of four public meetings and 13 hours of presentations, deliberations, and testimony, the Planning Commission unanimously approaved a pair of TriMet applications for the light rail bridge over Kellogg Creek and McLoughlin Boulevard at its Nov. 22nd meeting.
Update 12/2/11: After a total of four public meetings and 13 hours of presentations, deliberations, and testimony, the Planning Commission unanimously approaved a pair of TriMet applications for the light rail bridge over Kellogg Creek and McLoughlin Boulevard at its Nov. 22nd meeting.
A major condition of approval was that TriMet design and construct a pedestrian bridge beneath the structure should funding become available before the temporary construction bridge is deconstructed in Feb. 2013. The City and TriMet are currently pursuing grants to fund the ped bridge.
Another key point regarded the large Oak Tree in Kronberg Park. The tree is slated for removal, and a lot of discussion focused on saving the tree, but An arborist testified the tree is in a serious state of decline and was beyond rescue.
Update 12/2/11: A second Design & Landmarks Commission (DLC) Milwaukie Light Rail Station Area Work Shop will be held on Tues., Dec. 5th. The Objectives for the second DLC workshop:
#1 Discuss areas of design review and design distinction within the City of Milwaukie
#2 Discuss station area public art
#3 Discuss landscape design within design review areas
#4 Discuss platform amenities and signal communication building options
Update 11/18/11: After three hours of questioning project staff and deliberations, the Planning Commission decided to continue the public hearing on TriMet’s Kellogg Bridge application to its Nov. 22nd meeting, where it will also decide on TriMet’s application to modify a portion of the Trolley Trail where it runs parallel to light rail along McLoughlin Blvd.
Many of the Commissioners’ questions focused on the oak tree in Kronberg Park and the pedestrian bridge over Kellogg Lake.
The Nov. 22nd Planning Commission meeting will be held at City Hall, and begins at 6:30 p.m.
Update 11/17/11: Planning Commission to hold second hearing on Kellogg Light Rail Bridge
Milwaukie’s Planning Commission will hold a second hearing on TriMet’s application for the light rail bridge that will cross Kellogg Lake and McLoughlin Boulevard at a special meeting this evening at Milwaukie City Hall, located at 107222 SE Main St., at 6:30 p.m.
The Commission held its first hearing on Nov. 8, 2011, where it heard presentations from City and TriMet staff and testimony of six citizens before deciding to hold another meeting to give more time for testimony and to arrive at a decision.
At tonight’s meeting the Planning Commission will review the proposal, take public testimony, and make a decision on the proposal at this meeting.
The discussion will focus on:
TriMet is proposing to build a light rail bridge over Kellogg Lake and McLoughlin Blvd (Hwy 99E) in the existing freight rail corridor as part of the Portland Milwaukie Light Rail project. The proposed bridge contains a number of elements consistent with its purpose of carrying light rail trains (e.g. catenary poles and safety railings) and mitigating community impacts (e.g. sound walls). The proposed bridge materials consist primarily of weathering steel and concrete. The proposal is subject to Design Review, Willamette Greenway Review, Water Quality Resource Review, Habitat Conservation Area Review, and Community Service Review due to its location in the downtown area, proximity to the Willamette River, and natural resource impacts. TriMet is proposing to use a portion of Kronberg Park for temporary construction staging. TriMet is also proposing a design for a future pedestrian bridge over Kellogg Lake underneath the light rail bridge.
Update: 11/10/11: Check out the presentation TriMet made to the Design & Landmarks Committee on Nov. 7th here!
Update: 11/10/11: The Planning Commission took public testimony from six residents and listened to staff presentations from Milwaukie and TriMet regarding a pair of land use applications for the Light Rail bridge structure on Nov. 8th before deciding to revisit one application at a special meeting on Nov. 17th and the other at the next regular meeting on Nov. 22nd.
Update: 10/31/11: TriMet’s Portland - Milwaukie light rail design team will present the Downtown Milwaukie / Main Street station area to Milwaukie’s citizen Design & Landmarks Committee (DLC) at its Monday, Nov. 7, 2011 meeting at City Hall, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Planning Director Katie Mangle says the DLC plays an important role in making sure the station area will fit into the context of Milwaukie’s present and future downtown.
“Over the past year, TriMet has had many conversations with the community about how this station will look and function,” Magle said. “The DLC is now ready to begin the more formal conversation about how to ensure the station design complies with our Downtown Design Guidelines.”
Staff anticipates that a public Design Review Meeting will take place in early 2012.
The Nov. 7, 2011 presentation, and DLC’s comments, will focus on:
• The process to date, including public open houses, and incorporation of participants’ concerns & issues;
• The station area context, connectivity, access & components (physical elements);
• Opportunities & constraints; effects on downtown & connections to Kellogg Bridge;
• Urban design & safety features, spaces, materials, lighting, furnishings, etc.
The presentation will touch on all of the following aspects of the station:
• Cantilever platform: South entry plan & perspective
• Station area walls: Form liner walls with ashlar stone pattern wall materials
• Wrought iron fencing at tops of walls & as a guide to platform, fence & railing materials
• Paving surfaces: driving, parking, pedestrian, ramps, paving materials
• Lighting: Lighting plan & fixtures
• Landscape concept/upland/urban/stormwater: Palette of materials, landscape plans & plant materials
• Site buildings (shelter & substation to be presented next session)
• Platform elements: Shelter, furnishings, lighting, railings, platform elements & materials
• Public art proposal
Update: 10/18/11: The Design and Landmarks Committee (DLC) unanimously recommended that the Planning Commission approve TriMet’s Design Review application for the light rail bridge over Kellogg Creek/ McLoughlin Blvd at its Oct. 17, 2011 meeting.
The Planning Commission will consider the application at its Nov. 8, 2011 meeting.
TriMet’s presentation emphasized that the DLC and Milwaukie community has been instrumental in shaping the proposed design. While supporting the overall bridge design, DLC members expressed some concern about lighting near the abutment in the Lake Road area and encouraged the design team to further refine the design of the concrete support columns.
Click here to view the staff report that was submitted to the DLC for its review.
The Design and Landmarks Committee Meeting will be held in lieu of the regularly scheduled Monthly Light Rail Meeting.
TriMet shows latest Kellogg Bridge Design to DLC: TriMet staff updated the Design & Landmarks Committee on how the design of the bridge has progressed since June at its August 23, 2011 meeting. Click here to view TriMet's presentation showing the latest design illustrations.
Most of the requests from the Planning Commission and DLC members have been incorporated; where they have not, staff explained why not (Click here to see the memo in the DLC meeting packet for more detail).
In a limited discussion, DLC members asked questions about the texture of the columns, the new parapet wall element, and what funding sources TriMet was pursuing for the pedestrian bridge under the light rail bridge.
Portland - Milwaukie Light Rail project enters City's land use review phase
The Portland to Milwaukie Light Rail project is entering the permitting and land use approval phase for the facilities and structures along the alignment in the City of Milwaukie.
In August 2011, TriMet submitted the first land use applications for this project to the Milwaukie Planning Department. These submittals focus on the bridge structure over Kellogg Lake and a segment of the Trolley Trail that is being constructed by TriMet as part of the light rail project.
Click here to view a document that explains the applications to be reviewed and the public meetings where residents can provide public comment.
TriMet posts info. sheet for Downtown Milwaukie/21st Ave. Station here!
June 27, 2011 Design Open House materials posted below
More than 60 residents attended the third Light Rail Design Open House in the Milwaukie High School Commons on June 27, 2011 to get a strong sense of what light rail will look in Milwaukie when it opens in 2015.
View the presentation materials here.
View the art concepts for here.
Meeting materials for the June 20, 2011 Milwaukie Monthly Meeting posted here.
June 1, 2011 Design and Landmarks Committee/Planning Commission joint meeting
Give more design detail to the area where the bridge enters the station area, include the pedestrian bridge in the base project, and encase the bridge collumns in the same steel that's featured underneath the bridge, were the key elements offered by members of Milwaukie's Design and Landmarks Committee and Planning Commission during their review of the Portland – Milwaukie Light Rail Project’s Kellogg Bridge structure at a joint session held Wednesday, June 1, 2011.
The direction provided by the Design and Landmarks Committee and Planning Commission will guide the application TriMet will submit this summer for City approval. This autumn, the two groups will make the decisions on the land use permits required for TriMet to construct the bridge that will span Kellogg Creek, Kronberg Park, and McLoughlin Boulevard. The bridge location was approved by a state land use decision, but it is still subject to local review for compliance with design guidelines and environmental restoration standards.
To view the PowerPoint provided at the joint session, click here.
June 22, 2011 Design and Landmarks Committee
The Portland - Milwaukie Light Rail Project design consultants will make a presentation regarding the system's walls and fences in the Milwaukie section of the alignment.
May 17, 2011 Monthly Meeting
Residents learned more about the public art considered for the Milwaukie Station at Lake and 23rd, and for the Kellogg Bridge Structure. Traffic changes to downtown intersections, including the signalization of Washington and 23rd, was also discussed. Meeting notes to be posted soon.
April 4, 2011 Second Design Open House
More than 100 residents reviewed site plans, materials samples, and vegetation plans that when taken together show an emerging overall design for the Portland - Milwaukie Light Rail project at a second design Open House on April 4th in Rose Villa’s Mefford Fellowship Hall. The design work reflects the public comments submitted at the first Open House and at the joint Planning Commission and Design & Landmarks Commission meeting.
A third and final Open House will be held later in the spring as design reaches 60% completion, a critical point in the project when many of the details of the project are set.
To view the materials presented, click here. (Materials take some time to load.)
March 17, 2011 Kellogg Lake Bridge Presentation
In a joint meeting of the Milwaukie’s Planning Commission and Design & Landmarks Committee (DLC) on Thursday, March 17, 2011 the two groups provided TriMet with comments on the proposed designs for the Kellogg Light Rail Bridge.
The future Portland–Milwaukie Light Rail project bridge that will span Kellogg Lake, Kronberg Park, and McLoughlin Boulevard.
Staff from Waterleaf, the bridge architect, gave a presentation explaining the design process that’s been employed to date and described three design concepts currently under consideration.
Input provided at the Design Open House held in Milwaukie on March 7, 2011, as well as that provided at the joint Planning Commission and DLC meeting will inform design refinements displayed at a second Design Open House to be held Monday, April 4, 2011, at 6:30 p.m., in Rose Villa's Mefford Fellowship Hall (13505 SE River Rd., Oak Grove).
Visit the Project Design page for more information about the Kellogg Lake Bridge.
March 7, 2011 Open House
More than 100 citizens attended the Portland - Milwaukie Light Rail Project Open House on March 7, 2011 at Milwaukie High School to weigh in on the many different design components of the future light rail alignment.
TriMet collected 28 comment cards providing input on everything from the preferred architecture of the bridge structure that will span Kellogg Lake and McLoughlin Boulevard, what kinds of materials and styles should be employed in Milwauie's downtown, and how safety and retaining walls should be treated to look more aesthetically pleasing.
To view TriMet's presentation materials from the Open House, click here.
The comments will be considered as the project team continues to refine its designs. A second Open House showing the next iteration of designs will be held Monday, April 4, at 6:30 p.m., in Rose Villa's Mefford Fellowship Hall (13505 SE River Rd., Oak Grove).
A third and final Open House will be held later in the spring as design reaches 60% completion, a critical point in the project when many of the details of the project are set.
