Category: Infrastructure

Community, Event, Government, Infrastructure November 30, 2023

East Portland Forum on I-205 Tolling

On Saturday, December 2nd, Oregon State Representative Khanh Pham will host a Community Forum regarding proposed Interstate 205 Tolling. The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) intends to charge usage fees for the Portland area freeways to generate funds for several large infrastructure projects and maintenance. People can attend the forum in person from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Portland Community College’s Southeast campus Community Hall Annex at 2305 SE 82nd Avenue or by emailing your testimony.

ODOT proposes two Tolling programs that could impact traffic flow on and around I-205 as early as 2026. The I-205 Toll Project would charge a toll for drivers crossing the Abernethy Bridge, which spans the Willamette River between Oregon City and West Linn. Collected funds would pay a portion of the construction costs for the Abernethy Bridge Earthquake Ready project. The other fee collection method under consideration is called the Regional Mobility Pricing Project. That proposal could impact traffic congestion, street safety, and air quality in the neighborhoods near I-205. This tolling option would charge users as they travel the freeway system. ODOT is still reviewing feedback from an October survey ahead of revealing the exact mechanism used to asses usage fees.

Supporters of the tolling proposals feel it will reduce congestion as people adjust their trips to times when the tolling fees cost less. They also think it will appropriately charge users of the freeway system for its use with direct funding for maintenance and expansion. People opposed see it as an additional tax levied on people who already fund ODOT’s Freeway operations. Neighborhood concerns tend to center on local congestion caused by people avoiding the toll by driving on parallel side streets like 82nd and 122nd Avenues. Expanded usage would undo much of the traffic calming, safety, and livability improvements underway for 82nd Avenue and introduce more air pollution into the community. There are also equitability concerns around charging economically strained people for Interstate access and burdening minority communities with increased spill-off traffic.

This weekend’s special listening session on tolling will provide legislators and state officials with the community’s perspective on ODOT’s proposals. People’s comments in person or through email can influence decision-makers and help elected officials form a vision for transportation investments. Attendees should sign up to provide testimony 30 minutes before the meeting. People who cannot make the forum are encouraged to submit testimony via email to JTSSTP.exhibits@oregonlegislature.gov with the subject “December 2nd Hearing, PCC – Southeast.”

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

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Construction, Infrastructure November 17, 2023November 16, 2023

New Stop Signs and Traffic Patterns

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.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Help keep independent news accessible to the community. Montavilla News has a Patreon account. 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.

Community, Infrastructure November 16, 2023

Rainfall Returns Portland to Bull Run Water

This week, the Portland Water Bureau returned the city to 100-percent Bull Run sourced water. Since August 24th, Portlanders have consumed blended water partially supplied by groundwater from the Columbia South Shore Well Field. In recent years, the utility operator repeatedly activated its secondary groundwater supply to supplement or replace Bull Run drinking water. Dryer conditions in the region have reduced above-ground sources during the warmer months, and extreme weather events cloud the supply by depositing extra organic material into the waterways.

Portland’s groundwater system provides safe drinking water to the region even as the changing climate and expanded demand stress the city’s supply. Without it, this year’s dry spring and extended summer weather could have required rationing efforts or other costly alternatives. This year’s Camp Creek wildfire near the Bull Run watershed further illustrated the need for a protected secondary water system. Despite this fire’s growth to within 1.3 miles of Reservoir 1, Portlanders were never at risk of losing access to drinkable water. The wildfire ultimately did not damage the watershed, and the Bull Run supply remains safe for another year.

It can take up to two weeks for ratepayers to receive 100 percent Bull Run water as the system switches over from the 60 percent groundwater mixture. Portlanders pay for these water security investments through their water bill. The Columbia South Shore Well Field is an example of planning that has paid off in water system resiliency. The Portland Water Bureau is now planning a new filtration facility to maximize the availability of Bull Run sourced water and ensure that the water source remains healthy to use even when some natural contaminants enter the system.

Depending on rainfall and snowpack in 2024, the Portland Water Bureau may need to switch the water system back to using groundwater again. That source is safe for most people and exceeds standards for drinking water. However, sensitive water users can sign up at the Portland Water Bureau’s website to receive notifications regarding changes to the water system. Customers with questions should call the Water Line at 503-823-7525.

Article and photo by

Jacob Loeb

Construction, Infrastructure November 14, 2023

Reconstruction of SE 82nd and Ash

On November 13th, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) began constructing six enhanced pedestrian crossings along 82nd Avenue. During this work, crews will reconstruct the intersection at SE 82nd Avenue and Ash Street with a traffic-diverting raised median and pedestrian crossing signal lights. This Montavilla-based portion of the project will also improve stormwater management and add additional street lighting.

Demolition crews will remove an existing pedestrian refuge island installed on this intersection’s south crossing seven years ago. A 250-foot raised median along SE 82nd Avenue will replace it, creating a safe midway space for pedestrians using the north and south crosswalks. The center median will prohibit vehicles from turning left at the intersection and prevent through traffic on SE Ash Street. PBOT will install a signal mast on the southwest corner to hang Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB) over the southern crosswalk.

*_{Existing pedestrian refuge island (photo by Jacob Loeb)}*

Intersection design documents show space for five median-planted street trees or other foliage and space for additional street lights. Several high-capacity curb inlet storm drains will accompany new in-street catch basins, mitigating the flooding problems that often occur in the roadway. This work has several minor expansions of the public Right of Way into the adjacent properties, allowing sufficient pedestrian space at the reconstructed sidewalk corners, each featuring new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant curb ramps. The north and south crossings will receive high-visibility crosswalk markings, calling driver attention to the higher likelihood of pedestrian use.

Business access will remain mostly unchanged except when traveling on SE Ash Street. However, crossing five lanes of traffic on Ash often required long waits or risky maneuvers. PBOT will remove around two parking spaces SE Ash at the northeast and southwest corners. This curbside parking reduction provides additional space for vehicles turning into and off SE Ash while improving visibility.

As part of this 18-month-long project, PBOT is also updating crosswalks on 82nd Avenue at NE Beech, NE Klickitat, NE Schuyler, SE Clinton, and SE Schiller streets. Many of these pedestrian safety enhancements are part of the 82nd Avenue Critical Fixes funded during the jurisdictional transfer of 82nd Avenue from the Oregon Department of Transportation to PBOT. Work on these intersections will occur at different times over several months. TriMet 72 bus line riders should check for service alerts as construction will temporarily affect some stops. Drivers should anticipate lane closures while crews work in the roadway or along the edge of the street.

Jacob Loeb

Main article image courtesy PBOT

Construction, Infrastructure November 13, 2023

New SE Washington Signal at 86th Ave

Over the last few weeks, crews working for the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) installed electrical conduit and signal pole mounting hardware on SE Washington Street at SE 86th Avenue. In the next phase of this project, cement masons will patch the sidewalk removed for conduit trench work. Then, workers will install traffic signal poles and equipment to support the new pedestrian and bicycle crossing infrastructure.

*_{Electrical conduit and signal pole mounting hardware}*

This intersection is part of Portland’s bikeway network and a frequently used route to several parks and schools. A decade ago, SE Stark Street received similar safety enhancements at 86th Avenue. At that intersection, road crews installed a raised median that acts as a pedestrian refuge island and traffic diverter. Cutouts for bicycles allow for two-wheeled north-south travel while preventing cars from crossing SE Stark Street. SE Stark and Washington Streets are part of a one-way couplet that supports similar traffic levels, making this work a high priority for the transportation bureau.

*_{PBOT provide intersection design document}* *_{MV News added red dots are signal request buttons}*

Unlike the SE Stark improvements, the SE Washington Street design will not prevent cross-traffic on SE 86th Avenue. Instead, Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB) will activate when a pedestrian or bike rider presses a button to request the signal. PBOT will mount the flashing beacons at the sides of SE Washington to alert eastbound drivers. Each sidewalk corner will have a button to activate the RRFB mounted at pedestrian height near the curb ramps. Two additional controls are placed at the curb’s edge so cyclists can start the flashing beacons without dismounting from their bikes. Traffic engineers positioned signal activation hardware on the right side of the road near the intersection for both north and southbound cyclists, allowing them to pull over just a few feet to press the button.

Design documents indicate painters will install green striped bike-crossing markings next to this intersection’s existing high visibility crosswalk. Additional street lighting infill is also part of the intersection design, making this heavily tree-covered area safer at night. This signal work is part of a larger project constructing traffic signals and adding streetlights across the city. Crews are already ahead of the posted schedule for this project. Work may slow down during the winter months. However, if the pace continues, PBOT could complete this crossing before the announced summer 2024 timeframe.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Construction, Infrastructure November 8, 2023March 6, 2025

Corner Reconstruction Along SE 92nd Ave at Yamhill

Soon, road crews will demolish the existing sidewalk corners along SE 92nd Ave at SE Yamhill Street and reconstruct them with improved curb ramps. The current crossing infrastructure no longer complies with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) design standards and is in poor condition. Work on this project will also allow for improved stormwater management.

Over the last two years, crews working for the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) have updated many sidewalk corners along SE 92nd Avenue near Berrydale Park and the adjacent Portland Public School campus. PBOT prioritizes projects along school routes as those projects often receive dedicated funding, and the city’s transportation bureau must reconstruct a set number of non-ADA-compliant sidewalk corners yearly to meet the 2018 Curb Ramp Consent Decree requirements.

As work progresses, SE 92nd Avenue will eventually become universally accessible to all pedestrians traveling from SE Stark to SE Division Street. Look for crews to begin demolition at the intersection within the next few weeks and continue work through the end of the year. Partial lane closures could be necessary as equipment operates at the road’s edge. Pedestrians may need to cross the street to avoid sidewalk detours.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Update: This article was updated with a new link to Consent Decree information.

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Community, Infrastructure November 2, 2023November 3, 2023

PBOT Seeks Public Input on Two NE 82nd Ave Intersection Projects

The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is planning updates to 82nd Avenue crossings at NE Glisan and Davis Streets that will include some turn control through raised medians. Other enhancements include traffic signal reconstruction, sidewalk corner reconstruction, and an expanded tree canopy through street trees planted in the median. People have until the end of November to complete a NE 82nd Avenue improvement survey. The Montavilla community will also have the option of attending a public meeting on November 6th to hear about this project from PBOT officials.

In 2022, State and City leaders agreed to transfer ownership of Portland’s section of 82nd Avenue from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to PBOT. A key requirement of that exchange was a $150 million commitment from the State of Oregon and a $35 million commitment from the City of Portland towards deferred maintenance and critical safety improvements along the seven-mile stretch. Those resources will fund these two proposed projects, protecting a crucial school crossing at NE Davis Street and a deadly intersection at NE 82nd Avenue and Glisan Street.

PBOT’s plans for the NE Glisan crossing feature a raised median running south from the middle of Montavilla Park’s parking lot to the intersection. Southbound drivers turning left from NE 82nd Avenue onto eastbound NE Glisan Street have a curbed center turn lane. That design keeps left turn access for southbound traffic but reduces conflict from northbound drivers trying to make a left turn into a business. Vehicles wanting to turn left into the Jacksons Food Store and gas station can still use the northmost curb cut. South of the intersection, a similar design allows for northbound drivers to turn left from NE 82nd Avenue onto westbound NE Glisan Street. A raised median extends south until midway past the Wendy’s Restaurant property. This lane separator will prevent left turns into Burgerville, Sweet Dream Spa, and Vu Han – State Farm Insurance. Washman Car Wash will retain its left turn access through a break in the left turn lane curb at its recently consolidated 82nd Avenue entrance. PBOT would create space for median-planted trees or other vegetation as part of this work.

PBOT proposes two options for the T-intersection of NE Davis Street and 82nd Avenue. Option A features a continuous raised median with cutouts for two high-visibility crosswalks predominately used by families going to Vestal School. This version would add space for more median-planted street trees or other vegetation and prevent all left turns at the intersection. Option B offers a similar median south of the crossing but with a curbed center turn lane for southbound drivers turning left from NE 82nd Avenue onto NE Davis Street. Cars driving west on NE Davis Street would retain the signalized left turn option. This design has less space than the other option for median plantings. Option A would restrict some access for The Yard at Montavilla food cart pod and area residents. That restriction would make a safer crossing point and reduce neighborhood cut-through traffic. It would also require southbound 82nd Avenue drivers trying to access NE 83rd Avenue to use NE Glisan or E Burnside Streets.

PBOT is asking for public input as they try to strike a balance between vehicle access and reducing severe crashes. For decades, traffic analysis has shown that over half of all crossing-path crashes occur during left turns. When your only goal is safety, that is a large percentage of crashes prevented by eliminating left turns. However, businesses can suffer a drop in customers when medians reduce convenient vehicle access. Some establishments on SE Division Street reported a significant decrease in visitors when PBOT completed a center median project on that street. The survey and community meeting are the transportation bureau’s effort to better respond to community interests and find a compromised solution that increases safety but retains critical access.

PBOT staff will attend the joint Montavilla Neighborhood Association and Montavilla/East Tabor Business Association’s Land Use and Transportation meeting on November 6th. This event is held next to the Gigantic Brewing Robot Room inside the Rocket Empire Machine building at 6935 NE Glisan Street. People wanting to attend the 7 p.m. presentation should take the survey after the meeting to have their questions answered before providing comments. Otherwise, anyone can complete the online questionnaire by the November 30th deadline.

Update: This article previously reported the number of median plantings based on survey illustrations. The displayed green dots are not representative of specific planting areas. PBOT is early in the design process and unable to quantify the number of trees or other vegetation associated with each design.

Disclosure: The author of this article serves on the 82nd Avenue Business Association Board, Montavilla/East Tabor Business Association Board, Montavilla Neighborhood Association Board, and the Building a Better 82nd Community Advisory Group.

Jacob Loeb

Infrastructure October 23, 2023

MAX Red Line Reopens to PDX

On Sunday, October 22nd, MAX Red Line trains resumed service between the Gateway Transit Center and the Portland International Airport (PDX). This concludes a multi-month-long disruption to rail service that began on June 18th. During the closures, transit riders used shuttle buses to bypass the affected segment while crews constructed an improved PDX station and furthered track expansion work.

This record-long TriMet light rail closure supported work on TriMet’s system improvement project called A Better Red. Crews began construction in September 2021, with an anticipated completion date planned for the fall of 2024. The work underway improves schedule reliability for the entire MAX system by adding a second track near PDX and the Gateway Transit Center. TriMet constructed those segments with a single shared railway that requires trains to wait for opposing traffic to clear before proceeding. A new bridge spanning Interstate 84 at Gateway supports the second track leading to the transit center and will provide a multimodal access point to the north end of the Gateway Green off-road cycling park.

Although TriMet concluded the four-month-long closure, work on the second track remains incomplete. MAX Red Line trains still share a rail segment near the Gateway Transit Center and will continue single-track operation until the new station platform and rail installation occur. However, most remaining work will not require prolonged closures to MAX service.

Article and phots by

Jacob Loeb

Community, Government, Infrastructure, View of Montavilla October 10, 2023October 10, 2023

Creating Neighborhood Centers

Over the last two years, staff at Portland’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) developed a plan to cultivate two new commercial centers for residents living south of SE Foster Road in the Brentwood-Darlington neighborhood. Out of that work and years of gathering community input, BPS drafted the Lower SE Rising (LSER) Area Plan to create community cores similar to what other Portland neighborhoods inherited. Through proposed zoning changes and transportation investments, the plan’s authors intend to incentivize future development that will create new walkable corridors lined with small businesses and multifamily housing. On October 10th at 6:10 p.m., the draft plan will appear before the Portland Planning Commission, where members of the public can register to provide comments.

Many of Portland’s neighborhoods feature commercial corridors with stores and restaurants clustered around main streets. As with Montavilla’s SE Stark Street and NE Glisan Street, most commercial districts centered on transportation hubs created by historic streetcar lines or major roads. Often, businesses coalesced in these spaces over 100 years ago. However, not all communities in the city had that historic commercial core before the automobile age shifted resources miles away from where people lived. City planners are now working to reduce reliance on personal vehicle travel and strengthen locale retail access within neighborhoods, creating environments where residents can walk or take transit to desirable destinations. In older areas, that takes less effort because a legacy organization of buildings already supports that effort. However, in some communities with predominantly post-war development, community intervention is needed to create the desired change.

*_{Map App image with MV News illustrations}*

The draft Lower SE Rising (LSER) Area Plan proposes turning SE 52nd and SE 72nd Avenues into mixed-use corridors with more housing options and commercial hubs at primary intersections in the Brentwood-Darlington neighborhood. The new commercial district on SE 72nd Avenue and Flavel Street extends towards SE 82nd Avenue, creating a more significant business district that links to a major arterial road. If the City Council approves the plan, zoning changes will be the first step towards instigating uses along the corridor. However, those changes only allow new commercial services and do not force property owners to make any changes unless completely redeveloping a site. Further enhancements are needed to draw people into these centers, spurring property transformation. As in the past formation of community hubs, transportation can attract people to a business district.

The plan’s authors propose street improvements, making it safer and more accessible for pedestrians to navigate and cross the busier roadways like SE 52nd, SE 72nd, and SE Woodstock. Additionally, the plan includes neighborhood greenway projects connecting the bicycle and pedestrian networks through this area. However, enhanced bus transit in this district offers a high likelihood for increased housing density and business growth while strengthening other centers. “One thing we’re finding is that the existing transit network didn’t really serve centers. For example, you cannot take a bus from the Woodstock neighborhood center to the Lents Town Center,” explained Bill Cunningham, a City Planner with BPS. Realigning bus routes and creating more frequent service between centers can provide the linkage needed for these fledgling business districts to take root. The LSER plan will integrate with future transit line adjustments underway as part of TriMet’s Forward Together plan to cultivate the desired change.

The Lower SE Rising (LSER) Area Plan is a response to community desires. It offers a chance to create a walkable and community-focused neighborhood similar to what Montavilla residents enjoy. The 172-page draft plan is available for review before the October 10th Planning Commission hearing. People can use the Map App to leave written testimony and review what other people have contributed. The Planning Commission will consider testimony and deliberate for several weeks, refining the plan through November before forwarding their recommendations to the Portland City Council. The community will have other opportunities to provide comments during the City Council’s review sometime in spring 2024. If approved, substantial growth for the new could take decades of slow transformation. However, that slow change should help prevent sudden displacement while creating opportunities for micro businesses to sprout up in formerly residential buildings.

Jacob Loeb

Images in this article courtesy BPS from draft Lower SE Rising (LSER) Area Plan

Community, Construction, Crime, Infrastructure October 5, 2023

Traffic Citation Cameras Coming to Montavilla

On October 5th, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) announced plans to install at least eight additional traffic cameras by the end of 2023. Program planners expect to add up to 12 more cameras next year that are currently in the design phase. Three of those possible 2024 additions are located in Montavilla along 82nd Avenue.

PBOT already has 20 cameras in Portland issuing citations or warnings in an effort to curb high traffic injuries and reckless vehicle operation. Contractors are mounting speed safety cameras to poles, targeting motorists traveling in a specific direction. These types of systems encourage safe driving, similar to the speed warning signs installed in the area at the beginning of the year, but with a hefty fine sent to those who do not adjust their behavior. These crews will also install intersection safety cameras to enforce both speed limits and red-light compliance. Those are the types of citation infrastructure planned for Montavilla.

Next year, road users could see new cameras watching two intersections in the neighborhood. Plans are underway to monitor southbound traffic at E Burnside Street and SE 82nd Avenue for vehicles running red lights and speeding. PBOT plans to install similar devices at NE Glisan Street and 82nd Avenue. Those would focus on traffic traveling northbound and westbound. PBOT intends to add several more camera locations north of Montavilla along 82nd Avenue and east on SE Stark Street. A complete list of cameras is available on the city’s Vision-Zero website with other project details.

This expanded program is part of PBOT’s commitment to using the various tools available to reduce traffic fatalities. Although fines generate revenue, PBOT explained that Oregon law directs about 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 seven years ago. Portland retained fines currently paid for installing and operating the cameras. The city is required to spend any future earnings from this automated citation system on traffic safety programs or improvements and will not help with PBOT’s $32 million budget shortfall.

Camera citations are not the only solution needed for safer streets. However, a majority of surveyed Portland residents support the expanded use of traffic cameras. Not only can they incentivize better driving in certain areas, but they can also reduce the need for traffic stops by the Police, which can be dangerous for both the officer and driver. Expect to see this program expand over the next few years and look for signage ahead of all speed safety cameras. At first, drivers will receive warnings from the new cameras, but soon after, the Portland Police Bureau will issue citations from $170 to $440 for speeding and a $265 fine when running a red light.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

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