The City is repaving Milwaukie from Bybee south to where it runs into 17th (two blocks before Tacoma). They sent out a letter dated August 16th to “businesses and residents” that arrived yesterday. The supervisor on the project says that he did not know about the SWBA, or he would have sent us a copy.

Here is what is happening:

The crews will start today around noon (as soon as they finish SE 28th).
The intersection at Bybee and Milwaukie will be partially closed, but southbound traffic on Milwaukie will be allowed to turn both east and west onto Bybee.
They are routing northbound traffic off of  Milwaukie onto 17th. They are routing southbound traffic onto Bybee west to 13th, and then left onto Tacoma to get back to 17th . They acknowledge that this is going to create a huge problem at the intersection of 13th and Tacoma (an intersection that is already under stress).
They have decided to do the section from Bybee to Rex first, and hope to be finished by this Friday (but maybe next Tuesday). They will then do the section south of Rex.
They will try to be finished before the 25th
The saw horses went up yesterday because the City ordinance says they have to be up 24 hours before the work starts.

Chuck Martin
Executive Director
SWBA

I’m writing to let you know that the TNT Network series, “Leverage,” will be filming around the Springwater Trail and the Oregon Pacific Railway tracks adjacent on Thursday August 5th and Friday August 6th. As part of that filming we are working with Multnomah County and the City of Portland to do some related work on the Sellwood Bridge on Thursday August 5th, 2010.

With the permission and cooperation of the county and city the westbound lane of the Sellwood Bridge will be closed on Thursday August 5th, 2010, from 9:30am to 1:30pm to facilitate filming. Drivers will be advised to use alternate routes. The westbound lane will reopen to traffic at 1:30pm.

I’m writing to you in hopes that you can help us disseminate this information as quickly as possible. We will be distributing flyers to the area tonight and tomorrow, and we will be placing variable message signs in the area tomorrow to give drivers a heads up. If you have any questions please contact me.   (503) 780-7989

These shows are part of Portland Parks & Recreation’s Summer Concerts in the Park series that happen in parks all over Portland.  Come down to Sellwood Riverfront Park for some great music with friends and neighbors in a beautiful setting on the river.

There will be food vendors, a secure bike corral, and overflow parking again this year at Oaks Amusement Park. This year there will also be a community information night on July 26th.

See you there!

Are you concerned about your safety when you cross Tacoma Street? Four pedestrians have been struck by vehicles at the intersection of SE 13th & Tacoma in just the past 15 months. All of them were crossing the street with the crosswalk signal in their favor. One of the people struck was a 4-yr-old boy.

Come hear what Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBoT) has to say about this. Join the discussion about how we can partner with the city to get the Tacoma Main Street Plan completed before anyone else gets hit.

Contact: Eric Miller: chasingmoose@gmail.com

Dear Sellwood Bridge User,

When Governor Ted Kulongoski signed the Oregon Jobs and Transportation Act of 2009 this week, our project to replace the Sellwood Bridge took a giant leap forward. The legislation helps fund a new bridge in these ways:

· $30 million is designated to build a new interchange where the bridge connects with Highway 43.

· Multnomah and Clackamas counties are permitted to enact local vehicle registration fees to fund a new Sellwood Bridge.

· All Oregon counties and cities will receive new transportation funds from state vehicle fees and the state gas tax. The City of Portland and Multnomah County are negotiating an agreement whereby the City would commit $8 million a year of its new funds to raise $100 million for the new Sellwood Bridge.

The legislation creates the local and state funding sources we need to secure federal funds to complete the project. We thank members of the Oregon House and Senate and the Governor for recognizing the need to replace this important regional bridge.

Now the focus on funding will shift to important decisions at the local and federal levels. We expect the elected boards of Multnomah and Clackamas counties will consider enacting local vehicle fees later this year. The Portland City Council will take up the funding agreement with Multnomah County before the end of this year as well. We want to have these local sources in place before Congress acts on our request for $40 million as part of the next federal transportation bill, likely in 2010.

If replacing the Sellwood Bridge is important to you, now is a great time to let your elected leaders know and thank them for supporting the project. Follow these links to contact your elected leaders:

· Multnomah County Board of Commissioners
· Clackamas County Board of Commissioners
· Portland City Council
· Congressman Earl Blumenauer
· Congressman Kurt Schrader
· Congressman Peter DeFazio
· Senator Jeff Merkley
· Senator Ron Wyden

Thank you again for your participation in the Sellwood Bridge project.

Ted Wheeler, Multnomah County Chair
Deborah Kafoury, Commissioner – District 1

July 6th – Kevin Gordon, a bluesy songwriter based in Nashville who is playing at the Waterfront Blues Festival on July 4th.

July 13 – the good time country rock of the Garcia Birthday Band

July 20th – it’s a tropical latin dance party with Conjunto Alegre

July 27th – the Midnight Serenaders‘ hot Jazz Age swing

There will again be a secure bike corral at the park . . . and NEW this year – overflow parking at the south end of the Oaks Park parking lot.  It’s a shorter walk (and a lot faster) than parking up in the neighborhood. A big thank you goes out to Oaks Park and the Community of Adsideo for their time and energy to coordinate both. There will also be food vendors, so don’t worry if you don’t have time to grab food before the show.

For more information about the entire Portland Parks and Rec Neighborhood concerts go here.  If you’d like to know more about free music in parks throughout the region, go here.

Look forward to seeing you at the concerts!

2008 Sellwood Riverfront Park Concert

We will be bagging trash, placing it on boats and sending it to a barge carrying dumpsters.
Help is needed in all aspects—trash pickers, boaters to transport and access difficult areas, as well as volunteers to help throw the trash onto the barge.
To participate in this event, please call Harbor Master Ray Pratt to request an assignment. Ray can be reached via telephone at (503) 823-3780 or via email at rpratt@fire.ci.portland.or.us.

We need your help to make our “River City” healthy and beautiful!

For more information, call SOLV at (800) 333-SOLV (7568) or (503) 844.9571

Down by the Riverside offers an excellent opportunity to become more involved in environmental stewardship and the community.

For more information, call SOLV at (800) 333-SOLV (7568) or (503) 844.9571.