Portlanders
believe that one of the most important
functions of local government is the maintenance
and improvement of public infrastructure.
Portlanders think that one of the most
important functions of local government
is the maintenance and improvement of
public infrastructure. Whether or not
people feel that infrastructure is satisfactory
depends on the aspect under consideration.
People love the libraries, the greenspaces,
the curbside recycling and the walk/bike
paths. However, many feel that roads,
school buildings, bridges and highways
need major improvements.
Many people are concerned that infrastructure
development and maintenance is not keeping
up with population growth, or will be
unable to keep pace in the near future.
People are particularly worried about
the impacts of new, high-density development
on existing neighborhood infrastructure.
Portlanders want basic infrastructure
to be up to par in all parts of the city
before major projects such as trams or
sports stadiums are considered.
-
Infrastructure needs to be available
and in good condition in all parts of
the city.
- Infrastructure
investments must be top priority.
-
Infrastructure is not keeping pace with
population growth and new development.
- Who should
pay for infrastructure improvements?
- Infrastructure
needs to be available and in
good condition in all parts
of the city.
- Portlanders define infrastructure
broadly to include the following:
- Transportation (roads,
mass transit, bike lanes,
bridges, etc.);
- Water and stormwater
management systems;
- Recycling systems;
- School buildings;
- Public libraries and more.
- Whether or not Portlanders
think infrastructure is in good
condition depends on: a) what
type of infrastructure they
are referring to; and b) where
they live in Portland.
- Infrastructure items that
are frequently praised include:
- Bicycle
and pedestrian paths
and lanes;
- Neighborhood
libraries, which
many love for their programs
as well as their collections;
and
- The
parks system -- people
love access to beautiful
neighborhood parks.
- Infrastructure needing improvement
includes:
- The roads,
especially neighborhood
roads on the Eastside;
- Stormwater
management: people
appreciate the Big Pipe
project and want the City
to do even more to prevent
sewage overflow into the
Willamette River;
- Public
school buildings
throughout the city; and
- Parking
in certain neighborhoods
(see Transportation:
Parking).
- Infrastructure
investments must be top priority.
- Infrastructure is seen as
essential and must be available
and in good working condition
throughout the city.
- Many Portlanders worry that
public officials are spending
too much attention and funds
on non-essential projects downtown
at the expense of infrastructure
improvements in lower-income,
outlying neighborhoods (especially
roads and parks).
| “Go
back to basics in expenditures
with all tax collections.
First class infrastructure
(roads, water, sewer, street
lights, etc…), full funding
for schools, and fire and
safety protection come first.
With what’s left, prioritize.”
|
- Infrastructure
is not keeping pace with population
growth and new development.
- Many Portlanders feel that
in recent years infrastructure
(roads, public transit, parking)
has not kept pace with population
growth.
- Many residents are worried
that new developments, especially
dense infill developments, will
overburden existing neighborhood
infrastructure.
- A number of residents who
live in the Pearl and in newer
condos state their frustration
with the lack of infrastructure
available to them, particularly
parking, greenspace and public
transportation services.
| "The
costs of the infrastructure
are not being taken into
consideration when new homes
are built. The resulting
burden on water, sewer,
gas, electricity, and schools
is far higher than the benefits
of more people.” |
| "I
would like developers to
be held more responsible
for improving roads, supporting
schools, and providing city
parks. Currently, developers
build huge subdivisions
that tax traffic and school
districts, and the developer
is not even held responsible
for creating a park or ensuring
there is enough space set
aside for basic utilities
(e.g. power station).” |
- Require developers
of new housing/condos/infill
to supply additional infrastructure
or upgrade existing infrastructure
in the vicinity of their projects.
|
- Who
should pay for infrastructure improvements?
In general, Portlanders seem willing
to be taxed to support the availability
of high-quality infrastructure in the
city. In fact, many Portlanders want
to see their tax dollars invested in
city-wide infrastructure improvements
before funds are invested in high-visibility
projects such as sports stadiums or
even additional light-rail (MAX) lines.
However, many Portlanders also feel
that when developers choose to build
high-profit, high-density infill,
they should have to shoulder some
of the costs of improving infrastructure
(e.g., roads, parking, parks) so it
can handle the influx of additional
people. People do not think it is
fair that they should be asked to
pay higher taxes or suffer overburdened
infrastructure because of a developer’s
decision to build the maximum number
of units possible on a piece of land.
Thus, many people request that high-density
developments come with adequate infrastructure
so the surrounding neighborhoods are
not adversely affected.
However, this raises some important
questions and points to a tension
between desires for equity and for
affordability: won’t the higher costs
of these projects be passed back to
the consumer in the form of higher
housing prices? And if this does occur,
won’t this conflict with people’s
frequently-stated desire to see new
developments become more affordable
to the average family? (See Urban
Livability: Land Use/Residential).
Is there a way to require developers
to pay for infrastructure without
adversely affecting housing affordability?
|
