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.
Update: This article was updated with a new link to Consent Decree information.
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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.
Images from PBOT survey
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.
Images from PBOT survey
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.
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On October 21st, Portland’s 53rd traffic-related fatality of this year occurred at E Burnside Street at NE 82nd Avenue. At 11:37 p.m., a minivan traveling north on SE 82nd Avenue left the roadway, killing a pedestrian and colliding with traffic signal equipment. The vehicle suffered heavy damage after striking a utility pole, and an AMR ambulance transported the driver to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries. Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) crews working to restore signal function to the intersection have reduced through traffic to a single lane in each direction.
PBOT crews replacing signal control box to the right, dents on pole seen at the left
The northbound minivan traveling on SE 82nd Avenue crossed over the center turn lane and two opposing traffic lanes, colliding with a traffic light control cabinet and a heavy steel signal pole on the southwest corner, spinning around and shearing off a metal signpost. The Portland Police Traffic Division’s Major Crash Team has not yet indicated where the pedestrian was located when struck by the vehicle. The complete destruction of the signal cabinet and denting of the pole suggests the minivan was likely traveling at speeds above the posted limit of 30 miles per hour.
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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.
Illustration courtesy PBOT
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.
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Over a year ago, residents noticed street markings on the four sidewalk corners of SE 90th Avenue and Morrison Street that indicated pending reconstruction. Road crews completed that work this weekend, fully reopening the pedestrian path. This intersection is a frequent connector for people traveling to Berrydale Park and students commuting to the adjacent school. Although it already had curb ramps at three of the four corners, they were no longer Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant and required updating.
The full-year gap between planning curb ramp design and construction is not uncommon. However, the city has court-mandated requirements to invest in this type of accessible infrastructure. In September 2018, the city entered a Curb Ramp Consent Decree to settle a class action lawsuit. The agreement committed Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) resources to the installation or remediation of 1,500 ADA compliment curb ramps on average per year. This curb ramp work schedule will continue through 2030, and the 2022 PBOT ADA Program Annual Report shows the city is on track to meeting goals with surplus corners banked for lower construction years.
This intersection now meets ADA standards and features updated stormwater inlet grates. Residents of all mobility needs will have an easy path to their destination, provided the property owner-maintained sidewalk infrastructure connects to the city-managed corners. Pedestrian infrastructure east of 82nd Avenue has many gaps. Under the current city code, those gaps will only fill in during property redevelopment, potentially taking decades. However, thanks to the Curb Ramp Consent Decree, most sidewalk corners in Portland will meet ADA standards within the next ten years.
Update: This article was updated with a new link to Consent Decree information.
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Road crews returned to NE 81st Avenue and Everett Street this week to permanently repair a sinkhole within a crosswalk near Vestal School. The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) patched the street cavity in early August but needed to return for a proper remediation. Workers removed a rectangular section of the asphalt, exposing the street’s gravel base. Workers will replace the road’s surface within the next several days after completing repairs.
Completed repairs on September 18th, 2023
Article first published August 6th, 2023.
A new sinkhole opened up in a crosswalk near Vestal School last week. Road crews quickly filled and patched the maintenance hole adjacent cavity at NE 81st Avenue and Everett Street. This under-roadway cavity is the second sinkhole to appear in a Montavilla street this year, with the other one causing a road closure of SE Yamhill Street at SE 76th Avenue.
Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) representatives noted that Portland sees a few hundred small sinkholes in the streets yearly. Most are relatively small and do not cause extensive property damage. This most recent sinkhole is small but could cause a twisted ankle due to its location in the middle of the crosswalk. PBOT repair crews recognized its potential to cause injury and responded quickly to the growing hole. A neighbor who witnessed the repair said that crews arrived the same day it was reported, wetting the base soil, filling the void, and patching the asphalt road surface.
Neighbor supplied imageNeighbor supplied image
PBOT quickly repaired the NE 81st Avenue sinkhole without disrupting traffic, but this section of the road may require additional attention in the future. In contrast, the limited availability of materials needed to repair the substantially larger sinkhole at SE Yamhill Street has delayed work for nearly three months. Expect crews to begin repair work in the coming weeks. Until then, SE Yamhill Street remains closed to vehicle and bus traffic from SE 76th Avenue to SE 74th.
Today, residents of Montavilla and the surrounding area used temporary road safety infrastructure provided by safety advocates at NE Glisan Street and 70th Avenue. The event, designed to call attention to insufficient pedestrian crossings on the busy road, began at 10 a.m. and continues until 6 p.m. During the eight-hour project, people are encouraged to cross NE Glisan Street using the painted crosswalk at NE 70th. Volunteers will record the crossing and share the results with Portland leaders as evidence supporting the need for more frequent enhanced crosswalks on this street.
Some of the event organizers
The Friday, September 15th, community event joins nearly 100 other gatherings worldwide as part of Park(ing) Day. That group facilitates an annual public display where people temporarily repurpose curbside parking spaces as public parks or otherwise advocate for more equitable streets. NE Glisan Street organizers Strong Towns PDX, Congress for the New Urbanism – Cascadia, and Montavilla/East Tabor Business Association installed a temporary crosswalk and painted curb extensions, among other pedestrian safety measures, at this ordinarily unmarked crossing. People from those groups are on site to talk about street safety with residents and gather contact information for those who want to continue the conversation around street improvements.
Vehicle waiting for pedestrian and dog to cross NE Glisan Street at 70th Avenue
This frequently accessed intersection is near several popular businesses, including the Rocket Empire Machine food hall and Mudd Works Roastery. People often cross here, but vehicles do not usually yield, forcing pedestrians to wait for an infrequent break in traffic or use another intersection several blocks away. During the first few hours of use, the community-painted temporary crosswalk considerably increased the number of vehicles yielding to crossing pedestrians. Many people using it expressed excitement for the unsanctioned markings and hoped Portland would make it permanent. Crossing statistics is one signal this advocacy group intends to share with the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) about NE Glisan safety improvements. Event organizers said people can still add to that number by crossing the street at NE 70th Avenue before 6 p.m. or by sending a comment directly to PBOT asking for enhanced crosswalks at this intersection.
Disclosure: The author of this article serves on the Montavilla/East Tabor Business Association board and participated in planning meetings for this event.
Today, the newest section of NE Everett Street is open to traffic after months of construction. Crews completed 80% of this previously unimproved roadway in July, with only gradual progress during the last two months. However, workers and heavy equipment swarmed NE Everett Street at NE 76th Avenue this week to finish the project.
Road crews and heavy equipment on NE Everett Street at NE 76th Avenue September 13th
This replacement of an unimproved gravel road is part of the 70s Neighborhood Greenway project currently under construction. The one-block street segment provides a critical east-west connector to the new bike-friendly, walkable north-south pathway. Improvements to this road fill a gap in the street grid for non-motorists trying to travel away from busy streets and children heading to Vestal School. This gravel street prevented many people from using NE Everett as it deteriorated in the winter and became a challenge to pass. People would instead travel on East Burnside or NE Glisan to avoid this barrier. The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) has transformed the one-block section with a modern paved road surface and curb-tight sidewalks, allowing all-season access.
Open and complete NE Everett Street at NE 76th Avenue September 14th
NE Everett Street from NE 76th Avenue to NE 78th Avenue never had a paved road in this section and was only recently serviced by the City of Portland. Crews needed to widen the road when creating the twenty-eight-foot-wide paved street and Sidewalks. It now provides travel lanes in each direction and two seven-foot-wide parking lanes along each curb. Seven-foot wide curb-tight sidewalks squeezed between the vehicle zone and neighbors’ fences. Existing adjacent homes prevent a wider pedestrian zone on this block, and one building had to give up some nose-in street parking to accommodate this new infrastructure. Portlanders travailing east-west can now use NE Everett Street for walking and biking while remaining on slower streets, and residents can start parking in front of their homes.
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Road crews returned to SE Stark Street this week, reducing travel lanes in half and closing through traffic at 80th Avenue. Monday’s work focussed on grinding down the top layer of asphalt while patching the road’s base, where previous work required open trenches. Later this week, workers will repave 150 feet of Stark Street adjacent to where cement masons recently created new expanded sidewalk corners.
Construction at this intersection is part of the 70s Greenway Project that will create a safer north-south connector for people walking or riding to their destination. This portion of the infrastructure improvement project added new curb ramps, improved stormwater handling, and road resurfacing. Later, crews will install Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB) and crosswalk striping on the west side of this intersection. As part of this work, The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) removed a few parking spaces to accommodate expanded sidewalk corners, with the north side protruding into the parking lane further to the west than the extended corner across the street. The added pedestrian space makes the historically skinny sidewalks wider and shortens the distance for people crossing SE Stark Street.
Clipping from PBOT intersection design document showing expanded sidewalk and corners
During this project, crews installed new stormwater pipes and electrical conduits for the RRFB signals throughout the intersection, creating a grid of asphalt patches. PBOT anticipated the need to repave the roadway but postponed that work until after the 2023 Street Fair when it would have interrupted those festivities.
Traffic disruptions at this intersection will conclude after crews apply the crosswalk and lane striping on the new road surface. Until then, drivers and cyclists should plan for occasional detours and lane reductions. Pedestrians may need to find alternate crossing points and should look for loose gravel in the area. RRFB installation will likely occur later in the year, around the same time as the SE Washington Street work at 80th Avenue concludes.
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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.
