Tag: PBOT

Construction, Infrastructure

RRFB Installed on SE Stark

On Monday, January 22nd, crews working along SE Stark Street at 80th Avenue installed rectangular rapid-flashing beacons (RRFB) to aid pedestrians and bicyclists crossing the busy road. Recently, technicians installed RRFB signals mounted to new light poles located one block over on SE Washington Street. This work is part of the 70s Neighborhood Greenway project, which is nearing completion after a year of work.

Crews placed the four RRFB mounting poles on the sidewalk in alignment with SE 80th Avenue’s western crosswalk. Pedestrians and bike riders have separate signal request buttons at these intersections. Cyclists can use buttons mounted on short poles at the curb’s edge, allowing people to activate the flashing lights without dismounting from their bikes. Users traveling on the sidewalk can press buttons mounted near the curb ramp.

Engineers working on the Greenway project implemented extra safety enhancements to the SE Washington Street crossing. In addition to RRFB signals, new pedestrian scale lamp posts will illuminate people waiting to cross at SE 80th Avenue. These lights take the place of the plain metal poles often used for mounting signal hardware. The black powder-coated pole is wider and features a decorative shade placed at a height intended to brighten the sidewalk. Most street lighting in East Portland focuses on illuminating the road surface, often leaving pedestrians in the shadows until they cross. The new lighting on SE Washington Street should make people visible before they exit the sidewalk zone. This lighting upgrade is critical for this intersection because SE Washington is darker than SE Stark Street without the added lights from active businesses.

Crews have not yet activated the RRFBs at both intersections. Electricians must finish connecting the equipment through the underground conduit installed earlier in the project. Until then, pedestrians and cyclists should continue to use extreme caution at these intersections, mainly because they lack high-visibility crosswalk markings and drivers often fail to yield. Look for work on the safer crossing to continue over the coming weeks.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

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Construction, Infrastructure

Lane Closures on SE 82nd and Ash

Crews working for NW Natural Gas closed SE Ash Street at 82nd Avenue this week as they service underground utilities. During this project, traffic cones and flaggers also reduced travel lanes on SE 82nd Avenue as crews operated in the active roadway. The open-trench work comes ahead of more substantial improvements to the protected pedestrian crossing at this intersection.

The 82nd Avenue crossing at SE Ash Street currently has a single pedestrian refuge island at the south crossing. The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) will replace that older infrastructure with a larger raised median that contains space for street trees or other plantings. This mid-street structure will have cutouts for at-grade pedestrian crossings from both corners of SE Ash Street, but it will prevent automotive through traffic and left turns.

PBOT provided design document

Because this project will impact future underground access and require reconstruction of the sidewalk corners, all subterranean service work needs to occur before paving crews complete the above-ground work. Expect continued construction in this area as various crews come through this intersection to work on their part of the larger project.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

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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.

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Community, Infrastructure

Free TriMet Rides on New Year’s Eve

As revelers head out to celebrate the close of 2023, TriMet once again offers riders fare-free transportation. Starting at 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, all bus and MAX trips are free until service ends early on New Year’s Day. For those outside the public transportation service area, the City of Portland has partnered with taxis, Uber, and Lyft to offer discounted rides.

For decades, TriMet has offered free rides to help people get home safely after ringing in the new year. This program removes the cost barrier to transit and extends service into the early hours of 2024 with more frequent trips. Most MAX Lines run until 2 a.m. MAX Blue, Green, Orange, and Yellow lines will run approximately every 30 minutes. MAX Red Line trains will operate on a weekday schedule, with the last Red Line train leaving from Pioneer Square South to Portland International Airport at 12:42 a.m. TriMet buses will run on Sunday schedules for New Year’s Eve.

Image courtesy TriMet

If you miss your bus or train and need a ride, the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s Safe Ride Home program has discounts to help. Starting at 4 p.m. on Sunday, December 31st, people can use a discount code posted on the program’s website to save $5 on an Uber or Lyft ride in Portland. Revelers looking for a taxi ride can save $10 off that ride with a paper coupon available at participating locations throughout the city. Montavilla Station at 417 SE 80th Avenue is the neighborhood location offering paper taxi coupons on New Year’s Eve. A complete list of locations is available on the program’s website. Coupons are valid for twelve hours, ending at 4 a.m. on Monday, January 1st, 2024.

Image courtesy the City of Portland

Trimet will again require payment after 3 a.m. on New Year’s Day, implementing new prices. New TriMet fares go into effect on January 1st for those without a monthly pass. This fare change is the first increase in TriMet’s base Adult Fare in more than a decade, and New Year’s Day riders should plan for the added travel costs. TriMet buses, MAX, and Portland Streetcar will operate on Sunday schedules for the January 1st holiday.

People have many ways to celebrate the new year without driving, and it is best to have a plan. However, if that plan falls apart, know your options and never drive impaired or ride with an impaired driver.

By

Jacob Loeb

Correction: A previous version of this article stated that the Oregon Department of Transportation was a TriMet partner in providing free transit this year. They were a partner in past years but not currently. Also, TriMet’s free fairs end at 3 a.m. instead of 3:30 a.m. Montavilla News regrets these errors.

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Infrastructure

PBOT Completes NE Glisan Bike Crossing at 78th

On December 27th, Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) crews installed two new request buttons for the NE Glisan Street bike crossing at 78th Avenue. Traffic engineers added these buttons at the curb edge, allowing cyclists to activate the rectangular rapid-flashing beacons (RRFB) without dismounting from their bikes. Pedestrians have their own buttons to request the crossing signal on the west sidewalk corners.

PBOT installed an RRFB-controlled crosswalk at this intersection several years ago. Although it has suffered repeated damage over the years, many people have used the flashing beacons to cross NE Glisan safely without needing to walk to a fully signalized intersection several blocks away. Recent NE 78th Avenue crossing updates are part of the 70s Neighborhood Greenway project that intends to create a pedestrian and bike-friendly north/south route. The roadside-accessible RRFB activation buttons and new green-striped markings will help cyclists cross at this point. However, drivers do not always observe the flashing lights, and people should wait for traffic to stop before attempting to cross.

PBOT will install additional RRFBs at two Montavilla crossings for the 70s Neighborhood Greenway. Crews have nearly completed installation on SE Stark and Washington Streets at 80th Avenue. Those crossings can see significant traffic, and residents have wanted safety improvements on both streets for over a decade. Although an RRFB can improve vehicle stopping time for pedestrians – the Federal Highway Administration says motorist yielding rates can be as high as 98 percent, people’s experience in Portland is not always positive using beacons. However, despite many vehicles failing to stop, someone eventually yields, and that will help Greenway users cross faster and safer than if the RRFBs were not there.

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.

Construction, Infrastructure

New Sidewalk Corners and Traffic Patterns on SE Yamhill

Road crews recently demolished the existing sidewalk corners along SE 92nd Avenue at SE Yamhill Street, reconstructing them with improved curb ramps. Six blocks west on Yamhill, Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) workers adjusted the traffic pattern at SE 86th Avenue, changing the direction where vehicles stop. Both projects strengthen non-automotive access to area parks and schools.

Southeast corner of SE 92nd Ave and SE Yamhill St waiting for concrete

Cement masons completed work on three of the four sidewalk corners at SE Yamhill and 92nd. They all feature Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant designs with larger landing areas at the top of the new curb ramps. On the west side of SE 92nd Avenue, crews must create short retaining walls to hold back the yards where the expanded sidewalk cuts into an adjacent property. Over the last two years, crews working for PBOT have updated many sidewalk corners along SE 92nd Avenue near Berrydale Park and the connected Portland Public School campus. These updates encourage walking to the two destinations and ensure people of all abilities can use the sidewalk to get where they are going.

BPOT crews made a traffic pattern adjustment west of this intersection to SE 86th Avenue at SE Yamhill Street that supports bicyclists traveling on the Neighborhood Greenway. Previously, vehicles on SE 86th Avenue had to stop at SE Yamhill Street while people on Yamhill could continue driving. Now the two-way-stop is reversed so east/west drivers stop. This intersection control change lets bike riders continue through that intersection without slowing down. PBOT placed “New Traffic Pattern Ahead” signs around the intersection to warn drivers and marked each updated sign with bright-colored double flags to attract attention.

Recent projects on SE 86th Avenue have strengthened safety for Greenway users. A signalized crossing is under construction on this road at SE Washington Street. That update and this traffic pattern change should enhance the utility of the Greenway, particularly for families using it to travel to the nearby parks and schools. Additionally, sidewalk corner reconstruction along SE 92nd Avenue ensures that that route is accessible to all users. Expect more Greenway and corner reconstruction in this area over the next two years, leading up to the Berrydale Park Improvement Project in 2025.

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.

Construction, Infrastructure

70s Greenway Crossings Progress and Delays

Last week, road crews continued construction on the NE Glisan Street crossing at 78th Avenue to support the 70s Neighborhood Greenway project. However, similar work on NE Halsey Street and 76th Avenue stalled due to a striping contractor’s mechanical difficulty. Other critical crossings on SE Stark and Washington Streets at 80th Avenue remain partially completed and unmarked.

Last week, drivers near NE Glisan Street and 78th Avenue experienced detours and lane closures as crews demolished several feet of the east side of a pedestrian refuge island. This work removed the remnants of a signal pole that had once supported Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB). That signal pole and plastic delineator posts suffered repeated damage from vehicles driving over the island. The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) stopped replacing the island-mounted pole in 2021, relying on the RRFBs attached to utility poles on the road’s edge. For years, an orange traffic cone protected the exposed wires on the refuge island. This recent work on NE Glisan Street addresses the exposed wire issue, covering the electrical junction box and removing the pole anchoring bolts. Crews also installed pole-mounted signal request buttons for cyclists to activate without dismounting. Pedestrian refuge island reconstruction could include additional safety measures. However, design documents do not indicate a significant adjustment to the physical attributes of the pedestrian refuge island.

PBOT Provided design document for the NE Glisan Street crossing at NE 78th Avenue.

South of the active Greenway work, construction of two pedestrian refuge islands and a small raised concrete median on NE Halsey Street is likely delayed until next year. In September, cement masons completed reconstructing sidewalk corners and adding mid-block curb ramps for the 70s Greenway crossing at NE Halsey Street and 76th Avenue. Before work can begin on the in-street crossing elements, crews must remove the existing lane striping and repaint lines in a new configuration. NE Halsey will change from a four-lane design in this area to a three-lane street with bike lanes. This transformation will happen by reducing a travel lane in each direction and adding a center turn lane. Until that reconfiguration occurs, road crews cannot create the refuge island because it would block part of a travel lane. 

NE Halsey Street and 76th Ave

According to PBOT, the contracted painting company suffered equipment failure, which disrupted their busy schedule. That company, Hicks Striping & Curbing, is one of only two striping contractors in the northwest region approved to do this work. Specialized Pavement Marking is the other contractor and is equally busy. Consequentially, project planners anticipate delays in the Greenway crossing work. “We don’t anticipate striping this segment until spring 2024,” explained Hannah Schafer, Communications Director for PBOT. Construction schedules can shift on other projects, freeing up resources for this work, but for now, crews are waiting for updated pavement markings.

Construction drawing of NE Halsey Street and 76th Ave, courtesy PBOT

Other Greenway crossing projects in Montavilla are missing pavement markings, causing hardship for people using the intersections. SE Stark and Washington Streets at 80th Avenue recently received updates to support RRFBs. When the road crews repaved the work area, that work temporarily removed a high-visibility crosswalk on SE Stark Street. Without lane striping and marked crossings, pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers navigate with some ambiguity around conflict points in the street.

These are short-term challenges as the streets around the 70s Neighborhood Greenway project gain safety improvements. However, residents have demanded crossing improvements along these busy streets for years, and further delay is understandably disappointing. By next year, PBOT should complete the Greenway project, making way for other safety improvements in the area.

Update December 14th, 2023: Cement masons completed work on the NE Glisan Street crossing at 78th Avenue. It is now full functional for pedestrian users. PBOT should install the bike RRFB request buttons soon. As design documents indicated, crews did not install additional pedestrian refuge island safety enhancements. Work on the island removed the mounting bolts from the damaged RRFB signal pole and secured the wiring junction box with an access cover.

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.

Construction, Infrastructure

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.

SE 80th Ave and Pine St

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.

NE 76th Ave and Everett St

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.

Construction, Infrastructure

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.

PBOT provided design document

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.

By

Jacob Loeb

Main article image courtesy PBOT

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Construction, Infrastructure

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

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.