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Aloha-Reedville Study: Six upcoming projects include roads, park, farmers market [The Oregonian, Portland, Ore. :: ]
[July 19, 2014]

Aloha-Reedville Study: Six upcoming projects include roads, park, farmers market [The Oregonian, Portland, Ore. :: ]


(Oregonian (Portland, OR) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) July 19--At least $32 million has been earmarked for Aloha investments in the next five years, according to Mike Dahlstrom, the Washington County senior planner who coordinated the Aloha-Reedville Study.



Some of these investments align with action items identified in the three-year, $3-million study aimed at solving some of the unincorporated community's urban problems.

The money comes from several pots, Dahlstrom said, including the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), Metro, Gain Share, Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District and the county's Major Streets Transportation Improvement Program (MSTIP).


Here are a few of the upcoming projects identified in the study that are scheduled to get underway in the next five years. All information comes from Dahlstrom.

Reconstruction of Southwest 198th Avenue The county has secured $14 million in 2013-2018 MSTIP allotments to reconstruct the 1.7-mile stretch of 198th Avenue from TV Highway to Farmington Road. This would include adding two through lanes, a turn lane, a bicycle lane, sidewalks, streetlights, storm drains and trees along the street.

The county estimates the total cost at $28 million, and hopes to secure the second half of the funding in the next round of MSTIP allotments, which will be determined in 2018. Meanwhile, the county will receive the first $14 million in 2018 for engineering, design, right-of-way acquisitions and initial construction. If all the funding is secured, the reconstruction likely won't be complete until 2025.

Improvements at Southwest 185th Avenue and TV Highway ODOT has set aside $4.8 million for safety improvements at the intersection of 185th and TV Highway. The improvements include a raised median, sidewalk improvements on both sides of TV Highway, countdown pedestrian crossing signals, alignment changes and the elimination of a right turn island. The county will contribute $560,000 in Gain Share funds for about 50 streetlights on either side of TV Highway. Construction is scheduled to begin next year.

Southwest Community Park The Tualatin Hills Parks & Recreation District plans to build a 20-acre community park near the intersection of Farmington Road and Southwest 170th Avenue, at Mountain View Middle School. The district has budgeted $7.5 million for the new park, and it's scheduled for completion by 2018. Washington County will contribute $384,000 to the project.

Augusta Lane bridge The county is gathering letters of support to apply for grants for $1.5 million to construct a bridge that would connect two portions of Augusta Lane, spanning Beaverton Creek. This bridge would allow students who live west of the creek to easily walk to Beaver Acres Elementary nearby. The county hopes to secure the funding within five years.

Farmers Market Under current Washington County code, farmers markets are only allowed in general commercial districts, which account for less than 23 acres in the Aloha area. The current farmers market application fee, good for two years, is $3,607. The county is working to replace the application process with a cheaper, simpler one.

The new process would allow farmers markets in any commercial, industrial or institutional land-use districts next to major roads, and drop the application fee to $213 per year. The ordinance is scheduled to go before the county Board of Commissioners on Aug. 5 and Aug. 26, when members of the public will also have a chance to give testimony. The board will vote on the ordinance Sept. 16, and if approved, large-scale farmers markets will be allowed under the new county code by Halloween.

Fair housing code compliance The county is also working to fully comply with the state's revised fair housing code. To do this, staff is assessing the county's community development code to see which parts need to change. These changes could be up for consideration by the Board of Commissioners by fall 2015.

-- Anna Marum ___ (c)2014 The Oregonian (Portland, Ore.) Visit The Oregonian (Portland, Ore.) at www.oregonian.com Distributed by MCT Information Services

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