Tag: Dylan Rivera

Infrastructure

Pedestrian Struck at Inactive Signal

Around 7:25 PM on August 18th, a car driving westbound on SE Stark Street crashed into a pedestrian crossing the road at 80th Avenue. An ambulance transported the person to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The marked crosswalk at the intersection had newly installed Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) signals meant to indicate to drivers that they should yield to people crossing. However, the RRFB lights never began blinking because crews had not activated the equipment in the six months since Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) contractors installed them.

In January, crews installed signal equipment on SE Washington Street at 86th Avenue and SE Stark Street at 80th Avenue. These RRFBs remained unavailable to people trying to cross those intersections while city staff waited for road markings and new electric service from the power company PGE. Six months later, around August 2nd, linemen connected power lines to the safety signals at both intersections. However, crews only activated the RRFB signals on SE Washington Street at 86th Avenue. Despite the service line connection earlier this month, PBOT representative Dylan Rivera explained that power service is not yet active on SE Stark Street at 80th Avenue, leaving people crossing there less protected. While this equipment remained inoperable, residents complained that these inactive signals created an unsafe condition where motorists were unsure of people’s intent to cross because they had not activated the crossing signal.

PGE attached power line from August 2nd

Crews working for PBOT started construction on safety upgrades at SE Stark Street and 80th Avenue over a year ago. People visiting the historic Montavilla Downtown area frequently use this marked crosswalk. This fast-paced street has limited safe crossing points with two lanes for automotive westbound traffic. PBOT engineers decided to update safety infrastructure here as part of the 70s Neighborhood Greenway project that will increase non-automotive uses at this intersection. In June 2023, crews reconstructed street corners to widen the sidewalk and install mounting infrastructure to support the new signal hardware. Road workers patched and repaved the intersection after trenching and laying new conduits between the corners in September 2023. In January 2024, with snow still on the ground, signal specialists installed RRFB hardware on SE Washington Street and SE Stark Street at 80th Avenue.

Completed and active signal equipment on SE Washington Street at 86th Avenue

The RRFB equipment remained inactive, awaiting the prolonged dry weather painting contractors require when applying high-visibility crosswalks to the road surface. PBOT representatives explained that the bureau’s policy requires street markings before activating crossing signals like RRFBs. Hicks Striping & Curbing completed the crosswalk work this April, and PBOT activated the RRFB at SE Washington Street and 80th Avenue soon after. However, the SE Stark Street unit remained unpowered and offline, along with an RRFB at SE 86th Avenue and Washington Street that crews completed as part of another project. At times, PBOT marked the dormant safety devices with caution tape, alerting pedestrians and cyclists to the non-functional equipment. After a prolonged delay, the utility company added power line connections to RRFB control equipment in early August.

Reader submitted photo taken minutes after the August 18th crash

This Sunday night crash occurred in the evening as the sun set behind Mt. Tabor, possibly limiting visibility. The RRFB equipment is designed to aid crossing pedestrians where light conditions or other distractions make them less visible to drivers. At the time of the crash, the activation buttons at this intersection were covered in caution tape, indicating they were not functioning. Witness reports say that one vehicle stopped for the pedestrian while a car in the second lane of the one-way street continued past, striking the southbound pedestrian and sending them to the ground. People at the nearby bar and restaurant residents saw the incident and called emergency services. Portland Fire & Rescue workers assisted the injured person until the ambulance arrived, and the driver of the car cooperated with the investigation.

Rivera expressed PBOT’s concern for the pedestrian and reinforced the need for signal equipment. “Injuries from crashes like this can impact a person for years, and our thoughts are with them and their community. Pedestrian beacons and crossing improvements such as the one nearly completed at this location can greatly improve visibility for pedestrians, and they have been shown nationally to reduce the chances of a fatal or serious injury crash. Even after the beacon is activated, we need everyone to use caution when driving on our streets.” PBOT has not set a timeline for activating this new safety equipment and is waiting on the utility company.

Update: As of August 20th, the RRFB signals on SE Stark Street at 80th Avenue are functional.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Help keep independent news accessible to the community. Montavilla News has a Patreon account or you can pay for a full year directly online. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to consider becoming paid subscriber or sponsor. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.

Crime, Infrastructure

82nd Avenue Traffic Citation Cameras

On June 24th, crews installed a new intersection safety camera system to monitor southbound traffic on 82nd Avenue at E Burnside Street. The next day, workers returned to add two new camera systems at NE Glisan Street and 82nd Avenue. Those will focus on traffic traveling northbound and westbound. After a short testing period around September, motorists running red lights or speeding past these automated devices will receive a citation in the mail.

In 2023, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) announced plans to expand the camera-based citation infrastructure along high-crash streets and intersections. This expanded program is part of PBOT’s commitment to using available tools to reduce traffic fatalities. “These devices have virtually eliminated top-end speeding on corridors across Portland within weeks after their deployment,” explained PBOT representative Dylan Rivera.

Although fines generate revenue, Oregon law directs around 70% of the net income from automated citations to the State, funding the Criminal Fine Account. The speed camera enforcement program has not generated revenue for PBOT since it began eight years ago. City of Portland retained fines currently pay for installing and operating the cameras. Regulations require Portland to spend any future earnings from this automated citation system on traffic safety programs or improvements, and collected funds will not help with PBOT’s budget constraints.

Rivera said all timelines for camera activation are tentative, but PBOT expects these new 82nd Avenue cameras to begin issuing citations in October. He explained that recent damage to other camera systems currently in operation has only added to activation uncertainty. “That timeline will likely shift as we continue to see vandalism and other issues impacting our timelines for delivering these crucial safety improvements.” Portland’s network of cameras across the city recently suffered damage at the hands of a shooter who targeted these devices. Police apprehended a suspect in the case who stands accused of causing over $500,000 in damage to more than a dozen traffic control cameras across the city.

Although authorities are not yet issuing citations based on information from the new camera systems, their appearance will not change when activated, and they could begin issuing fines without further warning. Drivers should treat intersection safety cameras as active and obey posted traffic rules, or risk receiving a mailed citation. PBOT lists current and planned cameras on its Vision Zero website.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Help keep independent news accessible to the community. Montavilla News has a Patreon account or you can pay directly online. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to consider becoming paid subscribers or sponsors. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.

Infrastructure

PBOT Grows Serious About Safety on NE Glisan

The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) recently received State approval to lower speed limits from 30 to 25 mph on NE Glisan Street between NE 57th and 82nd Avenues. These lower speeds, combined with funded intersection improvements at NE 80th and 82nd Avenues and unfunded enhanced crossings planned to the west, create a concerted effort to improve walkability. With NE Glisan Street’s speed limit already 25 mph west of NE 57th Avenue, this change provides a consistent traffic flow along the growing Neighborhood Main Street.

PBOT revealed the planned speed change at the March 12th Vestal School PTA meeting to an overwhelmingly supportive crowd. PBOT representative Dylan Rivera said in a subsequent communication that crews will replace the current speed limit signs within the next few months, and new speed restrictions will take effect when posted. Lower speeds can help people avoid crashes by giving drivers more reaction time, and research shows that it can reduce injury if a collision occurs. “Small changes in speed can have big impacts in making our streets safer. As people travel faster, the risk of death or serious injury rises dramatically,” explained Rivera.

Lowering the speed limit is only one part of improving pedestrian safety, particularly when some drivers regularly exceed the current 30 mph speed limit. To help people cross and encourage appropriate speeds, PBOT intends to install more pedestrian refuge islands with curb extensions that visually narrow the roadway. These inroad elements also encourage more thoughtful turning by shortening the turning radius. They also plan to add marked high-visibility crosswalks, cautioning motorists to yield to pedestrians. The City needs additional money for enhanced crossings west of NE 74th Avenue, but PBOT is committed to seeking funding for those projects.

Draft design image for NE Glisan at 80th Ave. Similar crossings possible along NE Glisan. Courtesy PBOT

Speed limit changes are not arbitrary, and PBOT required approval from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to make these changes. A 2022 state law allows Oregon cities to apply for the authority to designate speed limits on roads they maintain. However, those municipalities must designate an engineer to oversee the process, and Rivera explained that ODOT currently controls most of Portland’s speed limits.

Drivers should anticipate seeing the new 25 mph signs on NE Glisan west of NE 82nd Avenue within the coming months. Portland Police will know about the change, and the bureau may deploy its Photo Enforcement van to the area as it often does on SE Stark Street, where the speed limit lowers to 20 mph. Pedestrians and cyclists may see progress on the NE 80th Avenue crossing begin in the latter half of 2024. Look for more news about NE Glisan crossings as funding sources become available.

Article and phots by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Help keep independent news accessible to the community. Montavilla News has a Patreon account or you can pay for a full year directly online. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to consider becoming paid subscriber or sponsor. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.

Construction, Infrastructure

SE Alder Segment Repaved

Road crews repaved 107 feet of SE Alder Street east of SE 82nd Avenue this week, addressing severe pothole issues. Southbound drivers often use this street to turn left and then circle around to SE Washington Street as traffic separators prohibit left turns onto Washington from 82nd Avenue. This low-cost repair improves drivability on SE Alder but does not address sidewalk and pavement deficiencies on this road.

With the exception of one property’s frontage, SE Alder Street, between 82nd and 84th Avenues, has no curbs or sidewalks. It also features gravel parking lanes in some areas. This street’s pavement is in poor condition between the patched area and SE 86th Avenue, with asphalt only placed at the center of the road’s surface. Gravel fills the remaining distance to the curb, where one exists.

The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) identified this 36-foot-wide segment of SE Alder Street for repair due to its heavy use and deteriorating condition. In addition to commuters and residents using this street, two used car lots have driveway access from the under-improved road. “SE Alder Street between 82nd and 83rd avenues is an area where we have seen repeated potholes, so we are fixing it with a larger, more durable repair. This will include some replacement of the pavement surface. It will also include some work to repair or replace the base layer underneath the pavement surface, as needed, to make the new surface more durable,” explained PBOT representative Dylan Rivera.

PBOT crews used 100 tons of new asphalt in this project, focusing on the most damaged area and keeping the total cost under $20,000. Rebuilding the road would have cost substantially more. “Adding curbs or sidewalks would require significant planning, engineering design, and construction cost. A capital project like that is orders of magnitude more expensive, often costing millions of dollars for projects that cover multiple blocks at a time,” remarked Rivera. Funding for that scale of work needs to come from new sources, as PBOT has a maintenance backlog that would cost billions to complete.

On this year’s ballot, voters will have the choice to renew a third round of the Fixing Our Streets Program, extending the city’s 10-cent gas tax for another four years. Since 2016, this program has generated funding for basic transportation safety and maintenance services that improved streets and sidewalks across the city. Montavilla has seen recent benefits from the 70s Neighborhood Greenway capital improvement project, which is currently wrapping up construction. PBOT is facing a $32 million budget shortfall this year. If not addressed by the City Council before the fiscal year starts July 1st, bureau administrators will need to cut some maintenance and capital projects.

Drivers can already make use of the newly repaired pavement. PBOT has plans to repave more of SE Alder Street, but that work is for one block west of SE 82nd Avenue, and they have not determined a start date for that project. More improvements to this area could come via funding for the Building a Better 82nd initiative that will address safety and maintenance concerns along Portland’s seven-mile stretch of the road.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Disclosure: The author of this article serves on the Building a Better 82nd Community Advisory Group

Montavilla News does not endorse candidates or ballot measures.

Promotion: Help keep independent news accessible to the community. Montavilla News has a Patreon account or you can pay for a full year directly online. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to consider becoming paid subscriber or sponsor. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.

Construction, Infrastructure

NE Halsey Crossing at 76th

This week, road crews began work on NE Halsey Street at 76th Avenue, reducing travel lanes to make room for two pedestrian refuge islands and buffered bike lanes. This intersection improvement work supports the 70s Neighborhood Greenway project, providing a safe north-south connector for people walking or rolling to their destination. NE Halsey’s lane reconfiguration will extend several blocks east and west from this crossing, creating one travel lane in each direction with a center turn lane. 

Construction drawing courtesy PBOT

NE Halsey is one of the city-identified high crash corridors, making an enhanced intersection necessary at this new greenway crossing. NE 76th Avenue shifts 90 feet off center at NE Halsey Street, creating two “T” intersections. Consequentially, engineers needed to construct extra in-road elements to protect multimodal cross traffic while allowing vehicle left turns. The new center turn lanes on NE Halsey will have two pedestrian refuge islands aligned with the east crossing of NE 76th Avenue and a short raised median to the west protecting a green striped bike crossing. Crews will reconstruct two corners featuring Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant ramps that align with mid-block curb ramps across NE Halsey Street. The SE corner of NE 76th Avenue and Halsey Street will also feature a westward curb extension, shortening the crossing distance and placing waiting pedestrians at the outer edge of the parking lane for greater visibility.

Illustration courtesy PBOT

The NE Halsey Street lane reconfiguration will extend from NE 70th to NE 80th Avenues and support other Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) safety improvements planned for this busy street. Reducing the four vehicle travel lanes to two adds road width for painted bike lanes to protect cyclists and a center turn lane for added protection. “This three-lane configuration is a proven safety improvement that national studies and local experience show results in safer travel for everyone,” explained PBOT representative Dylan Rivera. As they approach this ten-block segment of NE Halsey Street, signage along the corridor will notify people that a traffic pattern change is coming up.

PBOT expects the project on NE Halsey Street to conclude later this year, with striping and signage added by the end of December 2023. During the next few months, crews will need to close some streets and crossings as well as reduce travel lanes. Cyclists and pedestrians should use caution around NE 76th Avenue and potentially find alternate routes. TriMet has temporarily closed bus stops serving the 77 line (Stop IDs 2453 & 2452) at NE 76th Avenue in both directions. Riders who use those boarding locations should plan for additional travel time to the next stop through September 17th for eastbound service and September 27th for westbound service.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Christopher T. Hill, PC

Infrastructure

PBOT Seeks Funding for NE Glisan Crossing at 80th

In early August, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) applied for funding to reconstruct the intersection at NE Glisan Street and 80th Avenue. The proposal seeks to replace four existing sidewalk corners with curb extensions and add two median refuge islands to minimize the crossing distance of NE Glisan. Work will include marked crosswalks and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant curb ramps. In addition to creating a safe crossing for families traveling to Vestal School, this work could extend the 70s Greenway Project along NE 80th, realigning the multimodal route to its original design.

PBOT initially intended to reconstruct the NE Glisan Street and 80th Avenue intersection as part of the currently underway greenway work. However, the final project’s design reused an existing safe crossing at NE 78th Avenue instead. Although this cost-saving measure did not substantially impact the bike-friendly pathway, it left a gap in the pedestrian crossing infrastructure near a school. Vestal families and the school’s Parent Teacher Association have recently advocated for better NE Glisan crossing options at 80th. Working with the transportation agency, community members expressed a clear need for marked crosswalks, better signage, and accessible ramps at this location. On August 2nd, PBOT staff applied for an Oregon Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School rapid response grant to cover 80% of the $609,000 estimated project costs. PBOT will need to contribute $122,000 towards this reconstruction work.

This project will not change NE Glisan travel lanes. However, the installations of median refuge islands to the east and west of the intersection will eliminate protected left turns onto NE 80th Avenue. Extended curbs push out several feet beyond the sidewalk’s edge into the parking lane. Their design shortens the distance for pedestrians crossing a street and makes people waiting to cross more visible to drivers that may not see past a parked car. During the design phase of this project and after community engagement, PBOT traffic engineers will evaluate the need for additional safety design elements. However, the transportation bureau doesn’t anticipate an installation of signals. “With those improvements shortening crossing distance, we won’t need a much more expensive signal or beacon to meet our crossing safety guidelines,” explained PBOT spokesperson Dylan Rivera.

PBOT map showing proposed greenways as dotted green lines

The grant application only funds improvements to crosswalk infrastructure at NE Glisan Street and 80th Avenue. “Our goal with this project is primarily to provide a pedestrian crossing to support safe routes to school and access to the bus stops. It will also support the proposed neighborhood greenway, but that would be a separate project, and we have not yet identified funding for the greenway project,” said Rivera. However, PBOT staff presented design ideas for a greenway route along NE 80th at a recent Building a Better 82nd Avenue Workshop. It shows a continuation of the greenway from NE Everett Street to NE Halsey Street, with east-west connectors added at NE Oregon Street and NE Holladay Street. This update could make the 70s Greenway straighter while connecting to sections of the neighborhood underserved by bikable connectors.

If PBOT receives the Safe Routes to School rapid response grant, they will begin extensive community outreach, including people from Vestal School and the surrounding neighborhood. An optimistic timeline for improvements at NE Glisan and 80th has public engagement concluding in late October and finalizing design documents in December, placing the construction phase sometime in the summer of 2024. These timelines will likely shift, and funding sources may not immediately succeed. Still, PBOT intends to address community safety concerns at this location and will push for an expedited construction schedule.

Photos and story by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Christopher T. Hill, PC

Construction, Infrastructure

E Burnside Sewer Repair at 75th Ave

Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) crews are currently digging a trench down the center of E Burnside Street between 75th and 76th Avenues. This work will address an urgent sewer maintenance situation. Traffic cones and signs are diverting drivers and bicyclists into the parking lane to get around the heavy equipment in the center of the roadway. Drivers should use caution over the next week as work progresses.

This unplanned utility work came about due to a reported issue at a residence. “Our crews were responding to a sewer malfunction in the 7500 block of East Burnside when they decided to proactively check other lines in the area,” explained Dylan Rivera, a Public Information Officer with PBOT. Initially, responding PBOT staff determined the sewer lines needed routine repairs. However, “upon further inspection, we found that repairs need to be done right away to prevent the potential for sewer backups or other disruptions.”

PBOT staff quickly planned the repair, placing No Parking signs along both sides of E Burnside street between 75th and 78th Avenues late last week. These temporary notices prohibited curbside parking during the weekday, allowing road crews the added space to redirect vehicles around the worksite. Rivera noted that, as with any road work, drivers need to adjust their speed and pay attention while driving near the worksite. “For the safety of our crews and other travelers in the area, we ask the public to slow down and use caution when they are passing near the work zone.”

Road work in this area will continue through the week with continued closures of parking lanes and bike lanes on E Burnside street. However, PBOT expects both travel lanes to remain open during the project. After crews complete the sewer repairs, PBOT will patch the road’s concrete base. Drivers should expect to see sections of the road covered by steel plates as the concrete is curing. It is recommended that all vehicles slow down and use caution when driving over plates.

PBOT will need to return to this area to repave the street and restore the road surface. Planners will schedule crews for that phase of the project at a later date.

By

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Montavilla News has a Patreon account. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to please consider becoming a paid subscriber or sponsor. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.

Bar, Community, Food and Drink, Infrastructure

PBOT Extends On-Street Seating and Public Plazas

At a press conference Monday, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) announced plans to extend two pandemic relief programs and work to make them permanent. PBOT Director Chris Warner joined Transportation Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty to highlight the successes of the Healthy Businesses permits and Portland Public Street Plazas program. The free Healthy Businesses permits will extend through August 31st and then require businesses to pay a fee for parking space seating.

At this week’s event, Neil Mattson spoke about Montavilla’s successful Street Plaza and how both programs supported the neighborhood during difficult times. As president of the Montavilla/East Tabor Business Association, Mattson led the development of the community plaza on SE 79th Avenue. PBOT staff recognized this public gathering space as one of the program’s success stories and welcomed its return this season. Mattson confirmed the plaza’s restorative influence on the area. “It really showed that when we take back the street and we use it as a place for coming together, that it does build community.”

Neil Mattson, president of the Montavilla/East Tabor Business Association

Mattson further explained the essential service provided to the community through PBOT’s free permits for parking lane dining areas. “In Montavilla, we have 24 businesses currently offering outdoor seating. If we hadn’t had the ability to have the Healthy Businesses permits, those businesses, I’m pretty confident [they] would all be gone today.” The success of these fresh-air extensions of restaurants and bars is evident through how they transformed over time. What began as roped-off parking spaces soon grew into three-sided sheds dotting curbs throughout the neighborhood.

When PBOT first rolled out the program, they envisioned umbrellas and tents, not wood structures with corrugated roofs. The sturdy construction that indicates success could conflict with the Healthy Businesses program’s transition into a permanent City amenity. Starting September 1st, all permit holders will need to renew their permits for the program. The renewal process will include a compliance review that will likely require modifications to what businesses have constructed over the last two years.

Dylan Rivera, PBOT’s Public Information Officer, explained how businesses might need to adjust as the Healthy Businesses program matures. “There are people out there, businesses who put tables in the street without even coming to us for a permit, even though the Permit was free,” said Rivera. For those establishments, compliance will start with a permit application and reworking their space within the guidelines.

Other business owners have permits but obstructed the public right-of-way or constructed outdoor seating beyond what is allowed. PBOT has concerns that pedestrians and wheelchairs can not navigate the sidewalk through some seating configurations. Corrections will mostly center on maintaining the required six feet of sidewalk clearance. The more challenging conflicts will arise from overbuilt outdoor seating. “There are people out of compliance right now, and we need to have a conversation with them,” said Rivera.

PBOT will have conversations with permit holders throughout the spring and continue into the summer. The goal is to contain outdoor seating in temporary movable structures. “This summer, we’re hoping to start talking about what are some sensible guidelines to help with vision clearance, especially close to crosswalks and intersections, and what does temporary look like?” Said Rivera. “There’ll be lots of conversations and then warnings.”  

PBOT’s primary concern is for the preservation of safety and to maintain access to public spaces. Much of Portland’s infrastructure runs above the sidewalk or below the street, and utility workers need access along the road within a few days’ notice. Healthy Businesses seating areas must be able to move out of the way within that timeframe. PBOT is taking a soft approach to this transition. As the year moves closer to September, PBOT staff will speak to Healthy Businesses permit holders and provide guidance for the new rules. Dylan Rivera assures business owners that they are not pursuing imidate changes.

Although PBOT intends to make both programs permanent, the continuation of Healthy Businesses permits and the Street Plazas Program are contingent on funding from the Portland City Council. The long-term success of these community-strengthening initiatives is dependent on their inclusion in the City’s 2022-23 budget. Commissioner Hardesty encouraged Portlanders to voice their support for these PBOT programs to her fellow City Council members. Over the next six months, look for the return of Street Plazas and subtle changes to outdoor seating as businesses prepare for compliance requirements.

By

Jacob Loeb

Disclosure – The author of this article serves on the Montavilla/East Tabor Business Association Board.

Promotion: Montavilla News has a Patreon account. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to please consider becoming a paid subscriber or sponsor. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.