This month, crews working on the 70’s Greenway project began installing new stop signs and reconfiguring traffic flow on the pedestrian and bike-friendly route. Some two-way stop intersections that previously prioritized travel across the Greenway have switched the sign alignment to favor Greenway users. The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) marked these signs with dual orange flags, calling drivers’ attention to the change at the intersection.
PBOT’s stop sign reconfiguration enhances protection for vulnerable travelers by forcing cars to stop before proceeding, giving drivers more time to see pedestrians and cyclists on the Greenway. It also allows faster journeys for human-powered transportation, which have difficulty regaining speed after stopping. In Montavilla, PBOT recently updated four intersections. New signs along the previously uncontrolled intersection at NE 78th Avenue and Everett Street now stop north-south drivers. The junction at NE Everett and 76th Avenue had prioritized north-south drivers but now allows unstopped travel along NE Everett. Travelers on SE 80th previously needed to stop at SE Pine Street and SE Clay Street. However, PBOT changed those to allow continuous movement for Greenway users along 80th Avenue.
All existing four-way stops are unchanged, and Greenway riders will still encounter many stop signs along the route. These updates will improve the speed and safety of pedestrians and cyclists using this 70’s Greenway. The project has many more updates underway, and drivers should use extra caution when navigating these streets as traffic patterns could change further.
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