Today, Oct. 12, is International Walk + Roll to School Day, a global event with communities from more than 40 countries walking and rolling to school on the same day. What began in 1997 as a one-day event is now a record-breaking celebration, a part of a movement for year-round safe routes to school. Every October thousands of schools across the U.S. celebrate and mark this day—from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. 

From the Filipino American National History Society: “The celebration of Filipino American History Month in October commemorates the first recorded presence of Filipinos in the continental United States, which occurred on Oct. 18, 1587, when ‘Luzones Indios’ came ashore from the Spanish galleon Nuestra Senora de Esperanza and landed at what is now Morro Bay, California.” 

Join Filipino American City Employees in celebration of Filipino American History Month with crafting and delicious food tomorrow, Thursday, Oct. 13 at 5 p.m. in the Lizzie Weeks room of the Portland Building. This will be a kid-friendly event and family members are welcome!  

Each year, Americans observe National Latinx Heritage Month from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Venture Portland has compiled a list of Latinx-owned businesses to check out during Latinx Heritage Month and every other month of the year! 

As the month ends, we remind you to continue to celebrate and honor our Latinx colleagues, friends, and neighbors, as well as support Latinx-owned businesses.  

If you haven’t already, read the City Council proclamation or watch the presentation at council (it's agenda item 795) as a final moment of reflection. 

Drumroll please! 🥁🥁 The Bike to Books winning designs are here! This amazing program showcases the creative talent and diverse interests of Portland’s youngest artists. We are thrilled to support the annual tradition, in partnership with Multnomah County Library, now in its sixth year. We got over 200 entries this year! After three rounds of voting with PBOT and Library staff, we selected winners. Here they are: 

Winner (Pre-K to 2nd Grade): “Reading Octopus” by Anita Baldivieso, Sellwood Library. Check out the Reading Octopus book recommendations!

By Clay Veka 

On my way to Grant High School with a loaded cargo bike, I turned onto SE Hancock Street where I expected to have a rough, rattly ride on the broken, conglomerate concrete street. I was surprised and thrilled when my wheels met a new, ground-down surface, which provided a smooth, quiet, and totally enjoyable ride. I later learned this work was done with a contracted diamond grinder machine (bling!).  

Liz Rickles, the project manager, shared that Scott Cohen was the ringleader for this effort, working persistently and patiently to bring folks together and test this new treatment. As I inquired further, I learned how many PBOTers had a hand in this project. 

Thank you to Scott Cohen, Liz Rickles, Sheila Parrot (who set this in motion before retiring), Todd Liles, Scott Bryan, and Scott Batson for your ingenuity and effort to convert the resources we have into extra enjoyable ways to get around!! ❤  

By Xao Posadas 

In the Parkrose School District, Parkrose Pedal is an annual community gathering centering youth and student culture, vibrancy, and freedom. This event is a quintessential “both/and”: an opportunity to gather in community for physical joy and a way for Parkrose youth to take up space, affirming their right to exist unapologetically and without interruption. This is a space where traditional cycling culture and urban bike culture collide…at least until they shake hands.  

In 2020, Parkrose Pedal launched as a small campus ride at Prescott Elementary celebrating a new school year, a new principal, and new Covid restrictions. With more than 300 families showing up, it started a tradition that has now enveloped the entire school district. Right now, it’s the only district-led effort like it in Portland. This year there were at least 121 folks who signed in, 31 bikes borrowed (not including BIKETOWN), and 51 people walking. 

Many thanks to all the PBOTers who made this event such a success. A resounding applause to Lale Santelices for her dedication and flexibility in doing whatever needed to support schools and families in Parkrose, as well as her understanding and commitment to community organizing!  

Streetcar’s Rider Ambassador Program began in early 2022. It’s unique in that ambassadors are a non-security presence onboard Streetcar who work with and offer support to vulnerable riders. This can include directing them to social services, waiting with them while emergency personnel arrive, or offering essential items like bottled water, snack bars, dry socks, hygiene products, and other useful gear depending on weather and conditions. They also carry first aid kits, which include naloxone, a medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose. 

Rider Ambassadors are trained in first aid, mental health first aid, and other disciplines as gaps are identified. The team consists of six ambassadors who work in pairs. Funded by a one-year Federal Transit Administration demonstration and research grant, the program is currently being evaluated for ongoing funding and potential expansion. 

While the ambassadors are not PBOT employees, the program would not have been possible without the support of our Streetcar staff, including Assistant Operations Manager Andrew Lamoreaux, Lenore DeLuisa, and Brandi Wellborn (trainer). Without their support, the program would have been much harder to implement.  

The award-winning program should also be a topic at the upcoming Rail-Volution conference, further validating both the success of this program and the need for more like it throughout the country!  

After PBOT’s news release went out announcing the federal funding for permanent plazas downtown, PBOT had a lot of constituents emailing their excitement, especially about the Pride Plaza on SW Harvey Milk Street.  

Some of those words below: 

“I just read the PBOT article on the proposed development of the Pride Plaza and Park Avenue and O’Bryant Square and I am absolutely ecstatic. I grew up going to the Escape Nightclub and The Roxy and later at Scandals and have since enjoyed the pedestrian plaza on Harvey Milk and I cannot express how much I support this project. Thank you thank you. I hope this goes smoothly and that there's very little red tape. The queer community supports you! If there's anything I can do to help you along or add any creative input let me know! I kinda nerd out on PBOT projects and this one hits really close to home.” 

“I just read the news of the American Rescue Plan funding for the future of Pride Plaza. I saw that PBOT mentioned that there will be community discussions of how that looks starting in 2023, and I was wondering who I would reach out to, not only to keep updated on when those discussions take place, but how to get involved with the project. As someone who was born and raised in Portland, and a queer individual myself I really want to make sure our diverse community are heard and represented during this exciting development!” 

Share feedback, suggestions, or other comments using the PBOT employee suggestion/comment box. It’s also linked in the upper left-hand corner of the PBOT employee site.  

Questions? Reach out to Lindsay Bjork.   

By Reed Buterbaugh 

PBOT’s Maintenance Operations Career Fair gave people the chance to check out the equipment our crews use daily to maintain and improve our transportation and sewer systems. Approximately 75 people attended the two-day career fair, which was held over the weekend at our Maintenance Operations facility at 2929 N Kerby Ave.  

“The technical skill, knowledge, and passion you have for our work is simply amazing,” said Maintenance Operations Group Director Jody Yates. “It was wonderful to see so many people participate, and it was a great chance for Maintenance Operations staff to connect with fellow coworkers.” 

More than a dozen workgroups from Maintenance Operations had displays or demonstrations to help attendees learn more about a career at Maintenance. Members of our Structures team showed off how they inspect the structural integrity of bridges. People were able to see a simulation of how our Sewer team works to remove buildup and debris from pipes. While the event was geared towards grownups, children accompanying their parents enjoyed a first-hand look at our equipment ranging from snowplows to backhoes.  

By Stacy Brewster

GovDelivery is PBOT's tool for sending announcements and updates to large lists of stakeholders about our numerous plans, projects, programs, and committees. We also use it to send out press releases and emergency communications like traffic advisories. To date, we have over 98,500 subscribers in the system!

Over the past several months, I’ve been reviewing communications going out via GovDelivery. As Content Producer and lead writer at the bureau, my job is to ensure these messages look and sound as professional and consistent as possible, no matter which team is sending them. They reflect the PBOT brand, our values, and our ability to serve the public.  

Based on what we’ve seen, here are some basic standards to keep in mind:  

• PBOT branding. It’s extremely important to identify our bureau visually (in logos and graphics) and in the opening sentences of your message. Why? Images are not automatically downloaded by everyone’s email system, for one. Also, screen readers and other devices used by people with disabilities may skip over images, especially if there is no alt text. For these reasons, write the full name of the bureau somewhere in the opening sentences of your message, e.g. “The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is hosting the Pedestrian Advisory Committee on Oct. 18 from 6-8 p.m. via Zoom.” Be sure to also reference the name of the bureau in any contact information you include for staff or teams, e.g. “PBOT Project Manager…” or “PBOT’s Safe Routes to School team…”  

• PBOT writing style. We have provided clear guidance on how to write dates, times, street names, and other common terms for public communications. You should use these guides for all messages you send via GovDelivery. This ensures PBOT copy is written in plain language and is consistent across our various groups. These standards mirror AP Style. Adhering to them means less work for communications staff and media who need to share your message. All our writing guides and resources are available online here. Find copies at the PBOT Communications area, too. Ask Hannah Schafer or anyone on the team in the Portland Building, 13th floor (northeast corner).   

• Accessibility standards. As we shared with you in this digital accessibility article for Street Cred, government websites are covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This means your websites and your GovDelivery messages should be fully accessible for people with disabilities, including those who are blind or low-vision and who use screen readers. At a minimum, all images should be uploaded with alt text. You should also check hyperlinks. Hyperlinks should be full, explanatory phrases that identify where the link is going, e.g. “View additional bike count reports here.” This is much easier for people to navigate than links that are simply the word “here.” Finally, it’s a good rule of thumb to always repeat important information you have represented visually, both using captions and the body of your message. More ADA resources on the Office of Equity & Human Rights page here.   

• Double-check your work. Don’t send GovDelivery messages alone. Always have others on your team proofread your message and ensure it adheres to these standards before sending.  

We’ll be adding this basic guidance to the landing page on GovDelivery. For questions about this guidance, or ways I can make your copy clearer and more consistent, don’t hesitate to reach out.   

As always, for larger projects please fill out the PBOT Comms services request form.  

If you need access to GovDelivery, contact Reed Buterbaugh.

Jody Yates has been Group Director of PBOT’s Maintenance Operations since February, but that’s only a fraction of the time Jody has worked at PBOT and the teams she’s worked with throughout her career.  

Jody graduated with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Civil Engineering from Marquette University in Wisconsin. She then moved out west to follow in the footsteps of her best friend living in Portland at the time. Jody fell in love with the Pacific Northwest and all the outdoor activities on offer. She’s been here ever since.  

Her career in Portland began with a stint at a private engineering firm, then eight years working for Clackamas County. Jody first joined PBOT in 2007 as part of the Project Management team, working on the U.S. Congresswoman Darlene Hooley Pedestrian Bridge at S Gibbs Street as well as the design process for the Sellwood Bridge. Jody went on to become a Division Manager in Maintenance Operations, a Principal Engineer in Development, Permitting & Transit, then an interim manager for Parking Services for six months before leaving PBOT in 2018 to work for the City of Beaverton.  

Returning to PBOT  

Since returning to the bureau earlier this year, Jody has felt nothing but appreciation for the warm welcome she’s received. As Group Director, Jody oversees 400 employees who maintain and manage Portland’s assets in the right-of-way. She leads a team responsible for paving, gravel streets, pavement markings, ADA corners, bridges, retaining walls, stairs, rock crushing, street cleaning, Leaf Day, sewer and storm assets, and snow and ice response, to name a few.  

In her 11 years at PBOT prior to her return, Jody accomplished a lot. Two projects she is especially proud of are the reconstruction of NW 23rd Avenue and the Darlene Hooley Pedestrian Bridge at S Gibbs Street. 

Two blocks at a time 

From 2010 to 2011, Jody worked on the reconstruction project of NW 23rd Avenue between W Burnside and NW Lovejoy streets. With the assigned project manager, Jean Senechal Biggs, on parental leave, Jody co-managed the project alongside Chris Armes. This project was difficult for many reasons, not least the heavy vehicle and pedestrian traffic throughout the corridor. Jody remembers the detour plans being as thick as the project plans themselves! Together, Jody, Chris, and Jean managed the project by fully closing just two blocks of NW 23rd Avenue at a time, with traffic detoured to NW 25th Avenue. This way, businesses within each closure could more easily keep their doors open. Furthermore, they scheduled construction from January to early May to avoid prime shopping months. 

Two neighborhoods bond over a bridge 

Whenever Jody drives with her 13-year-old son drive over the Ross Island Bridge, she says he’ll say: “look mom, there are people on your bridge!” Jody was the project manager for the U.S. Congresswoman Darlene Hooley Pedestrian Bridge at S Gibbs Street, completed in 2012. The bridge spans I-5, S Macadam Avenue, and OR-43, connecting historic Lair Hill to the (then up-and-coming) neighborhood of South Waterfront. The bridge’s namesake—then Congresswoman Hooley, helped earmark funding for the $11.8 million project.  

Many things were tricky about this project. First was the price. The original design had two elevators but came in $2 million over budget. The project was only approved by city council with a new design that had a single elevator. Add to that, the project had to go through an Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) procurement process, it had to fit around existing infrastructure for the Aerial Tram, and it had to get approved by two neighborhood design commissions. 

Lair Hill on the west side of the bridge is a historic district whereas South Waterfront is not but has its own set of design standards. During the planning process, Jody and the project consultant (now PBOTer) Kristin Hull had to find agreement on the design between these two distinct neighborhoods on either side of the freeway.  

They found agreement and everything went according to plan, fortunately. The project was finished in July 2012. Jody’s son inevitably points out the roughly 760 people that cross the bridge each day whenever they are driving by.  

The future of Maintenance Operations  

As Group Director, Jody strives to make Maintenance Operations’ work more visible, both within the bureau and to the public. She’s also working to continually diversify the workforce to better reflect the community we serve. She wants PBOTers (and Portlanders) to know her employees are highly skilled professionals who show up to work in extreme conditions. Facing heat domes, downpours, snow, or ice, our crews are essential employees serving Portlanders and making sure our city keeps moving. 

It’s not all work  

In addition to bridge-spotting, Jody can be found accompanying her son to his competitive soccer events. This summer they went to Mexico for a weeklong tournament. Jody enjoys participating in all things outdoors involving her wife and son: kayaking, hiking, going for walks, and exploring new areas. One of her favorite hikes is McNeil Point on Mount Hood—check it out!