City Council Advances Boeckman Road Corridor Improvement Project, Installation of Electronic Bus Station Displays

February 24, 2023 — At the February 23, 2023, online virtual meeting of the Wilsonville City Council, the Council authorized the purchase of approximately a half-acre from five separate properties as part of the construction of the Boeckman Road Corridor Improvement Project. The property acquisitions are for road right-of-way and easements for access, public utilities and temporary construction use.

In a related action, the Council approved the first of three anticipated “guaranteed-maximum-price” contracts for $571,000 to authorize a Progressive Design Build (PDB) agreement with Tapani|Sundt, a joint venture in association with KPFF. The first phase of the Boeckman Road Corridor Project involves installation of a temporary traffic signal at 65th Avenue and Stafford Road for detoured traffic during construction on Boeckman Road, and early procurement of sanitary sewer pipe and manholes.

Given the complexities of the Boeckman Road Corridor Project, the PDB project-delivery approach offers several advantages over the more traditional Design-Bid-Build approach, such as collaboration between design and construction teams, schedule flexibility, cost efficiencies and reduced public impacts. The project involves multiple plans to improve public transportation facilities and utilities, and the area environment:

  • A new bridge over Boeckman Creek to flatten the “dip,” providing safer travel conditions and improve fish and wildlife habitat.
  • The project upsizes the existing road culverts along Meridian Creek to alleviate potential flooding risks and property damage.
  • A new roundabout at the Canyon Creek/Boeckman Roads intersection offers a safer, more efficient connection along an important school route.
  • Sanitary sewer extension to serve the Frog Pond development areas.

The Council approved a contract up to $248,000 with contractor Urban Solar to install real-time electronic-display signage for bus stops throughout the city. The displays provide up-to-date information, including important advisories, to riders on bus schedules on various routes.

During Mayor’s Business, Mayor Julie Fitzgerald presented on a number of legislative issues that the City had testified on during the past two weeks before state legislature committees. Mayor Fitzgerald specifically noted support for a proposed study of extending WES commuter train service from Wilsonville to Salem, support for the state’s regional significant industrial sites funding program, and opposition to a proposal to site semiconductor chip-making factories outside urban growth boundary or urban reserve areas.

For City Attorney Business, Council discussed and approved a reduction in staff fees for renaming a developer-named street called “Columbine” in the new Frog Pond West neighborhood development. The City Council also reviewed a number policy issues around overnight sleeping of houseless individuals.

During the work session held prior to the meeting, the Council heard staff presentations on Clackamas County’s supportive housing services programs, an update on the City’s prohibited-camping code project, an architectural assessment and recommendations regarding the “Kiva” building on a former church property owned by the City, and an updated ‘Explore Wilsonville’ tourism-promotion program visual identify.

The next regular meeting of the City Council is to be held on Monday, March 6, 7 pm; a pre-meeting work session is scheduled at 5 pm.

Community members can watch all City Council meetings on cable (Xfinity Ch. 30, Ziply Ch. 32) or on the City’s YouTube channel: ci.wilsonville.or.us/WilsonvilleTV.

- # # # -