Springwater Corridor

The Springwater Division rail line was named for a planned connection to Springwater, Oregon.{{cite web|url=http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/finder/index.cfm?action=ViewFile&PolPdfsID=425&/Springwater%20Corridor%20Map.pdf|title= Springwater Corridor Map|publisher=Portland Parks & Recreation|accessdate=July 27, 2012}}{{cite encyclopedia|last=Cohen|first=Scott|title=Springwater Corridor|url=http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/springwater_corridor/|encyclopedia=Oregon Encyclopedia|publisher=Portland State University|accessdate=July 27, 2012}}

The Portland Traction Company operated rail service from Portland to Boring from 1903 until 1989. Passenger service peaked in 1906 and ended in 1958. Oaks Amusement Park—and five other city parks—were built to encourage weekend passenger traffic. Freight trains brought farm produce into Portland.{{cite web | url = http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/finder/index.cfm?PropertyID=679&action=ViewPark | title = Springwater Corridor, SE Ivon St to Boring, Oregon | publisher = Portland Parks & Recreation | accessdate = July 13, 2009}}

When the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) began a project to widen Oregon Highway 99E, a new, expensive overpass was required for the rail line. Citing low traffic volumes, construction was refused and the line was put up for sale. This was of great interest to the 40-Mile Loop Trust, a conservation effort formed in 1981 to build a trail around Portland connecting its many parks. Planned since 1904, it had made little progress. The Trust proved effective at getting many key governmental agencies to work with each other. Its representatives called upon the Southern Pacific and Union Pacific railroads, co-owners of the abandoned line, to transfer the land to the Trust. This matter was subject of a battle between on-line railroad shippers and Metro. However, by 1990, the deal was completed, and represented a significant step in the completion of the Loop.{{cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=qhPzEmNKE8EC&q=40+Mile+Loop&pg=PA76 | title = Greenways for America | author = Charles E. Little | year = 1990 | publisher = JHU Press | isbn = 0-8018-5140-8 | pages = 76–80 | accessdate = May 30, 2008}}{{cite news | title=On Springwater's Open Road, There's Lots to See | first=Stuart | last=Tomlinson | date=August 26, 2007 | work=The Oregonian}}{{cite web | url = https://www.fastcase.com/Google/Start.aspx?C=0ddb0f0b0069570471f9af65021254cc023dc54084643a30&D=886df08f8db0ead9bd78b909d54242979663f333304ae35c | title = Foster Auto Parts v. City of Portland, 15 P.3d 573 (Or. App., 1998) | date = December 6, 2000 | accessdate = May 31, 2008}}

During master planning in 1991 for conversion, the projected use of the corridor was 400,000 people annually, distributed as 56% bicycling, 36% walking, 9% jogging, and 3% equestrian. By 2003, usage was expected to exceed one million users per year.{{cite web | url = http://www.walkinginfo.org/pedsafe/casestudy.cfm?CS_NUM=32 | title = Case Study No. 32, Portland, Oregon | work = PEDSAFE, Trail Intersection Improvements | author = George M. Hudson, Landscape Architect, former City of Portland Park Planner, Trail Program Manager | publisher = Federal Highway Administration | accessdate = July 13, 2009}} Prior to paving, much of the trail was suitable for mountain biking.{{cite news

| title=Mountain Biking in Portland | first=Mike | last=Norris | date=May 14, 2002 | work=Daily Vanguard}}

In 1993, Metro completed studies to construct a "South/North" line from Vancouver, WA to Clackamas town via the Springwater Corridor.{{cite news |last1=Leeson |first1=Fred |title=Planners narrowing options for north–south light-rail line |work=The Oregonian |date=February 13, 1994}} A 1994 bond measure only partially funded the project and state funding was overturned by the Oregon supreme court. As a result, the plans for light rail along the portion of Springwater from Milwaukie to Clackamas were abandoned.

Construction of the east–west segment of the trail between Oregon Highway 99E and Gresham was completed in 1996. An additional mile east of Gresham was built in 2000. In 2005, a {{convert|3|mi|km|adj=on}} north–south "Springwater on the Willamette" segment opened between central Portland and the Sellwood Bridge along the Willamette River. Unlike the other sections of the trail, the rail line remained, separated by a fence. The line is currently operated by the Oregon Pacific Railroad.

File:Oregon Pacific RR track and Springwater Corridor Trail from Hwy 99E.jpg track.]]

In 2003, Portland was one of 25 cities that received a $200,000 grant from Active Living by Design to promote urban planning that encourages physical activity. Some of the money was allocated to a Lents Station interpretive trailhead along the Springwater Corridor.{{cite news |title=Portland Receives Funds to Design for Active Living |first=Aimee |last=Curl |work=Daily Journal of Commerce|date=April 12, 2003}}

The last significant section of the trail was completed ahead of schedule in summer 2006, when the construction of three new bridges over Johnson Creek, Oregon Highway 99E and a railroad line, allowing users to cross them without having to detour and mix with traffic on busy streets.{{cite news |title=Getting Close to Closure |first=Anna |last=Johns |work=Portland Tribune |date=April 18, 2006|url=http://portlandtribune.com/component/content/article?id=98056|accessdate=May 4, 2013}}

In 2006, the City of Portland rejected a development proposal for a property that did not include an easement for a greenway along the Willamette River, and would have prevented completion of a planned connection between the Springwater Trail and the Eastbank Esplanade.{{cite news |url=http://www.portlandmercury.com/portland/Content?oid=41958&category=22101 |title=War Path: Property Owner Kicks up Stink over Public Trail |first=Amy

|last=Jenniges |date=June 29, 2006 |work=The Portland Mercury|accessdate=July 27, 2012}}

The easement requirement was upheld by the Oregon Court of Appeals on February 13, 2008.{{cite web | url = http://portlandtribune.com/component/content/article?id=64547 | title=Ruling Clears Way for Riverfront Link | first=Steve | last=Law | date=March 18, 2008 | accessdate = 2014-10-23 | work=Portland Tribune}}

As of 2012, a {{Convert|1|mi|spell=in}} gap in the Sellwood area remains, but there were plans to reduce it.{{cite web|url=http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=35797|title= Sellwood Gap Shrinks with Help from Voter-Approved Natural Areas Program|publisher=Metro Regional Government|year=2012|accessdate=July 27, 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://news.oregonmetro.gov/1/post.cfm/metro-closes-more-than-half-of-the-sellwood-gap-allowing-the-springwater-corridor-to-expand-in-southeast-portland|title= Metro Closes More Than Half of the Sellwood Gap, Allowing the Springwater Corridor to Expand in Southeast Portland |publisher=Metro Regional Government|date=September 23, 2010|accessdate=July 27, 2012}} This segment was one of the parks and trails recommended for funding by a Metro advisory panel in 2001.{{cite news | title=15 Local Sites Suggested for New Parks | first=Jeremy | last=Vesbach | work=Daily Journal of Commerce | date=December 11, 2001}}

In 2013, paving was completed on a {{convert|2.25|mi|km|adj=on}} stretch from Rugg Road to Boring Station Trailhead Park.{{cite web |url=http://www.clackamas.us/parks/springwater.html |title=Springwater Corridor Trail |accessdate=July 20, 2018

}} There is a proposal to continue this trail to connect the 40-Mile Loop to the Pacific Crest Trail via the Cazadero Trail.{{cite web |title=40-Mile Loop map |url=http://40mileloop.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/40mi-Loop_FINAL-for-Print_Page_1.jpg |publisher=40-Mile Loop Land Trust |access-date=July 20, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325021957/http://40mileloop.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/40mi-Loop_FINAL-for-Print_Page_1.jpg |archive-date=March 25, 2016}}

The large homeless encampments along the corridor have led to controversy. In an article published in early 2016 by Bike Portland, aggression by campers toward bicyclists using the trail increased between 2011 and 2016.{{cite web | url = http://bikeportland.org/2016/01/14/camps-along-springwater-path-have-reached-boiling-point-172514 | title = Springwater Path Users Feel Threatened by Campers; Police Say Their Hands Are Tied | last=Maus|first=Jonathan | website = Bike Portland | date = January 14, 2016 | access-date = May 9, 2016}} Cyclists—citing verbal threats, broken glass on the trail, trash in the adjacent greenery, human feces, and signs of illegal drug use—expressed concerns for their personal safety. Bike Portland discussed the communication between one of its readers and a police officer. According to the officer, a brief filed in August 2015 by a district court judge in Idaho (1:09-cv-540-REB) has influenced policing decisions about encampments, and resources devoted to livability issues are limited. The Bike Portland discussion summarized the police position that "enforcing certain laws on people who live outside, when there is not adequate indoor housing available, would be unconstitutional". In September 2016 the City of Portland moved about 100 transients from encampments along a {{convert|14|mi|km|adj=on}} stretch of the corridor in the southeast part of the city.{{cite news|title=Images, Events That Dominated the News|work=The Oregonian|date=December 28, 2016|page=A-10|url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/1618F36B599A2F18?p=AMNEWS|url-access=subscription |accessdate=February 17, 2017|via=NewsBank}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2016/09/springwater_sweep_city_moves_h.html|title=Springwater sweep: City moves homeless campers off popular Portland trail (updates)|last=Hernandez|first=Tony|date=2016-09-02|website=oregonlive|language=en|access-date=2019-11-08}} Despite protests by the campers, the removal went "relatively smoothly though many campers said they had no other place to go and it remained unclear what impact the sweep had on the city’s overall issue of homelessness." As of 2015, the total number of homeless in Multnomah County, including Portland, was estimated at 4,000, including about 1,800 who generally slept outside.{{cite journal|last=Totten|first=Michael J.|title=Portland's Homeless Challenge|publisher=Manhattan Institute for Policy Research|url=https://www.city-journal.org/html/portland%E2%80%99s-homeless-challenge-14185.html|issue=Winter 2016|journal=City Journal|accessdate=February 17, 2017}}

{{GeoGroup}}

• List of rail trails
• Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge
• Samtrak

Image:Springwater trail se 45th eastbound P2157.jpeg|This straight portion parallels Johnson Creek Blvd. and crosses many intersecting streets.

Image:Springwater trail se 42nd mm 6.5 eastbound P2150.jpeg|Most of the trail is bordered by fields and trees.

Image:Springwater trail SE 41st westbound P2149.jpeg| Corridor adjacent to Tideman Johnson Natural Area

Image:Springwater Trail, Gresham.jpg| Springwater Trail in Gresham

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Commons category|Springwater Corridor Trail}}

• [http://www.brian894x4.com/Springwaterrailroadwriteup.html The Abandoned Portland Traction Company Springwater Division & the Boring Branch] from Abandoned Railroads of the Pacific Northwest
• [http://www.revver.com/video/869668/lents-springwater-habitat-project/ Video on volunteers] working with the Lents Springwater Habitat Restoration Project
• [https://youtube.com/watch?v=1sdtj031PGs?t=4m43s Video from bicycle on May 2013 westward] from Boring to SE 17th street in Sellwood
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090326084459/http://www.40mileloop.org/maps/40MileLoop_map.pdf Pre-2013 version of the 40-Mile Loop Map] from the 40-Mile Loop Land Trust

{{Parks in Portland, Oregon}}

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Category:Parks in Southeast Portland, Oregon

Category:Rail trails in Oregon

Category:Transportation in Clackamas County, Oregon

Category:Transportation in Multnomah County, Oregon

Category:Transportation in Portland, Oregon

Category:Protected areas established in 1990

Category:Metro (Oregon regional government)