Forest Ave Modernization/Complete Streets in GPCOG Plan - please send your support!
The GPCOG Regional Transportation Plan is open for comment. This is an important document in that it sets goals and a tentative list for projects to spend GPCOG's allocation of transportation funds on. Without being listed in the Plan, a project can't be funded. The plan is here. It currently lists a "Forest Avenue" project in the 2026-2030 timeframe. From what we see, that's great news.
We know this is a long and technical document but in summary, it's good news that Forest Avenue is in the Plan for the 2026-2030 window. Suggested language for a supportive email would be 'Thank you for including the 'Forest Avenue Modernization & Complete Streets' project in the 2026-2030 phase of the draft Connect 2045 Long-Range Transportation Plan. Making Forest Avenue a corridor that is designed for all users is fully in line with the Plan's six goals. Please keep this project in that phase in the final Plan.
They are taking comments now on a simple form or you can email comments to transportation@gpcog.org. We encourage everyone to indicate your support for this, to make sure it stays in the Plan. There are many more projects requested than will be funded and there are always last minute substitutions before these plans are finalized. Listing it doesn't guarantee it will happen but it's a big first step.
Here's the project summary sheet:
Project Location: Forest Avenue from State Street to Morrill’s Corner (interfacing with Woodfords Corner or Morrills Corner intersection projects).
Project Description:
The Forest Avenue Modernization and Complete Streets Project is a complete streets redesign project for the Forest Avenue corridor from State Street at the southern end north to Morrill’s Corner. This project will result in multi-modal improvements designed to better accommodate and integrate vehicular, bicycle, pedestrian, and transit traffic in a way that supports the street’s regional function while orienting it to the local context and away from its current automobile orientation. This project is expected to leverage recent investments in Woodford’s Corner and simultaneous work in Morrill’s Corner.
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Forest Avenue Modernization and Complete Streets Project is to rebalance the orientation of Forest Avenue from a highly automobile-oriented street to a street that better supports the surrounding mix of urban residential and commercial land uses and more safely serves the diverse range of users including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users and motorists.
NEED
Needs for Forest Avenue include:
• Addressing vehicular, bicyclist and pedestrian safety issues
• Creating a high quality, continuous bicycle facility on Forest Avenue within the project area that connects to adjacent bikeways
• Creating a comfortable and attractive pedestrian environment along Forest Avenue and safe pedestrian crossings at signalized and unsignalized locations
• Creating a supportive transit environment including bus stops, benches, shade, bus shelters, transit signal priority, and queue jump lanes, where appropriate
• Providing adequate traffic capacity to meet regional and local accessibility needs including access to major destinations such as USM’s Portland campus and Forest Avenue businesses and to/from I-295
• Creating a supportive environment for businesses along Forest Avenue.