urbAn design & trAnsportAtion project

April 21, 2021

beAverton loop urbAn design & trAnsportAtion project

CAC #2

2020 2021

NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG sEP

A. PROJECt iNitiAtiON

B. iNVENtORY & ANALYsis

C. PROJECt VisiON, GOALs & OBJECtiVEs

D. DEsiGN ALtERNAtiVEs DEVELOPMENt,REFiNEMENt, AND PLAN ADOPtiON

PLAN ADOPtiON

today

schedule

contents

drAft goAls

urbAn Context

stormwAter

open spACe & trees

zoning & development

ChArACter & identity

right-of-wAy

sidewAlks & furnishings

biCyCle system

trAnsit

on-street pArking

vehiCulAr system

drAft goAls

• Reimaginetheuseofpublicspacesandplaces

• Prioritizewalking,bikingandtransit

• Emphasizesafetyforallusers

• Supportthegrowingresidentialandbusinesscommunity

• Establishacohesivedistrictidentitywhilecelebratinguniquedifferencesandwhat’salreadythere

• Encouragefun,withplacestoseepeopleandgettogetherthroughouttheday

• Createinclusivedecision-makingprocessthatbuildscommunitycapacity

introduction

This presentation summarizes existing conditions related to streets, connectivity, open spaces and utilities that will inform the Loop Urban Design and Transportation Plan. It also includes opportunities and constraints that will be explored and addressed in the design concepts to be developed in this project.

Round

CityHall

PRCA

TransitCtr

Library

Farmer’sMarket

CityPark

BeavertonHighSchool

CanyonRoad

RR

WES

FarmingtonRoad

Beaverton Central

Old Town15-m

inu

te

w

Al

kurbAn context

• Downtown Beaverton is designated as a Regional Center, a hub of commerce and local government services with compact employment and housing development served by transit.

• The Loop is closely surrounded by key city and regional recreation, civic, and shopping destinations.

• The Loop links two distinct districts, Beaverton Central and Old Town, but crosses the major barriers of Canyon, Farmington, and the railroad.

Key

MajorStreets

Loop

1916-Asmallfarmingtownstreetgridemergesnearthejunctionoftworailroads,withtheregionalTualatinValleyRoadcrossingnearpresentdayBroadway.

1939-NewhighwaysonCanyonandFarmingtonconnecttoPortlandandothertownstowest.Hallextendssouthto5th.TheDowntownstreetgridhasfilledout.

loop history

1961-Downtowndevelopmentslowsaslowerdensity,car-dependentdevelopmentincreaseselsewhere.

1984-TheLoopextendstotheNorthandHallandWatsonmeetnearBeavertonCreek.Newcommercialandindustrialbuildingsemergeonedgesofdowntown.Hwy217isbuilt,withonrampsatCanyonandFarmington,addingtothevolumeofeast-westmovementacrosstheLoop.

Canyon

Lom

bard

East

Lom

bard

Paci�

c

Center

117t

h

Hall

Ceda

r Hills

Westgate

Farmington

HallW

ashin

gton

Shor

t

Wes

t

MainSt

ott

Tuck

er

Betts

Frank

lin

Ange

l

Wat

son

Crescent

Rose

Bigg

i

5th

Millikan

1st

Broadway

Beaverdam

4th

3rd

2nd

Filbe

rt

0 200 400100

HistoricOverlay

Old Town

RC-OT

DOWNTOWN BOUNDARY

RC-MU MIXED USE

RC-BC BEAVERTON CENTRAL

RC-OT OLD TOWN

RC-DT DOWNTOWN TRANSITION

HISTORIC OVERLAY

DOWNTOWN ZONING DISTRICTS

Beaverton Central

RC-BC

Downtown Transition

RC-DT

Mixed Use

RC-MU

downtown zoning

• Beaverton Central (RC-BC) District is intended to create a pedestrian-oriented, high-density, mixed-use district around MAX stations, with opportunities for new development to define the Downtown skyline.• 120’ max height (12 stories)

• The Old Town (RC-OT) District is intended to provide a mix of housing, jobs, and services at a scale that acknowledges and complements historic development patterns.• 65’ max height (6 stories)

OpportunitySites

Developmentunderconstruction/recently-completed

Key

SW Canyon Rd

SW Broadway St

SW Millikan Way

Rail

MAX

SW 2nd St

SW 3rd St

SW 4th St

SW 5th St

SW 1st St

Beaverton Cr

SW W

atson Ave

SW Farmington Rd

SW Hall A

ve

SW W

ashington Ave

PRCARiseCtl

Rise

Hyatt

BC2OpportunitySite

TheMaryAnn

Breakside

LoyalLegion

CommunityCenterOpportunitySite

Verso

BinaryBrewing

TheBookCornerOpportunitySite

development

• Downtown Beaverton has many new projects recently built, under construction or in planning processes, ranging from a regional cultural destination (Patricia Reser Center for the Arts) to developments for housing and businesses (Rise, The Mary Ann, Verso).

• These projects will draw more people to the streets in Downtown Beaverton and shape the character of downtown districts in coming years.

existing Active & underutilized AreAs

Considerations Opportunities ConstraintsExisting activity areas (The Round, 1st St Dining, Farmer’s Market, Library, City Park, Broadway) bring many people downtown

Underutilized land adjacent to Loop makes areas that may be less interesting or comfortable for people to walk along

• Loop can link activity areas• PRCA will bring new activity• New housing units (over 700

dwelling units built in last 5 years). New residents bring activity to Loop throughout the day

• New code will ensure active sidewalks as future redevelopment occurs (e.g. future buildings with windows, doors, and space for outdoor furniture along Loop)

• Interim edge improvements (landscape, fencing) and activation (temporary events, art)

• Potential to widen sidewalks through future redevelopment requirements (e.g. projects could ‘dedicate’ a portion of their property to build a wider sidewalk)

• Potential new pedestrian routes through large future redevelopment sites (e.g. north of Millikan)

• Physical barriers (RR, Canyon, Farmington)

• Unknown future building(s) use and timing

Relevant Goals: • Supportthegrowingresidentialand

businesscommunity• Establishacohesivedistrictidentity

whilecelebratinguniquedifferencesandwhat’salreadythere

• Encouragefun,withplacestoseepeopleandgettogetherthroughouttheday

SW Canyon Rd

SW Broadway St

KEyTRANSiTiONZONE

SW Millikan Way

Rail

SW 2nd St

SW 3rd St

SW 4th St

SW 5th St

SW 1st St

SW W

atson Ave

SW Hall A

ve

SW W

ashington Ave

MAX

Beaverton Cr

SW Farmington Rd

NorthCharacterArea

CentralCharacterArea

SouthCharacterAreaSmaller scale development, street furnishings, and on-street parking

Mix of land uses and street conditions from North and South

Auto-oriented development, lower interest for pedestrians

chArActer AreAs

• The major streets of Canyon and Farmington divide the Loop into 3 character areas defined by the street width and scale and type of adjacent development.

• A key transition zone is located between the Central and South character areas along Watson, where ‘kinks’ in the street grid create complicated interactions between pedestrians, bicyclists, trains and vehicles as well as interesting views of the Cady Building from the North.

LoopCharacterAreas

Key

identity

Considerations Opportunities ConstraintsLack of clear identity in parts of the Loop

• Ensure downtown Beaverton feels welcoming to people of different identities (race, abilities, sexual orientation)

• Coordinate with Downtown Equity Strategy

• Create gateways or markers at key intersections and north/south book-ends of the Loop

• Available areas for new landscape and public art

• Potential bridge reconstruction over Beaverton Creek with gateway markers and art

• Build on strong sense of Old Town identity from architecture, street tree canopy, and furnishings

• Upcoming major redevelopment in Beaverton Central and Old Town can help set identity there

• Clutter of signals and roadway signage

• Funding and engineering challenges of new bridge, with longer-term timeline

• Surface parking lots along the Loop do not frame the street and define the edge

Relevant Goal: • Establishacohesivedistrictidentity

whilecelebratinguniquedifferencesandwhat’salreadythere

BeavertonCreek

BeavertonCreek

HallCreek

Wesse

ngerCr

El210’

El175’

EricksonCreek

stormwAter

• Stormwater is rainfall flowing over paved surfaces where water cannot soak into the ground. Most stormwater flows north via gravity, over 30’ of elevation drop, to Beaverton Creek, via a new underground vault on Watson.

• North of Farmington, soils are not suitable for stormwater infiltration on the surface via swales and planters.

• Opportunity to regionally treat and detain stormwater to help restore Beaverton Creek.

TreatmentArea

RegionalStormwaterTreatmentFacility(vault)

Key

Programmed / Designed Habitat

Supportive

Programmed / Designed

Intermittent Other

The Round

Planting and seating at Hall and Farmington

Library/City Park

1st Street Dining Commons

Beaverton Creek

Private open space north of Masonic Lodge

open spAce types

SW Canyon Rd

SW Broadway St

SupportiveOpenSpaces/Plazas

OtherOpenSpace

RecreationDeficientAreas without recreation owned by THPRD within walking distance (1/2 mi radius)

land predicted to flood during a 100-yr storm, which has a 1% chance of occurring in a given year

100-yearfloodplain

SW Millikan Way

Rail

SW 2nd St

SW 3rd St

SW 4th St

SW 5th StCityPark

BeavertonHS

ToVeteransPark

MasonicLodge

1stStDiningCommons

FarmersMarket

PRCA

TheRound

LibraryPark

SW 1st St

SW W

atson Ave

SW Hall A

ve

SW W

ashington Ave Sources: Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District (THPRD) Park Functional Plan 2019, Walkable Access to All Recreation

MAX

Beaverton Cr

SW Farmington Rd

ToGriffithPark

open spAce

• Central and north parts of the Loop have little walkable access to THPRD recreation sites, but do include habitat, open spaces, and small plazas (near Broadway).

• The southern Loop is bracketed by open spaces to the east, south, and west, like City Park, but could benefit from more small open spaces between 3rd and Farmington.

ViewsofMtHood

Key

Programmed/DesignedOpenSpace

Habitat/NaturalOpenSpace

intermittentOpenSpace

SW Canyon Rd

SW Broadway St

ExistingStreetTrees

StreetTreeGap

Photolocation,seenextpage

Key

SW Millikan Way

Rail

SW 2nd St

SW 3rd St

SW 4th St

SW 5th St

SW 1st St

SW W

atson Ave

SW Hall A

ve

SW W

ashington Ave

B

A

MAX

Beaverton Cr

SW Farmington Rd

tree cAnopy

A

• Watson has very consistent street tree canopy.

• Hall has very consistent street tree canopy in the south and central sections, with large gaps north of Canyon.

• Street tree planting conditions vary and create frequent narrow walking space in the South and some sidewalk damage from roots.

The North Loop features some large specimen trees, good canopy on Watson, and few trees on Hall. Tree canopy is inconsistent in the central section.

The South Loop has a robust tree canopy. City Park’s formal tree plantings and mature conifers contribute to streetscape.

C

sidewAlk & tree conditions

Considerations Opportunities ConstraintsUneven and heaving sidewalks, narrowed by tree wells (e.g. Old Town).

Numerous curb cuts across sidewalks.

• Urban tree canopy improves pedestrian comfort, provides ecological benefits, and adds value to adjacent properties

• Planting and soil adjustments will improve accessibility and tree health

• Replace cobbles around trees with grates for easier walking

• Redevelopment of parking lots will remove curb cuts (e.g. at Loyal Legion)

• Some tree replacement may be necessary

Relevant Goals: • Prioritizewalking,bikingandtransit• Emphasizesafetyforallusers

A

B

C

• The right-of-way is the area between private property that is used for the movement of people walking, rolling, biking, driving, taking transit. It also includes areas adjacent to sidewalks for planting, trees, utilities and street furniture like trash cans, benches, lights. The right-of-way is the area the Loop Urban Design and Transportation Plan will focus on for design concepts.

• 60’ ROW is typical in Old Town

• Pinch points occur in all segments of the loop (<60’ ROW) as well as wider segments

Key

right-of-wAy (row)

SW Canyon Rd

SW Broadway St

SW Millikan Way

Rail

SW 2nd St

SW 3rd St

SW 4th St

SW 5th St

SW 1st St

SW W

atson Ave

SW Hall A

ve

68’

53’

69’

65’

83’

65’57’

67’

60’

60’

60’

60’60’

60’

60’

58’

67’

67’

60’

60’

60’

SW W

ashington Ave

MAX

Beaverton Cr

SW Farmington Rd

SW M

ain St

ROW

65’ROW

60’ROW

53’ROW

ROWWidth

A

A

C

C

B

B

sidewAlks

>8ftfromedgeofplantertobuildingWatson, west side at Round Watson, east sideHall, west side at Library

Watson, west side between Canyon and Farmington Watson, east side north of Canyon

5-8ft

<5ftfromlightpoletobackofsidewalk,frombrickplanterstocurb

Sidewalkgap

• Loop is within a Pedestrian District, as defined by the Active Transportation Plan.

• These are areas within the City of Beaverton that currently have or are planned to have a mix of land uses that support a high level of pedestrian activity.

• Loop is also considered a Pedestrian Parkway.

• Despite such policy directives emphasizing pedestrian safety and comfort, Loop still features wide range of sidewalk conditions, from very wide and urban, to non-existent sidewalks only one block away on the Loop.

loop street furnishings

Uniquefeatures-timecapsule Cornerbollards Cornerplazasandseating

Lightingblockssidewalk Pedestrian-unfriendlyplacement Remnantsofpreviousstreetscape

Goodpieces,inconsistentplacement

Multiplestreetlightingstandards(publicandprivate)

Sidewalksignageclutter

pedestriAn through zone

Theclearareaofthesidewalkforpedestriantravel.Measuredfrombackofsidewalktocurborobstruction(e.g.utilitypole,sign,furnishings,streettreeplanter)

SWWatsonAv

e

SWHallAve

SW Canyon Rd

SW Millikan Way

SignsorUtilityPoles

WidestsidewalksontheLoop(18+ft)

SW Crescent Way

MAX

Beaverton Cr

pedestriAn through zone - north

Sources: City of Beaverton 2020 Survey, Note: does not include obstruction from furnishings, not in survey

>8ft

The area of the sidewalk for pedestrian travel. Measured from back of sidewalk to curb or obstruction (utility pole, sign, street tree planter)

PedestrianThroughZoneWidth

Key

5-8ft

<5ft

SidewalkGap

UnmarkedCrosswalk

• In this segment of the Loop, most sidewalks are adequately or generously sized for pedestrian travel with some utility poles creating narrower points.

• There is a lack of sidewalks and marked crosswalks on the East side of Watson from Canyon to north of Millikan.

pedestriAn through zone - centrAl

SWWatsonA

ve

SWHallA

ve

SW Canyon Rd

SW Broadway St

SW Farmington Rd

Sources: City of Beaverton 2020 Survey Note: does not include obstruction from furnishings, not in survey

>8ft


Key

5-8ft

<5ft

SidewalkGap

UnmarkedCrosswalk

• Pedestrian through zones are generally standard width (5’-8’), with some constraints along Watson due to placement of utilities and planters.

• On Watson, the pedestrian path across the railroad is generously sized but veers away from the curb to cross the tracks.

Planters,SeatingandUtilityPoles


Sources: City of Beaverton 2020 Survey Note: does not include obstruction from furnishings, not in survey

>8ft


Key

5-8ft

<5ft

SidewalkGap

UnmarkedCrosswalk

• On Watson, pedestrian through zones are primarily standard widths interrupted regularly by the placement of street trees.

• On Hall, there is more variation in the width, with generous sections by the Library and narrower segments closer to Farmington.

SWWatsonA

ve

SW W

ashington Ave

SWHallA

ve

SW 4th St

SW 3rd St

SW 2nd St

SW 1st St

SW 5th St

SW Farmington Rd

StreetTrees

GenerouspedestrianconnectionsthroughCityParktothelibrary


pedestriAn through zone - south

sidewAlk width

Considerations Opportunities ConstraintsInadequate sidewalk width in some parts of Loop

One block of missing sidewalk on Watson

• Shift how ROW is allocated between sidewalks, lanes, bikes, and parking (e.g. east side of Watson between Canyon and Millikan)

• Potential ROW acquisition and dedication with redevelopment

• Potential to test ideas with temporary demonstrations

• Code adjustments to require future redevelopment to build wider sidewalks

• Limited ROW width

• Essential sidewalk components (bus shelters, utilities)

• Existing trees• Potential

opposition to parking removal; need to ensure adequate parking and implement parking management strategies before any parking removal effects are felt

Relevant Goals: • Prioritizewalking,bikingandtransit• Emphasizesafetyforallusers• Reimaginetheuseofpublic

spacesandplaces

SW Canyon Rd

SW Broadway St

OffStreetBikePath

Bikelanes(5’)

Key

SW Millikan Way

Rail

SW 2nd StSW 3rd St

SW 4th St

MainSt

SW 5th St

SW 1st St

SWWatsonA

ve

SWHallA

veSW

Washington A

ve

A

B

MAX

Beaverton Cr

SW Farmington Rd

bicycle system

Source: Beaverton Active Transportation Plan, City of Beaverton Survey, Nearmap

• Complete bike lane system on Watson and Hall south of Farmington, but minimum width (5’).

• Major gap in bike facilities north of Farmington and unsafe intersection conditions.

• Lane exists on part of the higher-speed stretch of Hall, which connects to Crescent Connection Trail, with future extensions east and west.

Crescent Connection Trail

Gap in bike lane, on-street parking space on both sides could be reallocated to bike lanes

Gap in bike lane, with potential conflicts with slip lane at right of photo

Hall, south of Canyon

A Watson, north of Broadway

B

bicycle network fAcilities & gAps

Considerations Opportunities ConstraintsGaps in bicycle lane network (e.g. Watson north of Farmington) and insufficient bike lane width

• ROW available to reallocate• Potential ROW acquisition• City policy supports connected

and safe bike network • Closing gaps can improve

accessibility to regional transit and Crescent Connection

• Current use of available space for on-street parking

• Traffic impacts from lane reallocation (to be studied)

• Bike improvements should coordinate with system-wide improvements

Relevant Goals: • Prioritizesafetyforallusers• Prioritizewalking,bikingandtransit

SW Canyon Rd*Note: future Bus Rapid Transit (57)

SW Broadway St

BusStops

MAXandWESstations

BusRoutes

SW Millikan Way

Rail

SW 2nd St

SW 3rd St

SW 4th St

SW 5th St

SW 1st St

BeavertonTransitCenter

BeavertonCentralStation

SW W

atson Ave

SW Hall A

veSW

Washington A

ve

MAX

Beaverton Cr

SW Farmington Rd

WES

15-m

inu

te

wA

lk

• The Loop is located approximately 1/4 mile west of Beaverton Transit Center, the busiest transit center in the system.

• The TC provides regional connectivity through the MAX Red and Blue Lines, and WES Commuter Line, as well as additional bus lines, secure bike parking and LIFT service.

• Future Red Line extension will add service to Beaverton Central and increase frequency of MAX trains west of the Transit Center

• Bus stops for 3 TriMet bus lines are located along the Loop: the 76 on Hall/Watson, 57 on Canyon, and the 52 on Farmington.

Key

trAnsit

SW Canyon Rd

SW Broadway St

SW Millikan Way

Rail

SW 2nd St

SW 3rd St

SW 4th St

SW 5th St

SW 1st St

SW W

atson Ave

SW Hall A

veSW

Washington A

ve

MAX

Beaverton Cr

SW Farmington Rd

Sources: City of Beaverton 2018, Nearmap 2021

on-street pArking

15min

LoadingZonesBusZones

Parking

1hr2hrs3hrsNotimelimit

• Most street parking along the Loop is located south of Farmington with little time restriction (2 hours or no time limit). There is no street parking on Hall north of 1st.

• Coordinate with Downtown Parking Strategy (2021)

Key

• On Watson, there are 2 travel lanes with the exception of the segment between Millikan and Canyon. The closely-spaced signalized intersections with Broadway, rail, and Farmington pose challenges.

• On Hall, the number of travel lanes generally increases from the South to North. Additional turn lanes at Farmington and Canyon have the potential for conflicts with bikes and pedestrians (see next slide).

• Speed limits of 30 mph will be consistently reduced to 20 mph through Loop.

Signalizedintersections

Key

SW Canyon Rd

SW Broadway St

SW Millikan Way

Rail

SW 2nd St

SW 3rd St

SW 4th St

SW 1st St

SW W

atson Ave SW

Hall Ave

TrafficDirection&NumberofTravelLanes

MAXBeaverton Cr

SW Farmington Rd

#

vehiculAr system

SW Canyon Rd

SW Broadway St

SW Millikan Way

Rail

MAX

SW 2nd StSW 3rd St

SW 4th St

SW 5th St

SW 1st St

Beaverton Cr

SW Farmington Rd

Crescent Connection Trail

CRASH LOCATIONS

Key__________________________________

Low Number of Crashes

High Number of CrashesConsiderations Opportunities ConstraintsIntersections have safety challenges for people walking, biking, driving

Railroad, Canyon and Farmington are perceived as a barrier for pedestrians, crossings feel long / unsafe

• Potential geometric adjustments to certain intersections to improve traffic and pedestrian safety (e.g. Farmington/Watson). Geometric refers to the dimensions and visible features of the roadway, e.g. pavement widths, slopes, intersections.

• Targeted removal of parking spaces to improve pedestrian visibility at crosswalks

• Improvements for bike safety possible at 5th and Hall/Watson intersections (e.g. bike boxes)

• Increase illumination at intersections

City owns/manages FarmingtonRange of possible improvements:• High visibility crosswalks• Flashing yellow turn arrow• ‘Countdown’ ped signal• Public spaces at corners to

provide comfort and decrease perception of wait/distance

• Landscape medians• New vertical development which

will reduce perceived scale/width of Canyon

• Improved ADA ramps

• ODOT control of Canyon, requires negotiation and coordination

• Changes also require ODOT Rail permission

• Traffic signal timing needs further study for system-wide effects

• Site-specific challenges (e.g. topography at Farmington and Watson)

pedestriAn bArriers & sAfety issues

Relevant Goals: • Prioritizesafetyforallusers• Prioritizewalking,bikingandtransit

April 21, 2021

beAverton loop urbAn design & trAnsportAtion project

CAC #2

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urbAn design & trAnsportAtion project