Project Scheduled By End of Summer.

Approximately 16 miles of street car tracking, abandoned when the Portland Traction company converted to full rubber tire operations late in February, will be covered with asphalt paving, probably before the end of summer, it was announced Wednesday [April 26, 1950] by Commissioner William A. Bowes.

The new paving program was worked out at a conference attended by Gordon G. Steele, president of the Portland Traction company, and company officials, Bowes, City Engineer L. G. Apperson and William Bowen, superintendent of the municipal paving plant.

Bowes said the program to eliminate all of the tracks will cost approximately $110,000, of which the city’s share will be about $28,000. The Oregon state highway commission and the traction company will share costs on the state highways in the city where tracks are covered.

Under the city charter the traction company is obliges to resurface tracking which is abandoned. But bowes said the city will put down an initial coating about five feet wider than the track width to give a smoother road surface for motorists. Eventually, Bowes said, the city will pave streets from curb to curb, but this program must await more funds.

First street to get the initial coat will be S. E. Grand avenue, a project sought by the East Side Commercial club. Bowes said should good weather continue this work might be sone within a few weeks. Should this occur the club is expected to renew its demand that the Portland Rose Festival parade be routed over the avenue this year.

Grand avenue will be resurfaced from Holladay to the Center street shops [an odd description, as track on Grand only went as far south as SE Woodward Street, still quite a way north of the shops], East Morrison street from the Morrison bridge to Grand avenue and East Ankeny from Grand avenue to the car barns will be next on the list.

Bowes said west side streets will then follow in an order to be worked out between the city engineers and the superintendent of paving. Bowes emphasized that no tracking will be left uncovered except for the interurban tracks on S. W. 2d avenue, which will continue to be used for the Oregon City run of the traction company. The program will be paid for with money derived from the city’s share of state gas tax funds.