Early this morning, crews from the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) installed new no parking signs near the northeast and southwest corners of NE Glisan Street. The changes are part of a citywide vision clearance program designed to improve safety at uncontrolled intersections on Portland’s crash-prone streets. Bureau staff concentrated on blocks 6800 through 7300, with more work expected further east at a later date.

The process of removing obstructions at an intersection is often referred to as “Daylighting.” Vehicles parked on Portland streets can block sightlines, making crossings hazardous. By setting on-street vehicle parking away from corners, cars executing right turns have improved visibility of pedestrians entering the crosswalk. In most cases, PBOT only needs to remove one parking space per block to achieve the required 20-foot setback and attain enhanced sightlines at an intersection.

Although PBOT typically implements vision clearance on streets during paving and capital projects, Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty secured funding to accelerate these changes on High Crash Network streets. Many Montavilla streets bear that designation, including 82nd Avenue, E Burnside, SE Division Street, NE Glisan Street, NE Halsey Street, and SE Stark Street. Expect to see similar vision clearance work applied to parking on those streets by the end of June 2022.

The loss of parking may create a hardship for those visiting these areas. However, PBOT is attempting to maximize safety while reserving minimum curbside space. The improved visibility at these corners will save lives and cut down on collisions caused by an obstructed view while making right turns. Expect more No Parking sign installation work over the next few months.

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