February  22,  2011

Chairman  Andy  Duyck
Washington  County  Board  of  Commissioners
Shirley  Hoffman  Auditorium
Public Services Building
150  N. First  Street
Hillsboro,  Oregon   97124

Chairman Duyck and Honorable Commissioners:

Subject:  Support For Alternative 1 Bethany Boulevard Improvement Plan

Westside Economic Alliance is a regional business advocacy group serving the public and private sectors of Washington and western Clackamas counties.  Our diverse membership is united by our commitment to improve the local business climate, promote economic development, and enhance the livability on the Westside of our metropolitan region.

1. Transportation has always been a high priority for residents of Washington County, and a growing source of frustration when we can’t get where we need to be---by whatever means we choose to get there.  As the “economic engine” of our state, transportation matters here in Washington County. 
   
   It is imperative for our workers to be able to access their jobs and, at the end of the day, to get home to their families.  Our products must reach our customers and distribution centers, and we have to keep the store shelves stocked.  Our families must be able to get to schools and college classes safely, and our residents must have access to health care facilities, public transit services, and other amenities that make this a desirable place to live.
   
   But none of this is possible without an effective transportation system.  To quote Senator Ron Wyden, “you can’t have a first rate economy if you are saddled with a second rate transportation system.”
   
   In 1987, Washington County became unique among 36 Oregon counties, by putting our money where our mouths are, and agreeing to pay for the transportation improvements needed to serve and protect our growing population.  With voter approval, we created the Major Street Transportation Improvement Plan (MSTIP), and have renewed our support for this property-tax based funding program twice in the past 15 years.
   
   Improvements to Bethany Blvd. have long been among the future projects listed as MSTIP priorities.  It is imperative that Washington County keep these promises, and deliver on the needed improvements we have been talking about---and paying for---for the past 20 years.
   
   
2. Bethany Blvd is already at or near capacity for moving residents north-south between U.S. Highway 26 and West Union Road, to access their jobs, schools and PCC’s Rock Creek college campus, medical facilities, etc.  More than simply a frustration for local neighborhoods, this growing congestion hurts the economy, jeopardizes public safety, and limits modal choice by restricting public transit access, bicycle and pedestrian mobility through this area.
   
   
3. The population of Washington County has doubled in the past 20 years,since this project was first identified as a priority need for our residents and businesses, and continues to grow at twice the rate of the rest of the state.  According to the 2010 Census, Washington County is home to one of every four new residents being born and settling in our state.
   
   This population growth is expected to continue in the next 20 years, with as many as 400,000 new residents adding to the transportation needs of our region by 2030.  As a region, we have agreed to limit future expansion of our urban areas and will require most of our growth to occur inside the urban growth boundary, and inside our existing communities. Improvements to Bethany Blvd. and other transportation corridors in Oregon’s second largest county will become an even higher priority.
   
   
4. Traffic improvements to Bethany Blvd must be adequate to serve the current and projected transportation needs of the county for many years to come.  To that end, WEA strongly recommends the five lane improvement plan illustrated in Alternative 1, be selected as the preferred alternative for this project. 
   
   WEA will oppose any proposal to expand Bethany Blvd. to only three lanes, as inadequate to the projected needs of the county and region, an unacceptable risk to public health and safety, and an inappropriate use of public funds. 
   
   Clearly, there are no shortage of deserving transportation projects in Washington County, competing for your attention and limited public dollars.  So it is important we get this project done well, done right, and done once, because it will be a very long time before we have this opportunity to improve the north-south mobility in this corner of our county.

The members and affiliates of Westside Economic Alliance appreciate the opportunity to present these comments and recommendations.  We thank you for your consideration, and invite you to contact the Board members or staff listed on our letterhead for more information.

Yours for a prosperous Westside economy,

Jonathan  Schlueter
Executive  Director