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[Bruce]

From OPB: How freeway builders collided with Oregon’s growth management system

Pretty good look into the 1980s revival of a west side freeway proposal.

[jakeroot]

From OPB: How freeway builders collided with Oregon’s growth management system

Pretty good look into the 1980s revival of a west side freeway proposal.

That was a great read. Thanks for sharing, Bruce.

I have to echo their frustration, at least long term. Washington County doesn't seem to have pulled enough from that LUTRAQ proposal over the years, and I think you can see that in the dwindling MAX ridership numbers, even pre-pandemic. Development patterns seem to have changed very little since the 1960s and 1970s, with only slightly more density in certain pockets. Enough hasn't changed that, frankly, I'm not sure the lack of a bypass has truly had any positive effect on development patterns. The lack of a bypass may have resulted in more infill than if a bypass were built, no doubt, but I'm not convinced the differences of that alternate reality and what we see today would be remarkably different.

Was any map ever made public showing the route options?

[Sub-Urbanite]

1000 Friends of Oregon posted it on their Instagram today but of course it showed the broad corridors, showing that literally half of Washington County would become a freeway.

[Alps]

Is there any way to determine Umatilla County routes? Old 395 west of Pendleton is definitely one but there are no signs with route numbers.

[ClassicHasClass]

You mean the alignment through Echo? That's old US 30; US 395 went along OR 37.

[Alps]

You mean the alignment through Echo? That's old US 30; US 395 went along OR 37.

Crap but thanks! So okay, does old 30 have a number?

[JasonOfORoads]

You mean the alignment through Echo? That's old US 30; US 395 went along OR 37.

Crap but thanks! So okay, does old 30 have a number?

Some counties include the numbers of their roads on their GIS maps. I'm on my phone right now, so I haven't checked yet if Umatilla County's GIS has that. I'll see if I can pull it up and find anything out.

Edit: It looks like the number is included in the GIS data, as CO_RD_NUM. Umatilla River Road and Rieth Road, the former US-30 alignments, are defined as Co. Rd. 1275 and Co. Rd. 1300 respectively.

[Alps]

You mean the alignment through Echo? That's old US 30; US 395 went along OR 37.

Crap but thanks! So okay, does old 30 have a number?

Some counties include the numbers of their roads on their GIS maps. I'm on my phone right now, so I haven't checked yet if Umatilla County's GIS has that. I'll see if I can pull it up and find anything out.

Edit: It looks like the number is included in the GIS data, as CO_RD_NUM. Umatilla River Road and Rieth Road, the former US-30 alignments, are defined as Co. Rd. 1275 and Co. Rd. 1300 respectively.

THANK YOU <3

[xonhulu]

I just came back from a trip to the Oregon coast.  I had a chance to cruise by the northern end of unsigned OR 542 at its junction with OR 42, and I'm pleased to report . . . something?



The 42/542 intersection is a trumpet interchange.  This signpost looks to be recently placed, looking at the ground around the base.   But it's missing the OR 542 shield that should be on the right.

I'm guessing I caught it mid-installation, and there's a 542 shield on the way?  It seems unlikely ODOT would make a space for a route shield if they didn't intend to place one there.  The signage at the gore on eastbound 42 does not appear new, so maybe that signage is also slated for replacement?

I'm also a little surprised this direction on 542 would be bannered "West."  "South" would be way more appropriate, as 542 trends mostly south and slightly east between this junction & Powers.

I'll have to check it out again the next time I go through those parts.  I only drove a mile or so down 542 before U-turning, so if there was 542 signage further along I missed it.

[pderocco]

The old sign shown in GSV is much bigger. I wonder if a big wind blew it over. Looks like it was mounted on a toothpick.

[Bickendan]

Did you go down 542 at all?

[xonhulu]

Did you go down 542 at all?

Only about a mile. It was getting later in the afternoon, and I wanted to get back to Coos Bay with some light left in case there was anything new to photograph on OR 241 (there wasn't), and I was camping north of there.  Unfortunately, short days come with winter travel.

Not impossible they've installed signs elsewhere on the route, but I figured the north end is where they'd start.

[Bickendan]

Did you see the building that has the address xxxxx Hwy 242 painted on the side? A rare instance of the ORH number being known in the wild.

[xonhulu]

Did you see the building that has the address xxxxx Hwy 242 painted on the side? A rare instance of the ORH number being known in the wild.

Not this time, but I saw it when I drove the whole road to Powers & back last summer.

If they do finally sign it as 542, I wonder if that guy will feel the need to re-paint?

[Bruce]

No timed permits needed this year to access the Historic Columbia River Highway: https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2023/02/09/columbia-gorge-waterfall-corridor-permits-wont-return-this-year/69889706007/

[compdude787]

No timed permits needed this year to access the Historic Columbia River Highway: https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2023/02/09/columbia-gorge-waterfall-corridor-permits-wont-return-this-year/69889706007/

Are they going to get rid of the permits needed to park at and visit Multnomah Falls as well? That was an unpleasant surprise when I visited the falls with my brother and his friends when they were in town last summer. At least we could see it from the parking lot... 

EDIT: I actually read the article now, and it answered my question--they are going to keep the permits to park in the I-84 Multnomah Falls parking lot, unfortunately.

[Sub-Urbanite]

No timed permits needed this year to access the Historic Columbia River Highway: https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2023/02/09/columbia-gorge-waterfall-corridor-permits-wont-return-this-year/69889706007/

Are they going to get rid of the permits needed to park at and visit Multnomah Falls as well? That was an unpleasant surprise when I visited the falls with my brother and his friends when they were in town last summer. At least we could see it from the parking lot... 

EDIT: I actually read the article now, and it answered my question--they are going to keep the permits to park in the I-84 Multnomah Falls parking lot, unfortunately.

It's not like it wasn't well signed far in advance? They had VMS's in Troutdale warning drivers that permits were required.

[Rothman]

No timed permits needed this year to access the Historic Columbia River Highway: https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2023/02/09/columbia-gorge-waterfall-corridor-permits-wont-return-this-year/69889706007/

Are they going to get rid of the permits needed to park at and visit Multnomah Falls as well? That was an unpleasant surprise when I visited the falls with my brother and his friends when they were in town last summer. At least we could see it from the parking lot... 

EDIT: I actually read the article now, and it answered my question--they are going to keep the permits to park in the I-84 Multnomah Falls parking lot, unfortunately.

It's not like it wasn't well signed far in advance? They had VMS's in Troutdale warning drivers that permits were required.

All for them.  The area was getting trashed from the crowds.

[compdude787]

No timed permits needed this year to access the Historic Columbia River Highway: https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2023/02/09/columbia-gorge-waterfall-corridor-permits-wont-return-this-year/69889706007/

Are they going to get rid of the permits needed to park at and visit Multnomah Falls as well? That was an unpleasant surprise when I visited the falls with my brother and his friends when they were in town last summer. At least we could see it from the parking lot... 

EDIT: I actually read the article now, and it answered my question--they are going to keep the permits to park in the I-84 Multnomah Falls parking lot, unfortunately.

It's not like it wasn't well signed far in advance? They had VMS's in Troutdale warning drivers that permits were required.

I don't recall seeing those. I knew about the permits to drive on the Historic Columbia River Highway, since that was way more publicized than requiring permits to park at Multnomah Falls.

[roadman65]

Interesting video of why “Limit” is missing on OR speed limit signs.