TrailLink 2007 Mobile Workshops:

Mobile Workshops showcased Portland as a model for active transportation—tours of trails and other urban design features that make Portland successful in shifting trips to walking and biking. Participants chose between cycling, walking or street car options.

Mobile Workshop 1
East Multnomah County's Rivers & Volcanoes Tour
Boston may have its String of Pearls, but in Oregon and Washington visitors can experience the scenic Northwest Vista of Volcanoes while traveling through East Multnomah County. The region consisted primarily of dairy and berry farms until the mid-20th century. 

We joined Gresham parks staff for a visit to Linnemann Station, a circa-1900 re-created railroad station located at the junction of the Portland Traction Co. Railroad's Springwater Division Line and Troutdale Line. Approaching 100,000 population, Gresham is Oregon's fourth-largest city, and this 600-square-foot facility serves as a community meeting room, railroad museum and trailhead. 

Phase I of the Gresham/Fairview Trail was completed in March 2007.  When fully developed, this 5.2-mile regional trail will connect the existing Springwater Trail Corridor (America's 499th rail-to-trail conversion project) north to the mighty Columbia River, intercepting directly to five other regional trails, as well as one water and one local trail. Traveling north from Linnemann Station we saw how the Gresham/Fairview Trail connects with the future SW Community Nature Park, a natural area of headwaters, wetlands, and significant tree groves; Grant Butte, a forested inactive volcanic lava dome; the "backstage" switching yard of the regional Tri-Met Light Rail Maintenance Facility; transitioning industrial and residential neighborhoods; and Blue Lake Regional Park adjacent to the Columbia River.

From Gresham we followed the 40-Mile Loop as envisioned in 1903 by legendary landscape architects, the Olmstead Brothers. We continued east through the communities of Fairview and Troutdale. In Fairview the Loop follows the Columbia River with dramatic views of Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams, and Mt. Hood.  In Troutdale the trail will pass through the former Reynolds Aluminum Plant; onto the Columbia River Levee; then follow the Sandy River south into quaint downtown Troutdale, a vision of urban redevelopment with further trail connections east into the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and its series of trails, state parks and waterfalls. 

Mobile Workshop 2
Chelatchie Prairie Railroad and Proposed Trail Tour
A bus tour of the northern portion of the historical Chelatchie Prairie Railroad through scenic Clark County to learn about current planning efforts to identify a trail alignment alongside the railroad. The tour highlighted the planning process and visited several unique regional destinations adjacent to, and segments of the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad line. Sites included: Battle Ground State Park, Lucia Falls Regional Park and Moulton Falls Park and Trail.

Mobile Workshop 3
Streetcars to Trails: Past Meets the Future
Hop on Portland's newest 21st century streetcar (built in the Czech Republic) and connect to the old "Broadway" streetcar along the Willamette River Shoreline and Greenway. Travel by streetcar from Portland State University and River Place in downtown Portland to the new South Waterfront high-rise condominium district, and then on to Lake Oswego along the west side of the Willamette River. Explore this historical streetcar corridor, currently being considered for a future rail-with-trail project.

Stops along the corridor incluced views of green space, river vistas, a trestle and a tunnel. On the return trip to Portland, we traveled by bus on the east side of the Willamette River to tour the soon-to-be-built "Trolley Trail." This seven-mile project connecting the communities of Oregon City, Gladstone, Milwaukie and Portland will be a rail-to-trail project. We walked along portions of the old trolley line and view wetlands, historical homes and future parks. This Mobile Workshop was hosted by Metro, North Clackamas Parks & Recreation District, and Friends of the Trolley Trail.

Mobile Workshop 4
Southeast Portland Bike Boulevards
Joined the Bicycle Transportation Alliance on a hosted tour of Portland's finest "Bicycle Boulevards." This two-hour guided tour of Portland's low-traffic bicycle boulevards provided an overview of what these facilities are and why bicyclists like them so much.

We experienced and discussed a variety of measures that Portland has used to optimize the routes for bicyclists and reduce auto volumes and speeds. We discussed as well signs and marking, applicability of green street technologies, how to build new boulevards with a limited budget, and how to improve on what's on the ground today.

View a Map of the Tour

Mobile Workshop 5
Riverfront Parks and Trails
A loop ride connects South Waterfront, Willamette, Sellwood and Sellwood Riverfront, Tideman Johnson Parks, Eastmoreland Garden, and Oaks Bottom Wildlife Preserve. We rode portions of the Willamette Greenway and Springwater Corridor trails. And after a stop in Waterfront Park, we skirted RiverPlace, and then discussed the dual bicycle and pedestrian trails being developed for the new, high density South Waterfront neighborhood. The very new, cutting edge aerial tram contrasted with original Willamette Greenway Trail segments built one property at a time.

After an update on the potential rail-with-trail Willamette Shoreline project to Lake Oswego, we crossed the Sellwood Bridge and make our way to the Three Bridges project on Springwater. The project was opened after the Summer 2006 Rails to Trails magazine cover story on Springwater, so this introduced the three different structures that cross a creek, state highway and railroad before reaching our turning point at Tideman-Johnson Park and Springwater trailhead. The return trip featured more great views on the rail-with-trail portion of Springwater on the Willamette.

Mobile Workshop 6
Multi-modal travel in Southwest Portland
This walking tour offered a taste of Portland's many mobility choices: streetcar, multi-modal trail, aerial tram, steep hiking trail and an Olmsted parkway. We started by taking the streetcar to "South Waterfront," a new, high-density residential and business district next to the Willamette River. After discussing the proposed 100-foot-wide greenway with dual pedestrian and bike trails, we trekked through construction to the recently completed aerial tram.

Following the ride over the South Portland neighborhood and Terwilliger Parkway, we walked a portion of the Oregon Health Science University (OHSU) campus to reach the Connor Trail. Heading downhill, it connects to Marquam Nature Park and the Marquam Trail (part of the 40-Mile Loop) and returns to Portland State University via the lower section of Terwilliger Parkway, dedicated in 1914. 

Mobile Workshop 7
North Portland by Light Rail and Bicycle
This tour showcased four different trails, each in various stages of completion, to illustrate the challenges and benefits of developing a network of trails, as well as how transit and trails benefit one another. We started by taking bikes on light rail trains to the northernmost stop of the Interstate MAX. Our first trail was the Marine Drive Trail, part of the Lewis & Clark Discovery Greenway. We discussed the forthcoming Bridgeton segment plus perils and possibilities of the new Columbia River Crossing to Vancouver, Washington.

After riding along the Columbia River, we used the three-mile Peninsula Crossing Trail to see some Columbia Slough Trail (on levee), cross the slough and reach the Willamette River. The return trip along an interim Willamette Greenway route used mostly bike lanes and boulevards. We compared the bluff top with river edge alternatives currently being developed by residents and staff from planning, transportation and park bureaus. The trip concluded with the Eastbank Esplanade to which the North Portland Willamette Greenway wants to connect.

Mobile Workshop 8
Vancouver Discovery Historic Loop Tour
Experienced the colorful, early days of the Northwest's first American community on the Discovery Historic Loop bicycle tour. We rode through the tranquil environment of Hudson Bay's Fort Vancouver (circa 1823), Officers Row National Historic District, Downtown Vancouver, and the Columbia River Waterfront. We discovered the sights of old downtown and saw Vancouver's new Land Bridge, one of the components of Maya Linn's Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Confluence Project.

Mobile Workshop 9
Fanno Creek Trail and Westside Trail
Joined the Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District and the City of Tigard on a hosted bus/walking tour of some of the agency's regional multi-use bike trails: the Fanno Creek Trail and the Westside Trail. The tour examined existing sections, recently constructed sections (including Tigard's new pedestrian/bike bridge over the Tualatin River) and plans for future sections of the regional trails. The tour focused on the issues, obstacles and successes of these vitally important trail and transportation corridors and how they impact and interconnect with the regional and state trail systems.