Portland – Comprehensive Green-City Exam Notes

Page 1 – Cover

• Title slide lists the project: “Portland, Oregon – Green City.”
• Academic context: Mansoura University, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Architecture, January 2014, Pre-Master student Safa Abulsaad.
• Establishes authorship and date—useful for citation and establishing the historical window of the facts presented.

Page 2 – Table of Content

1 Introduction (page 4 in the original document).
2 Green Portland – subdivided into:
2.1 Harvesting Rainwater (p. 5)
2.2 Sustainable Transportation (p. 18)
2.3 Green Power (p. 33)
3 Conclusion (p. 37)
References (p. 38).
• Pagination shows 40 total pages; the notes that follow maintain the same order.

Page 3 – Introduction (Geography & Identity)

• Portland, Oregon sits at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers.
• 2012 population: 587,865587{,}865 → 28ᵗʰ most-populous U.S. city.
• Incorporated in 18511851 near the end of the Oregon Trail.
• Climate: warm, dry summers & wet, cool–chilly winters → Ideal for roses ⇒ nickname “City of Roses.”
• Neighborhood Map (verbal): North, Northeast, Northwest, Southwest, Southeast + key corridors (e.g., N  Interstate  Ave\rm N\;Interstate\;Ave, NW  Lovejoy  St\rm NW\;Lovejoy\;St, etc.).
• Significance: river adjacency drives shipping history; climate underpins horticultural identity and brand (“Roses”).

Page 4 – Planning & Growth (Land-Use Law 1973)

• January 8 1973: Governor Tom McCall warns legislature about “grasping wastrels of the land.”
• Result: First state-wide land-use planning laws in the U.S.
▪ Mandated every city & county to create long-range plans that satisfy statewide goals.
▪ Three core requirements: ① Set Urban Growth Boundaries (UGB), ② Use urban land wisely, ③ Protect natural resources.
• Coalition of farmers + environmentalists ⇒ bipartisan support; illustrates Oregon’s early “green governance” model.

Page 5 – Portland Today (1980 → Present)

• 1980s baseline: stagnating central city; air quality “dangerously polluted.”
• Policy pivot: invest in urban core + build light-rail, not freeways.
• 40-year outcomes:
▪ Economic growth concurrent with environmental cleanup.
▪ Livable, “walkable” neighborhoods; strong biking & sustainable-food cultures.
▪ Model now emulated globally.
• Core causal link: integration of land use, transport, green space, and community engagement.

Page 6 – Why Portland Is Green (Thematic Frame)

• Rainwater now “greens the city” instead of polluting rivers.
• Hub for U.S. clean-energy firms.
• One of the nation’s lowest-carbon transportation networks.
• Five analytic domains: Built Environment, Waste, Water, Energy, Transportation.

Page 7 – Water Section Overview

• Sub-chapter 2.1 Harvesting Rainwater subdivided into:
2.1.1 Rainwater-Tank System, 2.1.2 Eco-Roofs, 2.1.3 Green Streets.
• Emphasizes integrated “triple approach” for storm-water management.

Page 8 – 2.1.1 Rainwater-Tank System (Rationale)

• Rainwater harvesting reduces dependence on municipal transport networks that disturb natural hydrology.
• Cascading sustainability impacts:
▪ Shading plants ↓ energy use.
▪ Home food production ↓ water footprint of industrial agriculture.
• Quality-of-life boost: cleaner soils, especially in arid/saline areas (flushes salts).
• Lists four re-use pathways; three repeated explicitly: ① Rainwater tanks, ② Eco-roofs, ③ Green streets (④ implicitly infiltration).

Page 9 – Rainwater-Tank System (Technical Analysis)

• Definition: Roof-catchment filtration + storage.
• Typical uses: Irrigation, cleaning (non-potable).
• Components & process flow:
1 Gutters ⇒ 2 First-flush diverter (diverts dirtiest initial runoff) ⇒ 3 Screen filter ⇒ 4 Dark, sealed storage tank (algae/mosquito control) ⇒ 5 Hose outlet for irrigation.
• Diagram references: first-rain separator, filter, recharge well (ground-water recharge option).

Page 10 – Rainwater-Tank System Diagram

• Proprietary example uses AtlantisⓇ modules:
▪ Filtration Unit, MatrixⓇ modular crates, Polypropylene liner, geotextile wrap.
• Integrated re-use pump with inspection point + overflow outlet.
• Tank is “sealed” ⇒ prevents vector breeding, extends water quality life.

Page 11 – 2.1.2 Green Streets (Concept)

• Convert impervious street edges into landscaped swales/planters that treat runoff at the surface.
• Environmental justification: mitigates CSOs (Combined Sewer Overflows) into Willamette River.
• Nine enumerated benefits:
1 Clean/cool air & water 2 Neighborhood livability ↑ 3 Property values ↑ 4 Pedestrian/bike safety ↑ 5 Surface & ground-water protection 6 Urban habitat 7 Regulatory compliance 8 Sewer flow ↓ 9 Waste-water treatment $↓\$↓.

Page 12 – Green Street Typologies I

1 Storm-Water Curb Extension → reclaims curb lane; can include ADA ramps.
2 Storm-Water Street Planter → inline between curb & sidewalk, preserves parking.
• Real intersections cited (e.g., SE 12th & Clay). Geographic context helps tie theory to field examples.

Page 13 – Green Street Typologies II

3 Rain Gardens: Ideal where ROW space is ample; also retrofits oddly-shaped intersections to calmer forms.
4 “Simple” Green Street: Excavate existing planter strip behind curb, cut inlets/outlets, re-vegetate.
• Examples: NE 21st & Sandy, N Willamette & Denver, etc.

Page 14 – 2.1.3 Eco-Roofs (Definition & Benefits)

• Eco-roof ≡ lightweight vegetated roof (aka green roof). Usable on slopes ≤ 40%40\% (≈ 22∘22^{\circ}).
• Applicable to commercial, multifamily, industrial, single-family, both new & retrofit situations.
• Nine key benefits:
1 Runoff reduction 2 Air filtration (↓ smog) 3 Urban heat-island mitigation 4 Wildlife habitat 5 Building insulation ⇒ lower HVAC load 6 Visual amenity 7 Double roof life 8 Market for recycled inputs (compost, mulch) 9 Job creation across design, installation, maintenance.

Page 15 – Multnomah Building Eco-Roof (Case Study Intro)

• 2000: existing roof leaks → catalyst for green retrofit.
• BES (Bureau of Environmental Services) encouraged adoption.
• County Commission rationale: longer roof life, life-cycle cost advantage, environmental dividend.

Page 16 – Planting Plan (Visual)

• Before/after images illustrate full-roof vegetation coverage on west-facing roof.
• Species mix categories (later detailed in section diagram).

Page 17 & 18 – Multnomah Eco-Roof Section Detail

Figure 1 layers (bottom → top):
a Structural deck (existing).
b 5-ply built-up roofing on 3 in3\,\text{in} polyisocyanurate insulation.
c 4 in4\,\text{in} protection board.
d ½-inch drainage mat w/ copper-treated root barrier.
e Stainless-steel edge restraint.
f ≈6 in\approx6\,\text{in} growth medium.
g Vegetation (sedums, grasses, wildflowers, perennials).
h Drip irrigation.
i Gravel ballast around drains.
j Roof drains (overflow).
k Instrumentation for runoff monitoring (flow & quality).

Page 19 – Case-Study Metrics

• Project type: Commercial retrofit, 12,000 ft², soil depth 6 in6\,\text{in}.
• Costs:
▪ Total $343,000\$343{,}000 (design, terrace, etc.).
▪ Eco-roof construction $179,801≈$15/ft2\$179{,}801 ≈ \$15/\text{ft}^2.
▪ BES grant: $50,000\$50{,}000.
• Benefits (quantified qualitatively): roof life ×2, runoff volume ↓ & pollutant load ↓, urban aesthetic ↑.
• Construction window: April → July 2003.

Page 20 – Transportation Section TOC

• 2.2 Sustainable Transportation broken into:
2.2.1 Introduction, 2.2.2 Mobility & Accessibility, 2.2.3 Managing the System, 2.2.4 Economic Vitality, 2.2.5 Safety & Neighborhood Livability.

Page 21 – 2.2.1 Sustainable Transportation (Context)

• Portland lauded internationally for multi-modal system.
• Fiscal pressures: $16 million\$16\,\text{million} in cuts over 10 yrs + recession, yet still must maintain 4,000 mi streets, 300 mi bikeways, 155 bridges.
• Bureau strategies:
▪ Safe options for all modes
▪ Asset-management for value
▪ Capital projects = job creation
▪ Safety & livability enhancements
▪ Connectivity improvements for access to homes/jobs.

Page 22 – Transportation Sustainability Goals

• Improve air quality & reduce congestion via multimodal public investment.
• Safety & accessibility programs to reduce mode conflict.
• Longevity through maintenance + mode shift (stress reduction).
• Public place enhancement via parking & ROW management.
• Regional planning & private development oversight sustain long-term livability.

Page 23 – Transport Categories Overview

1 Mobility & Accessibility
2 Managing the System
3 Economic Vitality
4 Safety & Neighborhood Livability.
These frame the sub-sections that follow.

Page 24 – Mobility & Accessibility (Pedestrian + Bike)

1 Pedestrian: Fill network gaps through trails, signals, sidewalks—via Small Infill Pedestrian Program.
2 Bicycle:
▪ 300 individual racks + 10 on-street corrals
▪ 11 bike boxes (advance-stop zones)
▪ Lane/parking/signal upgrades under Bikeway Network Completion.
• Long-range vision: door-to-door multi-modal accessibility.

Page 25 – Mobility & Accessibility (Transit + Vehicles + Rail)

3 Portland Streetcar: 12,000 daily riders; doubles as development catalyst.
4 Alternative Motor Vehicles: new policies/parking for EVs, motorcycles, scooters.
5 Intercity Passenger Rail: Served by “Coast Starlight” (Seattle–LA) & “Empire Builder” (Portland–Chicago); rising demand with fuel prices & congestion.

Page 26 – 2.2.3 Managing the System (Maintenance Ops)

• 333 staff maintain full asset spectrum: bridges, stairs, retaining walls, guardrails, meters, pavements, markings, signs, sidewalks, lighting, signals, green infrastructure.
• Principle: well-maintained assets = safer + cheaper life-cycle cost.

Page 27 – Bridges & Pavement

• Bridges: 155 total; 55%55\% “good or better.” 17%17\% weight-restricted ⇒ freight impact.
• Pavement philosophy: keep in ≥ “fair” condition → \text{O&M} < \text{Reconstruction}. Allowing deterioration exponentially raises cost.

Page 28 – Pavement Markings, Sidewalk, Parking, Signs

3 Markings: Visual communication (lanes, bike symbols).
4 Sidewalk inventory: 2,491 mi sidewalks, 3,251 mi curbs, 37,744 corners.
5 Parking meters for turnover in business zones.
6 Street signs: 143,654143{,}654 units guiding safe movement.

Page 29 – Lighting & Signals

7 Street Lights: 54,963 “dark-sky” fixtures powered by PGE (light-pollution-minimizing).
8 Traffic Signals:
▪ Central timing OS
▪ Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) layer for dynamic control ⇒ safety ↑ & delay ↓.

Page 30 – Clean & Hazard-Free + Recycling

9 Street Cleaning, Run-Off Mgmt, Green Streets combined for cleanliness.
10 Road-Waste Recycling: Sunderland Yard (20 acres).
▪ Recycles concrete, gravel, asphalt.
▪ 3,7153{,}715 tons of concrete from SE Umatilla example → processed to base rock & reused on same street.
▪ Benefits: lowers virgin-rock demand, offsets costs through sales.

Page 31 – 2.2.4 Economic Vitality

• 1980-2000: transportation investment ↗ industrial jobs by 37%37\% locally vs 12%12\% national.
• Contribution channels: job creation, freight efficiency, network capacity/circulation, catalytic development.

Page 32 – Enhancing Business Beyond CBD

• Faster development permits via consolidated public-works review.
• Sidewalk-Café Permit Program updated FY 08-09 (fees, seat rules).
• Parking mgmt (time limits & meters) encourages turnover → customer access.

Page 33 – Freight & Housing Access

• Policy: co-locate housing near jobs & transit → $↓\$\downarrow household trans-costs; encourages non-auto mode share.
• Freight mobility example: Marine Drive/I-5 interchange design + Central Eastside Industrial Street Plan (truck-friendly geometries).

Page 34 – 2.2.5 Safety & Neighborhood Livability

• 2008: record-low 20 traffic fatalities (15 motorists, 5 pedestrians, 0 cyclists).
• Reduction drivers:
1 Five-E safety program (Engineering, Education, Enforcement, Encouragement, Evaluation).
2 Modal diversity (traffic calming via presence of bikes/peds).

Page 35 – Green Power Section TOC

• 2.3 Green Power subdivides: 2.3.1 Portland Renewable Energy, 2.3.2 BI Wind Turbines, 2.3.3 BI PVs.

Page 36 – Portland Renewable Energy & “Blue Sky”

• Utility option: Households pay $1.85–$8.00\$1.85 – \$8.00 extra ⇒ 100 % renewable portfolio (wind, solar, biomass).
• Blue Sky package impact: avoids ≈ 24,000 lb CO2\text{CO}_2 year (≈ 25,000 auto-miles).
• 1991 City Energy Challenge: goal = 10%10\% efficiency ↑ by 2010.
▪ 1991-2001 savings $9.46 million\$9.46\,\text{million}.
▪ Current $2 million/yr\$2\,\text{million}/\text{yr}, >15 % of municipal energy budget.

Page 37 – Case-Study BI Wind Turbines (12W Tower)

• Developer: Gerding Edlen, project “12W.” Four turbines, 18′ blades, 40′ masts.
• Expected output: ≈1%\approx1\% of building electricity.
• Challenges: urban wind complexity, paucity of precedent.
• R&D: Collaboration with Dr. Sander Mertens (DHV) + AeroVironment wind-tunnel at OSU → location optimization.
• Feasibility judged positive; project advancing.

Page 38 – Case-Study BI Photovoltaics (OHSU Center)

• OHSU Center for Health & Hearing – Portland’s first LEED-Platinum office (16-storey, 400 k ft²).
• Green features list:
▪ 100%100\% on-site water reuse.
▪ 10%10\% net HVAC/electrical capital cost ↓ (≈ $3 M\$3\,\text{M}).
▪ Natural-vent stairwells, radiant slab w/ thermal storage, displacement ventilation.
▪ 300 kW micro-turbines (gas).
▪ On-site sewage treatment feeding toilet & irrigation.
▪ 60 kW BIPV integrated in south-facing overhangs.
▪ Solar-thermal hot-water & full M&V instrumentation.

Page 39 – Conclusion

• Multifaceted green initiatives (clean energy, transit, parks, green buildings, recycling) co-create Portland’s status.
• Key systemic policy: statewide Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) curbs sprawl, sustains downtown vitality.
• Parkland: 10,000 acres10{,}000\,\text{acres} incl. Forest Park (largest urban forest in U.S.).
• Walkability accolades: 2006 “America’s Best Walking Town” (Prevention magazine).
• Green Investment Fund: first U.S. municipal GIF: $2.5 M\$2.5\,\text{M} over 5 yrs for innovative green tech.
• Central thesis: collective civic participation amplifies legislative frameworks → actionable sustainability.

Page 40 – References (For Further Study)

1 Population estimates – Portland Research Center.
2 National Association of Counties (“Find a County”).
3 Tom McCall sources (friends.org + Walth biography).
4 Media articles (Seattle Times, Christian Science Monitor, NY Times).
5 Portland Bureau of Transportation Annual Report 2008-09.
6 University of Oregon law resource.
7 www.globe.ca — VVA Case Study 5 PDF.
• Catalogue sufficient to locate all primary numeric and policy statements.