This diagram depicts one proposal for altering the railroad crossing and intersection of Butler Bridge Road, A Street, and 1st Street as part of a plan to connect Toledo’s downtown district with its waterfront. (Graphic by Parametrix)

A one-year effort involving participants from the public and private sectors has yielded a draft of the Toledo Waterfront Connectivity Plan, which Consultant Project Manager Shelley Oylear, from Corvallis-based Parametrix, presented to the city council during its Nov. 18 regular session.

Oylear outlined details of the effort to “improve and enhance access to” the city’s waterfront on Depot Slough from Main Street, Business Highway 20 (Sharon Branstiter Memorial Drive), and Yaquina Bay Road. The plan also aims to support existing and future land use; provide facilities for community members and visitors; identify and prioritize improvement needs; enhance the waterfront area’s vitality; and improve safety aspects, especially for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Oylear led the process that involved city, Port of Toledo, Georgia-Pacific, Oregon Department of Transportation, and Portland & Western Railroad officials; Newport resident Ken Dennis, representing the Lincoln County Bike Advisory Committee; and citizens Celeste Mathews, Don Amberg, Stu Miller, Jim Chambers, Stu Strom, Misty Lambrecht, Angelo Stephenson, Mark Werner, and Mark Cooper.

Oylear said they reviewed current local policies and plans, toured the study area “to identify issues, deficiencies, and opportunities,” developed recommendations for improvement projects, and identified possible funding venues. Participation included a project advisory committee and public meetings.

According to the draft plan, the waterfront area under review “is centered on the existing and former industrial sites on Depot Slough south of 1st Street and west of Butler Bridge Road.”

The Port of Toledo owns the “predominately vacant area” zoned for industrial, light industrial, and water-dependent industry. The vacant area is primarily used for recreation and cultural events. The port offices, Toledo Post Office, Yaquina Pacific Railroad Historical Society, and Memorial Field are located within it. The field provides a venue for sporting events and the Toledo Summer Festival, and the river and slough offer scenic views and bird watching. The port also hosts the annual Wooden Boat Show along the waterfront.

The port has finished projects to provide more public access with a viewing platform over Depot Slough, a gravel path and benches, a small pavilion, and a boardwalk along the marina. Port officials have also landed funding to build a gazebo and restroom facilities, with construction to begin next year.

But Oylear said the connectivity plan process raised “a number of concerns and ideas” about access to the waterfront area.

Among the concerns were the lack of pedestrian connections between the waterfront area and surrounding neighborhoods, road network, bicycle touring routes, and recreational opportunities; a need for signs and “streetscape amenities” to “create an identity” for the waterfront and direct visitors to it; and the need to improve railroad and intersection crossings in terms of access, safety, and clarity, especially for visitors.

The plan outlined a list of short-term improvements, and a list of medium-term improvements, along with projected costs for each - $1.2 million for the short-term efforts, $2.5 million for the medium term.

The next step is “to collect comments, make changes, and finalize the plan for adoption,” said Oylear, noting that the process would involve public input.

Beyond that, it means focusing on finding grants and other funding from “a variety of local, state, federal, public, and private sources.”



Terry Dillman is the assistant editor of the News-Times. Contact him at (541) 265-8571, ext 225, or terrydillman@newportnewstimes.com.



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