Sisters ponders portal project

The Sisters Ranger District is looking for public comments on the East Portal Project which will develop a self-service visitor information area in one of three areas on the west side of town.

The triangle of land at the intersection of highways 20 and 242 is one of the locations under consideration.

Mike Hernandez, project manager for the United States Forest Service, Sisters Ranger District, said residents who have contacted him are concerned about the social aspects of the plan.

"People don't want the portal in the triangle because of traffic congestion and concerns about a restroom," he said.

"The facility will be the same no matter where you put it. There are a lot of benefits for the community as well as for visitors," Hernandez added.

This week, Hernandez and his team are completing an internal review of the draft Environmental Impact Statement for the project. A public comment period will begin when that review is completed, as early as March 15.

The draft EIS suggests three tentative locations for the facility: the "Y" intersection at highways 20 and 242, an area on the west side of Highway 20 adjacent to RELCO and an area next to the Ranger District office on Highway 20 and Pine Streets.

Regardless of the location, the project will include a parking lot for 15 passenger vehicles, and five recreational vehicles, an interpretative kiosk display, and a two-restroom facility, Hernandez said. The area will be lighted but will not be staffed.

"We will discourage long-term use of the facility," he said.

Key concerns include highway access, traffic safety and congestion, facility maintenance and the restrooms.

"If we go with the triangle area, the entrance and exit will be off Highway 20 only," Hernandez said. Originally the project team discussed building a road connecting with Sentry Drive, on the west edge of the triangle. This idea was dropped because the Forest Service did not want to get involved with possible future traffic plans which could include a one-way couplet, Hernandez said.

Hernandez will meet with the Sisters Chamber of Commerce Tuesday, March 19 to discuss the project. He and his team have met with concerned residents since he became project leader in September. The Forest Service has worked on the project for almost two years.