Business Community Weigh In on Portland's Downtown Multi-Modalism Plans

Andrew Theen reports that the Portland Business Alliance has taken a noteworthy stance in reaction to a large effort to overhaul transit and active transportation options in downtown and the inner eastside of the city.

The essence of a letter by Portland Business Alliance President Andrew Hoan (written before the City Council considers a list of 18 projects that would speed up transit, improve pedestrian facilities, and add bike lanes) comes down to compromise. While downtown business owners are concerned about the impact of a more robust network of bike lanes, they're also willing to completely kick cars off of from the Fifth and Sixth Avenue transit mall.

"Hoan said removing cars from the transit mall would still provide downtown with the north-south bike connection and comes with less effects for retail businesses in the city center. Drivers tend to avoid the transit mall anyway, he said, or they 'misuse the designated lanes,'" according to Theen.

While Hoan's letter expresses ambivalence about bike lanes, it also supports pedestrian improvements and projects to speed up public transit through the area.