Fanno Creek Trail Alignment Study

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Update 4/18/ 2022: View Project Results


The Fanno Creek Trail Alignment Study is now complete! View an online summary of project results.

This project is looking for the best route from Bonita Road to the Tualatin River for what will be the last segment of the Fanno Creek Trail in Tigard.

A popular adage at the outset of this project was that it was the last segment of the Fanno Creek Trail to be completed in Tigard for a reason – it’s difficult. This section of the trail presents challenges like construction feasibility, permitting, safety, and cost.

Although there was a desire to have the trail within the Fanno Creek corridor as much as practically possible, the study concluded that staying near the creek in the natural area south of SW Durham Road was not feasible due to many costly barriers.

The City of Tigard is actively seeking funding for the design, permitting and construction of this project. However, this is a long-term project with lots of additional work ahead. It is anticipated this project will be completed in phases, and the overall project is expected to take longer than 10 years.





Update 4/18/ 2022: View Project Results


The Fanno Creek Trail Alignment Study is now complete! View an online summary of project results.

This project is looking for the best route from Bonita Road to the Tualatin River for what will be the last segment of the Fanno Creek Trail in Tigard.

A popular adage at the outset of this project was that it was the last segment of the Fanno Creek Trail to be completed in Tigard for a reason – it’s difficult. This section of the trail presents challenges like construction feasibility, permitting, safety, and cost.

Although there was a desire to have the trail within the Fanno Creek corridor as much as practically possible, the study concluded that staying near the creek in the natural area south of SW Durham Road was not feasible due to many costly barriers.

The City of Tigard is actively seeking funding for the design, permitting and construction of this project. However, this is a long-term project with lots of additional work ahead. It is anticipated this project will be completed in phases, and the overall project is expected to take longer than 10 years.




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    I hope you continue exploring possibilities to connect the purposed trail (near the corner of 76th and Durham) to the Tualatin river while avoiding sharing the road with Durham and 85th. One of the best features of these trails is how they weave through nature. Would it be possible to build the trail under Durham road, and follow Fanno creek along the two bends past the PWCC marketplace building, then cross the railroad tracks near where the river crosses into Durham City Park? You could connect this trail with the Fanno Creek Greenway Trail which leads to the main trail onto the Ki-A-Kuts Bridge. I understand the railroad track safety issue, but instead of making the trail along the tracks follow the creek and cross the tracks once. Either over or under the tracks like the other parts of the trial. As for the security concerns, most of this purposed solution weaves past the brand-new businesses and residential neighborhoods. I would consider it as safe as the existing Fanno Creek Greenway trail loop. If that isn't possible then I suggest you continue with your plan, but consider connecting the Fanno Creek Greenway Trail to Southwest 85th Ave. (Just below the Clean Water Services Wastewater Plant). However, this project comes together I am very excited for more access to trails!

    Josh asked over 3 years ago
    Thank you for your comments. 

    The project team spent a great deal of time investigating the feasibility of a trail south of Durham Road that either paralleled the railroad tracks or crossed the railroad tracks and ultimately made its way down into Durham City Park, as you suggested. Paralleling the railroad tracks would result in a trail with chain-link fencing on both sides of the trail for a very long distance (on the order of 1,800 feet or so), which would be required by the treatment plant and the railroad, with little space between the trail and the fences.  This is a long distance to have this condition in an area that is relatively "remote" for an urban setting, primarily out of view and lower in elevation compared to the surrounding area.  

    The team also looked into the feasibility of a trail crossing over or under the railroad tracks.  First, any crossing (above or below), would require approval by the railroad.  They very quickly shared that they would not approve a new crossing given the proximity of the existing crossings of the trail near the Ki-a-Kuts bridge and Durham Road to the north.  Even with this reply, the team still evaluated options in this stretch.  We looked at whether the trail could go under the tracks under the current trestle where the creek goes under the tracks, where you noted.  There is not enough vertical clearance to put a trail in there and have any sort of confidence that the trail would not be flooded for long periods of time.  We looked at if it would be possible to cross the tracks above ground - the railroad would have certain requirements about how high a trail would have to be to cross the tracks, which is further complicated due to the large overhead utility poles and wires on the west side of the tracks that would also have to be considered in order to make everything physically fit.  

    In addition to these scenarios, we looked at staying in the creek greenway for a few hundred feet south of Durham Road and then heading west to bring the trail between the treatment plant and school properties.  Similar to staying alongside the railroad tracks, there were fencing, security, and user experience factors, along with very steep slopes to contend with. This again led us to believe that routing the trail along Durham Road over to 85th Avenue is the best overall solution.  

    Tigard has a separate project called Fanno Creek Connections, which will be constructing a trail between 85th Avenue and the railroad undercrossing near the Ki-a-Kuts bridge.  This is another reason that bringing the trail down 85th Avenue from Durham Road would be beneficial, in that we're investing funds to make this southerly connection already.
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    Is there a goal/timeframe for completion of this project?

    Berryjason asked over 3 years ago

    We intend to finish the Alignment Study project in the coming months.  However, the process of actually designing, acquiring necessary easements, and constructing the trail is dependent on securing funding for those activities, which right now Tigard does not have.  The outcome of the Alignment Study will be used to pursue grant funding opportunities when they arise.  If and when funding opportunities arise, and Tigard successfully secures funding, the process of designing and constructing a trail like this is a years-long process.  Given all of this, installation of the trail between Bonita Road and the Tualatin River is years away.  If and when funding is secured, we would expect to inform the community accordingly, and prepare a more definitive schedule at that time.

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    Could a parallel alternative route for bike commuters in a hurry be marked on Hall Blvd

    Brian asked over 3 years ago

    Hall Boulevard is an Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) jurisdictional roadway.  That means Tigard has no direct control over it.  That said, if your question is asking if the pavement can be marked for bikes, there are already striped bike lanes on Hall Boulevard.  However, if your question is asking if signage could be added to inform cyclists of a more direct route between Durham Road and City Hall, that is something that could be looked into.

Page last updated: 18 Apr 2022, 02:00 PM