The James Beard Public Market is set to make a significant impact in the revitalization of downtown Portland when it opens next year on SW 6th and Alder, just a block away from Pioneer Square.
With around 40 vendor spaces planned in this bustling central area, ensuring efficient and environmentally conscious restocking methods is crucial.
The concern is to avoid large trucks emitting harmful pollution from clogging the streets, and planners are exploring innovative solutions to this problem.
One such solution under consideration involves creating a zero-emission microhub to serve the market.
This concept would utilize electric cargo trikes and small electric trucks for deliveries, reducing the environmental footprint of restocking.
Franklin Jones, CEO and founder of B-line Urban Delivery, is leading this charge with a proposal aimed at establishing a ‘zero emissions logistics model’ for the market.
He is collaborating with a team that includes Russ Brooks, the Urban Freight Coordinator at the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT), Jessica Elkan, Executive Director of the James Beard Public Market, and June Jashinski, a Brand Strategist at Honda.
Together, this group hopes to present their proposal at the upcoming South by Southwest (SXSW) Conference in Austin, Texas in March.
Their presentation is titled ‘Rethink Public Markets: Zero Emissions Delivery and Microhubs’ and stands out among numerous panel proposals that are currently being voted on by the public.
The blurb for their session highlights the importance of public markets in connecting people from diverse backgrounds, and it emphasizes the environmental challenges posed by traditional truck traffic.
It outlines a transformative vision from the Portland Bureau of Transportation, B-line, the James Beard Public Market, and Fastport, aiming to revolutionize how goods travel from farms to vendors.
By centralizing deliveries and employing eQuads for the last-mile logistics, this model seeks to redefine public markets and urban transportation, paving the way for a more environmentally friendly and community-focused future.
Jones and PBOT are well-versed in these innovative concepts, as B-line has been operating in Portland since 2009 and has built a fleet of electric trikes to service various businesses in the central eastside.
The City of Portland has also been proactive in seeking ways to reduce large truck traffic downtown, with initiatives like the 2040 Freight Plan adopted in 2023 and a recent demonstration project for a Zero Emission Delivery Zone.
Earlier this year, PBOT issued a request for information for a micro-delivery hub pilot that would operate out of a city-owned parking garage, furthering their commitment to sustainable urban transport solutions.
Honda’s involvement in this initiative is linked to their new Fastport eQuad prototype, designed specifically for last-mile business deliveries.
This prototype represents Honda’s entry into the micromobility market, offering a ‘fleet-as-a-service’ model that includes comprehensive support such as software, swappable batteries, and maintenance services.
Jones and the James Beard Public Market team see their proposal as an opportunity to demonstrate that urban, zero-emission delivery systems can indeed become a reality.
Though no contracts have been signed or funding secured at this stage, the combined expertise and networks of this impressive team may foster the realization of their vision for sustainable urban logistics.
image source from：bikeportland
