Portland’s Bureau of Transportation and Bureau of Environmental Services are working in coordination on street and stormwater improvements in Errol Heights. This pilot project will improve safety and accessibility, while improving stormwater management and protecting water quality in local creeks and streams. Working together ensures successful outcomes including reduced costs, improved efficiency, and enhanced service delivery to the Portland community.

What's happening now?

Final Design: The project team is completing the design engineering plans for the project.  Estimate completion date: July 2020

Construction: Construction is estimated to begin spring 2021.

Project Overview

The Errol Heights Street Improvement Project proposes to implement new City street designs for the neighborhood’s unpaved roads. The project will build a new network of narrow, curbless roads, and stormwater facilities to improve access to the neighborhood, address drainage issues, and improve water quality in Johnson Creek.

The project will improve about 1.2 miles of unpaved streets in the neighborhood where steep slopes, seeps, springs, and soils create local drainage issues and erode gravel roads. Poor road conditions impact the neighborhood’s livability and make it challenging for residents to walk, bike, drive or be served by emergency vehicles.

As a pilot project for the City of Portland’s Neighborhood Streets Program, the project is an opportunity to highlight cost-effective designs for neighborhood streets and stormwater management, which can be used in areas that would be difficult or costly to serve.

Proposed Transportation Improvements

• 16’ to 18’ wide paved streets with gravel shoulders for parking.
• Sidewalks will be located on the north side of Malden Drive and next to Errol Heights Park on Tenino Drive/Court. Portland Parks & Recreation will pay for sidewalks that serve the park. 
• Malden and Tenino Drive will have a curved roadway design to help slow traffic.
• Street lights will be added where needed to improve visibility of pedestrians.
• Street trees will be planted to meet the City’s Urban Forestry requirements for street improvements.

Proposed Stormwater Improvements

• Ditches will carry stormwater from the streets to sumps (dry wells).
• A larger stormwater facility will be built at SE 45th Avenue and Tenino Court, in Errol Heights Park, to slow and filter water before it enters the storm drain at SE 45th Avenue.

Project Costs and Funding

Public funds will pay for the project design, construction of stormwater facilities, additional street lighting and street tree planting. Portland Parks and Recreation will fund construction of street and sidewalk improvements on SE Tenino Court adjacent to Errol Heights Park.  The City of Portland will be working with area property owners to form a Local Improvement District (LID) to pay for a portion of construction costs related to street improvements (grading, paving, and shoulder work). Special financing for the LID will allow homeowners to defer payment of the LID assessment until properties are sold. 

Project Schedule

The project is currently in final design (estimate completion date February 2020). Construction is expected to begin summer 2020 and last approximately one year.

With questions, comments or for more information, please contact: 

Elizabeth Tillstrom
PBOT Project Manager
elizabeth.tillstrom@portlandoregon.gov
503-823-0396