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TriMet outlines impact of construction for downtown businesses and workers Preparation is now underway for the coming light rail construction on the
transit mall. Advance construction activities started several months ago with utility relocation. The next big step to prepare for light rail construction happens on January 14 when all of the buses currently traveling on SW 5th and 6th
avenues will be relocated.
Bus Relocation
On Sunday, January 14, 17 of the 29 bus lines that currently operate on the Transit Mall will be relocated to 3rd and 4th avenues. Six lines will move to Columbia and Jefferson streets, Line 14 will relocate to SW 2nd Avenue.
The City and TriMet used traffic modeling to help determine which streets could accommodate the buses while also keeping traffic moving and access to parking garages and loading zones. There is capacity for buses on 3rd and 4th avenues,
Columbia and Jefferson streets and SW 2nd Avenue, but it will have an impact.
The most congested time will be during the evening rush hour around 5 p.m. One of the most important things downtown employers can do is encourage their employees to avoid the peak rush hour. Working alternative schedules or staying
downtown after work will ease the commute and help avoid a negative image of downtown. Downtown employers should consider allowing employees to work alternative schedules, especially during the first week of bus relocation.
Buses will return to the transit mall in spring 2009.
Rail Construction
Light rail construction will take place in three- and four-block segments for up to eight weeks in three construction zones. The new light rail line opens in September 2009, extending from Clackamas Town Center to Portland State
University.
The Portland Business Alliance, the Downtown Marketing Initiative, TriMet, PDC, the City of Portland and other partners are working together to make sure the public knows that downtown is open for business. Sidewalks and access to
businesses will remain open during construction.
To get the latest information on the project, please visit
portlandmall.org.
Keep Portland Moving
To help ease the commute, the Portland Office of Transportation has launched
SmartTrips Downtown to make downtown trips easier, healthier and less expensive during light rail construction. PDOT will be providing information and incentives to 25,000 downtown employees over the next two years to keep people
moving and business vibrant. Employers can contact Steve Hoyt at 503.823.7191 to provide employees free, customized transportation information.
Parking
PDOT will add parking along 5th and 6th avenues in areas where there is no construction. It is likely that more than 200 parking spaces will be available during major civil construction on the Mall.
TriMet gets assistance from Sidewalk Ambassadors To help ease the transition of the bus mall to its new temporary location on 3rd and 4th
avenues, TriMet has contracted to use the Sidewalk Ambassadors to distribute information and answer questions from people and businesses about the move on January 14.
Although their duties with TriMet officially began December 27, the Ambassadors have been fielding questions about the transition for several months. In the first three days of their TriMet work, the Ambassadors handed out nearly 900
brochures and maps, and fielded more than 600 questions from bus riders, according to Sidewalk Ambassador Coordinator Vicente Guzman-Orozco.
"The people we talk to know that something is happening but don't have all the details," said Ambassador Ben Sandberg. "Most people are very grateful for the map and information we give them."
City Council votes on sidewalk ordinance next week
Alliance staff continues to work with partners from Mayor Potter's SAFE working group to achieve implementation of the group's recommendations. In December, City Council approved allocating funds for day shelters for homeless people in the
downtown core. The Alliance has committed to providing funding for those programs. The Alliance is also working with the group to open additional public restrooms and ensure adequate bench seating in downtown. On December 13, Council had
the first reading of the proposed sidewalk obstruction ordinance, which was unanimously endorsed. The second reading is scheduled for January 17.
High winds and rain affect downtown foot traffic in December, sales still strong
Overall, foot traffic in downtown Portland was down 7 percent from a year ago, according to the Alliance's bi-annual pedestrian count. The Alliance conducted the count in 15 key downtown intersections on December 14, 15 and 16. Stormy
weather may be to blame for decreased foot traffic overall, as pedestrians had to endure high wind speeds and torrential downpours, periodic hail and colder-than-normal temperatures. Despite the decrease in foot traffic, downtown retailers
reported a strong holiday season, with an average increase of 10 percent over last year's sales. Luxury retailers (jewelry, technology, high end apparel) reported a 15 to 20 percent increase over the 2005 holiday sales - the largest jump
in sales since 2000.
Several downtown intersections saw increased foot traffic in December, including SW 10th Avenue and Washington Street (up 32 percent), SW 3rd Avenue and Yamhill Street (up 15 percent), and SW 5th Avenue and Washington Street (up 10
percent).
The decrease in foot traffic at SW 5th Avenue and Morrison Street (down 18 percent) may be attributed to the construction underway at Meier & Frank Square. The largest decreases in pedestrian traffic were at SW 3rd Avenue and Taylor Street
(down 31 percent), and SW 4th Avenue and Morrison Street (down 21 percent).
The purpose of collecting the information during the bi-annual pedestrian counts is to track population in front of available retail space or in key retail areas. During December, the Portland Department of Transportation also counted
vehicular traffic on the same intersections. The full pedestrian count report is available on the Alliance web site at
www.portlandalliance.com.
Clean & Safe update
During December, the Clean & Safe Security Patrols engaged in 13,550 interactions with individuals on the streets of downtown Portland as they continue to enhance the safety and security of citizens in the Business Improvement
District. These contacts included 3,831 business assistance and referral contacts, 4,971 pedestrian contacts, 81 arrests, 185 exclusions and an additional 125 non-enforcement problem solving contacts.
In December, 85 defendants were ordered by the Westside Community Court to perform community service on the Westside work crew. The Community Court work crews removed 35 bags of trash, 498 bags of leaves and 24
pieces of drug paraphernalia. In all, 310 hours of community service were performed in the Downtown Business Improvement District by defendants from Community Court.
Fifty-five defendants successfully completed the Theft Accountability Class. The Downtown DA Legal Assistant reviewed a total of 113 misdemeanor cases for prosecution and referral to the Westside Community Court.
Sidewalk Ambassadors stayed busy with holiday promotions in December
During the holidays the Sidewalk Ambassadors supported the Alliance's Win A Window and Give More Get More promotions. In addition to delivering and refreshing materials to the participating merchants, they provided
descriptions about the retail window contest, handed out maps and guided customers to stores so they could enter the promotional raffle and buy the discount cards. The Ambassadors also informed customers and merchants about the Alliance's
Give More Get More promotion to help end homelessness.
December Statistics:
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Total interactions: 3,991
Information referrals (restaurants, attractions, transportation, retailers, directions): 2,510
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Publications distributed: 1,121 (including 61 assortments)
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City and/or property owner service referrals (graffiti, broken glass, trash): 69
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Business visits: 202
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Printed way-finding directions: 89
Give More Get More raises money for day shelter fund
Through the Alliance's Give More Get More program, more than $-3,000 was raised to help fund a day shelter in downtown Portland. The Give More Get More launched on December 1, and provided holiday shoppers special discounts
and offers from 28 downtown retailers, hotels and restaurants. The Give More Get More cards sold for $30, and all proceeds from the sale of the cards were donated to programs that help end homelessness in downtown Portland.
Downtown web site gains in popularity during holidays
The Downtown Marketing Initiative and the Alliance's
downtownportland.org web site brought shopping, dining and entertainment options to more than 7,000 subscribers in December. December ended with an average daily hit rate of 7,771, and the total number of hits was 240,928, compared to
November, which had an average daily hit rate of 6,500, and a total hit of 200,000.
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