News Release:
Commissioner Steve Novick and PBOT celebrate Fixing our Streets milestone; release 2017 project schedule in advance of the start of fuels tax collection
(Dec. 29, 2016) Today, Transportation Commissioner Steve Novick and Portland Bureau of Transportation Director Leah Treat celebrated the first twenty base repair projects completed as part of the Fixing our Streets program. Commissioner Novick and Director marked the milestone at a recently completed base repair project near the intersection of SE Milwaukie and Romona Streets. At this location, PBOT crews fixed a failing section of street and installed a new concrete bus pad along TriMet bus route 19. Director Treat also released the list of Fixing our Streets street repair and safety projects that are slated to begin in 2017.
“Last
May, Portland voters decided to pay a higher gas tax in order to fix the
streets and make them safer," said Commissioner Novick. "With the 20 base repair projects, PBOT has already
started to fix the streets. In 2017, Portlanders will see more streets repaved,
dangerous intersections fixed, sidewalks installed, and greenways improved. They’ll also see strong emphasis on creating safe routes to
schools. In short, they’ll see their
dime in action.”
“2017 is going to be an exciting year for the Fixing our Streets program,” said Director Treat. “After completing 20 small, but significant projects all across Portland this fall, we will now start major paving and safety projects in 2017. We are delivering what voters expected when they passed Measure 26-173: projects that will make their roads better and their city safer.”
The Fixing Our Streets program is the result of the passage of Measure 26-173, a ten cent tax on motor vehicle fuels and Portland’s first local funding source dedicated to street repair and traffic safety projects. The collection of the tax is set to begin on January 1, 2017.
Passed on May 17th, 2016, Measure 26-173 will raise an estimated $64 million over four years. In May, the Portland City Council also unanimously passed a Heavy Vehicle Use Tax. This separate tax for vehicles weighing more than 26,000 pounds will raise an estimated $10 milllion over four years for the Fixing Our Streets program.
Fixing Our Streets includes paving, base repair, sidewalks, crossings, neighborhood greenways, safe routes to school, high crash corridors, protected bike lanes and alternative street design projects that will all have a significant impact on neighborhoods across Portland. In 2017, PBOT will undertake the following projects:
Paving Projects
SE Foster (82nd to 90th) - Paving Foster Road from 82nd Avenue to 92nd Avenue and ADA curb updates.
Cost estimate: $ 3,000,000
NE Halsey (102nd to Weidler) - Paving project on NE Halsey from 102nd to Weidler. Combined with the Halsey-Weidler Streetscape project, which is being funded with Portland Development Commission and system development charge funds.
Cost estimate: $ 2,240,000
SW Vermont (Oleson to Capitol) - Paving SW Vermont from SW Oleson to SW Capitol Highway and ADA curb updates.
Cost estimate: $ 3,150,000
SE 50th (Division to Hawthorne) - Paving on SE 50th from SE Division to SE Hawthorne Blvd and ADA curb updates.
Cost estimate: $ 1,450,000
SW Naito (Harrison to Jefferson) and SW Main (1st to 2nd) - Paving SW Naito Parkway from Harrison to Jefferson; between I-405 and SW Lincoln St and on SW Main from 1st to 2nd. Address bicycle safety for bikes coming off the Hawthorne Bridge and merging with buses which stop between 1st & 2nd. Fixing Our Streets funds are leveraging additional $1 million in ODOT funding.
SW Naito cost estimate: $ 1,600,000
SW Main cost estimate: $ 350,000
Basic Road Repair (citywide): Projects prioritized using Pavement Management System
Funding will be used for multiple base repair projects which are completed in small sunken areas where the road has failed. Projects range in size from a tabletop to about one city block.
Cost estimate: Will vary with number of projects undertaken.
Heavy Vehicle Use Tax
N Columbia Blvd (Interstate Pl - 13th) - Paving on North Columbia Boulevard from Interstate Place to 13th. Update corners to meet current ADA standards.
Cost estimate: $2,100,000
Small Freight Improvement Program - Small scale capital projects to improve freight efficiency and safety
Cost estimate: $ 500,000
Sidewalks
Infill sidewalk SE 112th Ave: Market – Powell - Construct 7' curb tight sidewalk using existing curbs on SE 112th between Market and Powell and upgrade ADA ramps.
Cost estimate: $ 785,000
Infill sidewalk NE 102nd Ave: Sandy – I-84 - Construct 7' curb tight sidewalk using existing curbs on NE 102nd Ave between Sandy and I- 84 and upgrade ADA ramps.
Cost estimate: $ 200,000
Infill sidewalk SE Flavel St: 84th – 92nd - Construct 7' curb tight sidewalk using existing curbs on SE Flavel between 84th and 92nd and upgrade ADA ramps.
Cost estimate: $ 350,000
High Crash Corridors
NE Sandy Blvd: install pedestrian refuge island and active warnings - Pedestrian crossing improvements at NE Sandy & 31st Avenue including rapid flashing beacons and ADA compliant curb ramps.
Cost estimate: $ 150,000
SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy: Crossing improvements - Fixing Our Streets funding being used to leverage existing project funding. Safety improvements include the development of a protected pedestrian/bike lane space, reduced travel lane widths for traffic calming, a concrete median/pedestrian crossing island with rapid flashing beacons at 35th Ave. All curb ramps will be upgraded for ADA compliance.
Cost estimate: $ 145,000
Crossing Improvements
SW Naito Parkway Riverfront Access Improvements - Assess traffic signal designs to determine changes along SW Naito to improve accessibility to the Park.
Cost estimate: $ 165,000
Street Lighting Infill for Multimodal Safety - The funds associated with this will provide street lights at up to 25 locations.
Cost estimate: $ 140,000
Safer and More Efficient Rail Crossings (signal to rail coordination) - Update technology at signals at rail crossings.
Cost estimate: $ 440,000
High Crash Corridor - Pedestrian and Bicycle Crossings - 1) Pedestrian crossing - SE 122nd & Main: replace span wire mounted blinkers with rapid flashing beacons and install pedestrian refuge island; 2) Bicycle crossing - Holgate & 41st/42nd: Protected intersection, buffered bike lanes, ADA compliant curb ramps, marked crosswalks and crossbikes.
Cost estimate: $ 165,000
Safer Shoulders / Ditch Maintenance
BES Partnership - Safer Shoulders (Includes funding SW Stephenson) - Install low-cost pedestrian improvements on SW Stephenson and additional areas as funding allows
Will vary with number of projects undertaken.
An interactive map featuring all of the Fixing Our Streets projects can be viewed at map.fixingourstreets.com
About Base Repair
Base repair projects are reserved for streets with sections that
are in poor or very poor condition. The repairs address those portions of the
street that have failed from top to bottom. The goal of these base repair
projects is to prevent the structural failure from spreading to other parts of
the street. $8.6 million of the Fixing Our Streets funding will go towards base
repair projects. The 20
base repair projects completed in 2016 cost a total of $426,000.
The recently completed base repair project at SE Milwaukie and
Ramona Streets for Thursday’s event is at a bus stop for the #19 TriMet bus.
Over time, the asphalt pavement had deformed where the buses stopped. Thanks to
Fixing Our Streets, PBOT was able to repair the roadway and install a concrete
bus pad. By installing a durable concrete pad, this section of roadway will now
be less likely to become damaged by the force and heat generated by braking
buses and trucks, thereby making travel safer and more efficient for all road
users.
 The base repair project at SE Milwaukie and Ramona before (left) and during construction (right).
About Fixing Our Streets
On May 17th, 2016, Portland voters passed Measure 26-173, Portland’s first local funding source dedicated to fixing our streets. Measure 26-173 will raise an estimated $64 million over four years.
PBOT is investing this money in a wide variety of street improvement and safety projects across the entire city. Fixing Our Streets will help PBOT expand preventive street maintenance that saves money and prevents potholes. It will support our work to make it safer for children to walk to school. It will allow us to build more sidewalks, traffic signals, street lights and bike lanes.
In approving Measure 26-173, voters also voted for a transparent, accountable and efficient program. Residents can learn about the program by visiting FixingOurStreets.com and by visiting the Fixing Our Streets interactive map. Questions or comments about Fixing Our Streets may be submitted to: fixingourstreets@portlandoregon.gov.
About the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax
In Oregon, Heavy Vehicles (over 26,000 lbs) don’t pay gas taxes, they pay a weight-mile tax that is based on their mileage in the state. To make sure that local transportation funding is collected in a way that accounts for freight as well as residential use of the transportation system, the City Council passed a heavy vehicle use tax on May 11, 2016. The heavy vehicle use tax that charges companies based on a percentage of the state weight-mile tax they pay. It is only charged to companies who pay the state weight-mile tax and also have a license to do business in Portland. Businesses will pay 2.8% of their Oregon Weight-Mile tax.
The estimated revenue to be generated from the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax is $2.5 million per year or $10 million over 4 years. Per City Council Ordinance, the funds are to be allocated for 56% street repair and 44% traffic safety.
Media contact:
John Brady
(503) 503-577-8236
The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is the steward of the City’s transportation system, and a community partner in shaping a livable city. We plan, build, manage and maintain an effective and safe transportation system that provides access and mobility. Learn more at www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation
| 
