| Contact: Joe Tursi, Community Outreach Joe. Tursi@portlandoregon.gov, 503-823-6313 Webpage: Portland.gov/bes/WPTCSSP Environmental Services is in the planning stages for a new stormwater systems plan for West Portland Town Center (WPTC). The plan will investigate current conditions of stormwater systems, including streams in the area, to explore options for necessary improvements in the WPTC planning area. Plan Area The WPTCSSP planning area is centered around the intersections of SW Capitol Highway, SW Taylors Ferry Road, and SW Barbur Boulevard. Historically called ‘the crossroads’ it stretches north to SW Dolph Court, south to SW Pomona Street, and west to east from roughly SW 52nd to 30th Avenue. The plan will also address stormwater runoff, and pollution concerns that impact two watersheds in South and Southwest Portland: Fanno Creek Watershed and Tyron Creek Watershed. The planning process will continue through 2026. Design and construction of the stormwater system or implementation of other possible solutions will occur after planning has concluded and may take several years to complete. What’s Happening Now? WPTCSSP is in the initial planning phase. The project team will center work and collaboration with city bureaus and partner agencies, service providers, environmental specialists, community members, and other interested partners to continue planning throughout 2026. Outreach staff have been engaging with community members at community tabling events and neighborhood walking tours to see and hear firsthand how stormwater impacts everyday life. Planners will craft a set of potential alternatives using information gathered from these events, and those will be shared with the community for review and comment. |
| What We’ve Heard from You Outreach staff have sent out a stormwater survey in the mail, email, and posted at locations throughout the plan area. We received valuable feedback so far and wanted to take this opportunity to share some of what we’ve heard. Biggest Issue with Stormwater – A couple of the biggest issues we saw as a result of our survey were property and street flooding. This could be in the form of standing water on a property or stormwater flowing down the street during or after a rainfall. Stormwater Management – Nearly all responders to the survey also said they would prefer to see a mixture of green (swales/green streets) and gray (pipes) stormwater solutions rather than just green or gray. This would mean upgrading existing pipes and building new pipes in the area, as well as building green spaces like bioswales and rain gardens to help capture the stormwater before entering into the sewer system. Visit the project webpage to find further updates about the project and to see a more detailed look into the survey feedback. Green versus Gray Infrastructure Green stormwater infrastructure mimics what you would see in nature. Rain being absorbed by plants, soil, and trees. This is done through building rain gardens and bioswales, adding native plants and trees to public and private property, and improving our local streams that can pick up and carry pollutants from the road. Gray infrastructure is also critical in areas like WPTC where stormwater does not easily soak into the ground. Gray infrastructure means building and maintaining sewer pipes and pump stations that help improve conveyance – the process of transporting sewage (wastewater) and stormwater (surface water) to the Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant. Treatment plants help to remove harmful pollutants from sewage and stormwater, making water safe for disposal into the environment or for reuse. In areas like the WPTC district, project engineers and planners are exploring a mix of green and gray infrastructure to manage stormwater. In some locations, traditional gray solutions may be more effective, while in others, green approaches may be a better fit. |