|
Two-and-a-half years into Vision Zero implementation, we are looking hard at our efforts. What has worked best? What trends are we seeing? And where should we focus limited city resources to achieve the greatest impact moving forward?
The Vision Zero One-Year Report and Two-Year Strategy describes some of the lessons learned during Portland’s first two years as a Vision Zero city and sets the stage for the next phase of work.
The four strategic areas build on the Vision Zero Action Plan and include:
- Protect pedestrians
- Reduce speeds citywide
- Design streets to protect human lives
- Create a culture of shared responsibility
Look for more details as we approach our Portland City Council briefing on June 12th.
 West Burnside Street at St. Claire Avenue, currently a legal but unmarked crosswalk, will receive a pedestrian hybrid beacon.
The Oregon Department of Transportation recently finalized the funding list for the latest statewide ARTS safety project grants.
The good news: PBOT successfully applied for $12 million in safety projects, mostly on High Crash Network streets. Unfortunately, funds will not be available until 2021 at the earliest. ODOT selects projects before the federal funds are available to assist cities in their planning efforts.
Projects from the previous funding round continue to move forward. On June 12, Portland City Council will formally accept $7.3 million for safety projects on nine High Crash Network streets.
Newly funded projects in Portland (with High Crash Network streets in bold) include:
- Marked crossing with a pedestrian hybrid beacon at West Burnside Street & St. Claire Avenue
- Crossing improvements on NE Killingsworth Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and 33rd Avenue.
- Raised center median to simplify turns on SE Division Street between 148th and 174th avenues and on SE Stark Street between 148th and 162nd avenues.
- Speed bumps on NE Fremont Street between 102nd and 122nd avenues.
- Rumble strips on SE Foster Road between Barbara Welch and Jenne roads.
- Upgraded signals and striping on N Lombard Street between Kerby and 168th avenues.
View the full list of funding recipients in the Portland area.
In March we highlighted 13 bills related to traffic safety. Some of the bills would have positive impacts and others potentially negative.
Below is the status for each of the bills based on the information we have available.
Signed into law:
- Bike lanes continue through intersections (HB 2682)
Actively under consideration:
- Allow 20 mph residential speed limits in cities statewide (SB 558)
- Eliminate local city rules for Lyft and Uber (HB 3023)
- Proof of legal presence not required for a driver's license (HB 2015)
Still in committee with no scheduled action:
- Allow fixed speed safety cameras in cities statewide (SB 559)
- Allow mobile speed safety cameras in cities statewide (SB 560)
- Allow the Oregon Department of Transportation to delegate speed limit setting authority to local jurisdictions including Portland (HB 2702)
- Enhanced driving knowledge testing (Senate Bill 746)
- Legal alcohol limit for people driving lowered to BAC 0.05 (SB 7)
- Legalize e-scooter use without helmets for people aged 16 or older (HB 2671)
- Legalize lane-splitting for people on motorcycles (HB 2314)
- Lower local match requirement for Safe Routes to School grants (SB 561)
- No more driver's license suspensions for failure to pay fines (HB 2614)
In addition, legislators are still actively considering HB 2846, which would facilitate the transfer of state-owned urban arterials (such as 82nd Avenue) from the Oregon Department of Transportation to local jurisdictions such as Portland.
Oregon's legislative session is expected to continue through June.
 A message board on NE Columbia Boulevard near the location of a deadly crash on April 25.
Starting this spring we have begun installing temporary message signs at locations where people have died in crashes.
The signs note the date of the crash and encourage careful travel. Each sign will remain in place for about two weeks following a deadly crash that occurs on Portland streets.
As we work toward our Vision Zero goal of zero traffic deaths and serious injuries, the signs will mark locations of tragic deadly crashes and raise public awareness of the importance of driving safely.
 New concrete corner, gutter, and signal pole foundation at W Burnside Street & 18th Avenue.
Construction is moving forward on safety projects across Portland. We expect to invest $60 million in safety projects on Portland's High Crash Network streets this year.
The following six projects are nearing completion or breaking ground soon:
-
W Burnside Street at 18th/19th: a safer intersection is well underway; construction is on track for completion this summer.
-
SE Division Street: new crossings at 115th, 125th, 132nd, & 139th, safety fixes at 148th, and sidewalk infill from 102nd to 157th will be completed this year, with some already under construction.
-
SE Foster Road: final paving and striping should be complete by mid-June for the streetscape project from NE 50th to 90th avenues.
-
NE Glisan Street: new striping from NE 122nd to 162nd avenues and a new crossing at 128th will be installed this summer/fall.
-
NE Halsey-Weidler: safer crossings, bike lanes and other features from NE 102nd to 112th avenues are nearly complete.
-
NE Sandy Boulevard: new crossings with rapid flashing beacons are on track for completion this year at NE 31st, 85th, and 91st avenues, and a safer speed limit went into effect on May 15th from NE 47th to 82nd avenues.
In addition, we recently installed leading pedestrian intervals at NE Broadway Street & Vancouver Avenue, NE Broadway Street & Grand Avenue (the location of a recent deadly crash), SE 82nd Avenue & Woodward Street, and SE 82nd Avenue & Mill Street.
Lastly, a new protected left turn is coming to SE Belmont Street & César E. Chávez Boulevard this week. We recently activated a new protected left turn at SE Foster Road & 72nd Avenue.
 New parking setbacks are making it easier for people to see each other at intersections across Portland.
Intersections we've recently approved for better visibility include SE Salmon Street & 14th-15th avenues, NW 15th Avenue & Savier Street, NE 99th Avenue & Everett Court, and N Dekum Street & Greenwich Avenue.
We have been increasing the number of intersections with parking setbacks in response to new internal guidelines that call for keeping at least 20 feet clear at uncontrolled approaches to intersections. This can help people see cross-traffic and enhance visibility for people crossing streets.
You can help by reporting intersection visibility issues:
 A recent vegetation obstruction of a stop sign in SE Portland.
Springtime plant growth can block street signs and obstruct sidewalks.
Help us keep our signs visible and sidewalks clear by trimming vegetation on your property.
If you see an issue on someone else's property, please let us know!
Property owners are responsible for maintaining the public right of way next to their property, including the sidewalk, planting strip (the area between the street and sidewalk), and shoulder.
 Portland City Council has unanimously approved a plan to remake 82nd Avenue into a safe street that supports walking, biking, and transit.
During the hearing on May 23rd, Commissioner Eudaly successfully proposed an amendment directing PBOT to "pursue more transformational strategies along 82nd Avenue to improve transit reliability, speed, and capacity" as part of any future redesign.
The 82nd Avenue Plan covers 82nd Ave from NE Killingsworth to SE Clatsop streets at Portland's southern boundary. This section of 82nd Avenue is managed by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT).
The 82nd Avenue Plan facilitates the eventual transfer of ownership of this segment of 82nd Avenue from ODOT to the City of Portland.
|
