The Peninsula Traffic Study: Widening Franklin

The Peninsula Traffic Study presented to the Portland City Council in 2006 predicted that Franklin might need to be widened to as much as eight lanes to accommodate an exaggeratedly large amount of future traffic. The Traffic Study failed to address any of the needs expressed by the neighboring community. It focused only on moving an unrealistic number of vehicles.

Community members and other transit advocates rejected the vision of a wider Franklin, and held out the alternative of a Franklin Street that would be integrated into the fabric of the urban peninsula, creating economic development opportunities while enhancing this important gateway.

Many also have also questioned the validity of traffic projections. In 2009, redesign consultants from Smart Mobility released more realistic projections based on actual traffic data:

During the 2000s, a period of increasing gasoline prices and infill development on the peninsula, Franklin Street’s traffic declined substantially, to the levels of the mid-1980s. The Peninsula Traffic Study’s projections presumed incredible growth in driving. More realistic figures indicate that by 2025, Franklin Street’s traffic won’t be much worse than it was through the 1990s.

The Traffic Study also revisited the original concept of Franklin tunneling under Congress and Cumberland. This expensive plan, while interesting, is unlikely to ever be funded. Additionally, it’s introduction of high-speed traffic deep into the Portland Peninsula is incongruent with the walkable nature of the city and fails to seize the full opportunities of this 12+ acre site.

The Traffic Study did suggest that this projected increase in traffic could be mitigated if the City of Portland took steps to reduce commuters’ dependence on single occupancy vehicles, implemented traffic demand management strategies,and improved transit options. Members of the Traffic Study committee recommended that Transit options be studied before implementing the Traffic Study. At the urging of local neighborhoods the Traffic Study was tabled until a Peninsula Transit Study was completed. This Transit Study, which focuses on creating viable alternatives to Portland’s auto-centric transportation system, began in early 2008.