Heights Streetscape Plan Moves to Final Design Phase

Heights Streetscape
Plan Moves to Final Design Phase

At its October 24 meeting, the Hood River Urban Renewal Agency Board (URAB) discussed the Heights Streetscape Project and reviewed the proposed scope of work for Phase 3 of the project. This phase will focus on the development of the preferred concept design and implementation plan to be carried out by urban planning consultant MIG.

Phase 1 and 2, now completed, focused on goal setting, background research, and streetscape alternative analysis, technical evaluation of the three concepts, parking and intersection analysis, community input, and outreach with impacted agencies and stakeholders.

After an extensive outreach and engagement effort where hundreds of community stakeholders provided input on the three alternatives for 12th and 13th streets in the Heights, URAB selected Alternative 3 as the preferred streetscape concept to develop a final plan. This recommendation aligned with input from local emergency service providers, Hood River County School District, Columbia Gorge Community College, and stakeholders, and was the highest scoring alternative from the Phase 2 public survey. The project was organized to have three design phases that would allow for periodic check-ins and adjustments to address issues identified by the project team or Agency.

Tasks included as part of Phase 3 work scope include the following:

• Updating typical street cross sections for key study streets
• Developing a conceptual plan view layout for key study streets
• Making minor refinements to preliminary intersection concepts
• Identifying an overarching strategy for the streetscape character
• Identifying considerations for utility infrastructure improvements

The previously approved work plan for developing the implementation plan includes:

• Recommendations for phasing street and intersection improvements over time
• Developing estimates of construction costs and future infrastructure improvements
• Identifying potential funding strategies for phased implementation
• Creating visualizations of the final design concept

The approved scope included the following adjustments:

• Additional design work to develop the “hybrid” approach with two distinct designs to achieve two-way travel on 13th Street and one-way travel with a dedicated bicycle path on 12th Streetitable and diverse housing inventory
• Additional design for key intersections at Belmont and May, including traffic signals and roundabout concepts
• Additional detailed design for east/west streets to investigate opportunities for on street parking, walking, and cycling
• Concept design to develop a bicycle connection along 12th Street from Belmont to Pacific Avenue that aligns with the Streetscape Plan
• Exploring the jurisdictional transfer of a section of the state highway from State to City control

Three additional design review meetings with the Urban Renewal Advisory Committee (URAC) are included in the work plan. The first covers findings from the revised scope of work, the second includes the presentation of a final concept plan, and the third presents a draft implementation plan. Following these meetings, the project team would make presentations and share URAC comments with the Agency’s Board. These meetings will provide opportunities for the public to hear about progress and comment on the ongoing work. Public input will be welcomed at any URAC meeting or by contacting City Planning Director Dustin Nilsen at D.Nilsen@cityofhoodriver.gov.

This project is funded through the Heights Urban Renewal District created by the City in 2011 to focus on improvements in the Heights, including those that address streetscape modifications to improve safety for bicycles and pedestrians along 12th and 13th Streets, which also serve as State Highway 281.