Help Us Evaluate the Path Alternatives

Creating East-West and North-South Shared Use Paths

We want to hear from you! While we have a good idea of where the east-west shared use path should go, we have two alternatives for the north-south shared use path.

How we're evaluating the path alternatives

We're evaluating each path alternative using five criteria:

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Connectivity

Connectivity to destinations like parks, schools, businesses and homes.

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Constructability and costs

Building the path efficiently and at a low cost.

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Safety

Safety for everyone, looking at things like separation from traffic, visibility and crossings.

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User experience

Comfortable, quiet and enjoyable to use. Including things like shade, scenery and rest spots.

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Environmental impacts

Protecting trees, streams and wildlife.

Click on the title or "+" below to expand the box and learn more about the shared use paths.

The east-west path will give people a safe and convenient way to walk, bike or roll between Good Samaritan Hospital and the Jackson-Frazier Wetland trailhead. The path from NW Samaritan Drive will cross over OR 99W and the Portland and Western Railroad, then end near NE Lancaster Street. From there, it will connect to a neighborhood path that leads to Cheldelin Middle School.

The path follows the general route shown in earlier trail planning maps. It will start near the hospital on NW Samaritan Drive and head northeast. From there, it will curve around a hill, cross the highway and railroad and continue toward the wetland area. The trail will stay outside of protected natural areas and is planned to end just west of the Jackson-Frazier Wetland trailhead.

Some parts of the path may be adjusted in the future to work around underground utilities and to make sure the path can be built safely and efficiently. These details will be studied more closely later in the design process.

The north-south shared use path aims to connect the path at Good Samaritan Hospital with neighborhoods near the Lewisburg area and ultimately to Adair Village. Both options will serve as a safe transportation option for people to walk and bike separated from the shoulder of OR 99W.

We're currently evaluating the two north-south shared use path alternatives, looking at factors like connectivity, environmental and property impacts, safety and construction costs.

Each route has its own benefits and trade-offs. We're gathering input from the key interested parties group and from you to come up with our recommended route that we'll present to the Board of Commissioners.

Alternative 1: Along the west side of OR 99W

This option mostly follows OR 99W along the edge of Owens Farm to the OR 99W and NE Elliott Circle intersection.

Connectivity: A more direct route to destinations along the highway and Owens Farm.
Constructability and cost: Potentially higher cost due to longer boardwalk through wetlands.
Safety: More visible from the highway, but the path would be closer to high-speed vehicles.
User experience: Potentially a more direct route along the highway; could be noisier.
Environmental impacts: Potentially more wetland impacts. Lower chance of finding archaeological resources.

Map showing the north-south shared use path alternative along the west side of OR 99W

Alternative 2: Along the east side of OR 99W

This option mostly travels along the edge of Jackson-Frazier Wetland to NE Elliott Circle.

Connectivity: More direct route to destinations along Elliott Circle and Jackson-Frazier Wetland.
Constructability and cost: Potentially lower cost due to shorter boardwalk through wetlands.
Safety: Less visible from the highway, but the path would be farther away from high-speed vehicles.
User experience: Potentially more recreation-focused, with the path meandering away from the highway. Less noise and more integration with the natural environment.
Environmental impacts: Potentially less wetland impacts. Higher chance of finding archaeological resources.

Creating easier access to local destinations

When considering which alternative is best for you and your community, think about where you would like to walk and bike. Here are some of the destinations that the path alternatives could go through.

1. Photo looking southwest from Greenbelt Land Trust parcel towards Good Samaritan.