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North Peninsula residents ask council to form task force to plan emergency route and seismic resilience
Summary
Residents of North Peninsula urged council to create a task force and place the issue on relevant policy committee agendas to address seismic isolation risk for neighborhoods cut off by bridge and tunnel failures.
During public comment at the Oct. 29 council meeting, Donna Cohen described seismic and transportation vulnerabilities that could isolate the North Peninsula (including Portsmouth and University Park) if railroad bridges or the tunnel fail in a major earthquake or other event. She said 60,000 people live and work on the peninsula and would be at risk of being cut off from lifesaving services.
Cohen asked council to create a task force with neighbors, representatives from the Port of Portland, University of Portland, experts from PBOT and PBEM, and council representation to study emergency routes and options to make the North Peninsula seismically resilient. She also urged that the issue be placed on relevant policy committee agendas and that council advocate for state funding for an emergency route.
Council members acknowledged the concern and noted previous legislative and advocacy efforts; staff and council asked for continued engagement with neighborhood leaders and relevant bureaus.
