Coastal Towns Downtown Transportation Plans
Alta, along with CH2M Hill, developed transportation plans for four of Oregon's coastal towns: Bay City, Manzanita, Rockaway Beach, and Nehalem. Alta focused on improving the bicycling and walking conditions in these towns, while fellow consulting firm CH2M Hill addressed concerns about vehicular mobility and safety. Working under contract with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), the Alta/CH2M Hill team worked with local governments, the coastal railroad operator, businesses, and citizens to produce plans that balance bicycle, pedestrian and automobile mobility and safety. These small towns, ranging in population from 203 (Nehalem) to 1,267 (Rockaway Beach), are all situated along U.S. Highway 101, a designated National Scenic Byway and also the Oregon Coast Bikeway. In the case of Nehalem and Rockaway Beach, U.S. 101 actually functions as the towns' main street. Alta/CH2M Hill began the process by assessing the existing conditions, reviewing previous planning efforts, and developing individualized goals for the four towns. Some towns wished to attract more business and tourism, while other towns hoped to retain their village-like character; another town wanted to do both. Some highlights of Alta's planning recommendations included a design for a "slow, shared-use street" that will function as a pedestrian esplanade in Rockaway Beach; new street cross-sections and sidewalk locations in Bay City; recommendations for an off-street path, curb extensions, and crosswalks in Manzanita; and plans for intersection improvements in Nehalem.
