Portland offers Austin traffic help

AUSTIN (KXAN) - At least in the minds of the Downtown Austin Alliance, Portland, Ore., is one of the biggest models to get traffic moving in Austin.

Monday and Tuesday, the Downtown Austin Alliance hosted Rick Williams, the executive director of Portland's Lloyd Transportation Management Association to share ideas on successful traffic solutions in the peer city.

"I think you have have the same elements in place and you're on the same path and process that we were on," said Williams Tuesday as he wrapped up his visit in Austin.

The Lloyd District is a vibrant, booming part of Portland with roughly 23,000 employees. The goal is to double that in the near future, but Williams said city leaders needed to come up with traffic solutions so as not to create gridlock on the road.

"We've identified the growth we want, what type of growth we want" said Williams.

In 1994, Williams says more than 90 percent of people in Portland rode downtown in their cars.

But leaders started asking workers where they lived by using surveys, and the city, businesses, and transit agency started offering financial incentives to ride buses and the train.

"We've taken drive alone from 90 percent to 46 percent since 1994," said Williams.

Austin city leaders said, with traffic patterns so high, they want similar goals.

"We think there are some good lessons there," said David Bodenman, chairman of the Downtown Austin Alliance Executive Committee.

Leaders with the Downtown Austin Alliance are encouraging employers in all of downtown to offer incentives to get on the bus, for workers share a ride, or bike.

That is welcome news for Second Street workers and bikers like Rachel Fields, looking for less cars on the road.

"I think it would make walking around downtown far more pleasant," said Fields.

"The whole idea is to avoid parking a single occupancy vehicle downtown for a worker and instead free that up for a retail user," said Bondeman.

In all traffic solutions, taking after Portland's lead, trying to get Austin traffic moving.

"If we reach gridlock in traffic, then we won't attract those jobs," said Bondeman.