The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) recently held two High Crash Corridor open houses to solicit public comment on the Burnside St. and Sandy Blvd. corridors. About 20 interested citizens attended each event. The project area for the Burnside St. corridor runs from SW Barnes Rd. to NE 67^th Ave; the Sandy Corridor is between NE 12^th Avenue and NE Killingsworth St.

Attendees at the February 27 open house expressed interest in pedestrian safety improvements on the Burnside corridor to reduce vehicle speeds (both enforcing the existing speed limit and reducing the posted speed limit) and enhance pedestrian crossings.

Participants also suggested other solutions to improving the pedestrian experience on inner W. Burnside St., such as using bollards, trees or other physical barriers to provide a buffer for pedestrians from auto traffic. Finally, there was strong interest in forming a community group to give feedback on near- and long-term corridor safety improvements.

The March 6th open house included attendees from throughout the Sandy Blvd. corridor. Participants expressed interest in a broad range of issues, including traffic flow, enhanced pedestrian crossings, and improved conditions for people riding bikes. A desire to educate drivers about Oregon Crosswalk Laws was also highlighted. Next steps will include developing a community group for the East/West Burnside St. corridor, performing a data analysis, and developing a guide for near- and long-term safety improvements along both corridors.

PBOT’s High Crash Corridor program aims to reduce severe crash rates by 50% by educating drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians, enforcing traffic laws, and implementing safety improvements on the roadways. For more information, contact Clay Veka, (503) 823-4998.

The Portland Bureau of Transportation Active Transportation Division Ambassador Program is an opportunity for volunteers to get hands-on experience with Active Transportation staff to reach out  to Portland residents. Active Transportation Ambassadors represent the Bureau of Transportation and present information to encourage people to use a variety of travel modes to get around Portland. Ambassadors also share safety information and encourage motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists and transit users to share the road and travel safely together.

Volunteer activities include assisting with guided walks, bike rides and classes, and outreach at community events such as neighborhood street fairs, farmers markets, and Concerts in the Parks. We ask that Ambassadors commit to a minimum of two events during the spring, summer and fall of 2013. 

Selected Ambassador Applicants will receive a 2-hour training at the Active Transportation Ambassador Academy on all the information and skills necessary to talk with the public at community events about all transportation options. The training is Tuesday, April 30^th,  6:00 - 8:00 pm and applications are due Friday, April 19^th.   Click here to download the application.

Ambassadors get an inside look at how one of the best bicycling and walking cities in North America gets to be that way. Additionally, Ambassadors receive a t-shirt, a variety of walking, biking and transit incentives throughout the summer and an opportunity to expand their skills.

Portland families are invited to join the Safe Routes to School program for the 3rd Annual Safe Routes to School Spring Kick-off on Saturday April 6th, 10am - 2pm at Cesar Chavez School (5103 N Willis Blvd Portland, OR 97203).

This popular event celebrates walking and biking to school with FREE family-fun activities that focus on health, safety, and physical fitness.

There will be activities for parents, students, and younger children:

• Bike activities and walking games
• Walk and bike art projects
• Bike Rodeo
• Map reading and safe route planning activities
• Learn to ride a bike class
• Free bike repair
• Helmet fitting and giveaway
• Free healthy lunch!
• Community bike ride (with bikes and helmets available to borrow)
• Raffle …and more, all for FREE!

For more information, email saferoutes@portlandoregon.gov, call 503-823-1189, or check out our Facebook page (complete with photos from last year's event).

TRAFFIC ADVISORY: Street paving closes lanes on North Vancouver Way beginning April 5 

(PORTLAND, Ore.) – The City of Portland Bureau of Transportation advises the traveling public that street improvements will require lane closures on North Vancouver Way between North Marine Drive and North 3rd Drive beginning Friday, April 5, through Thursday, April 18, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. The public is advised to expect delays, travel cautiously, observe all lane closures and directions by flaggers, and use alternate routes if possible. 

One traffic lane will remain open at all times. The lane closures are necessary to grind down the existing pavement and repave 3.5 lane miles of the street. 

Local access to residences and businesses will be provided. 

This work is weather-dependent, and the schedule may change. 

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Street Seats, the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s program to permit businesses to build a temporary platform in the on-street parking lane, is now accepting applications to host Street Seats in 2013. The deadline for applications is May 1, 2013.

PBOT modified the Street Seats program after evaluating the 2012 pilot project. Among the changes is having a fixed window of time to accept applications.

Please contact PBOT Active Transportation Program Manager Gabe Graff at streetseats@portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-5291 with any questions about the program.