(June 23, 2014) – The Portland Bureau of Transportation and Portland Police Bureau advise the traveling public that a crosswalk enforcement action is scheduled for Friday, June 27 at SE Powell Boulevard and SE 31^st Avenue from 8 a.m. to noon to raise awareness of pedestrian safety and Oregon traffic laws.

Portland Bureau of Transportation’s Sharon White will serve as the designated pedestrian crossing the street during the first half of the action and a Portland police officer dressed in plain clothes will participate as the designated pedestrian crossing the street during the second half of the action.

Each crosswalk enforcement action involves a designated pedestrian crossing at a marked or unmarked crosswalk while police monitor how motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians adhere to traffic safety laws. Drivers who fail to stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk and pedestrians who fail to follow Oregon traffic laws may be issued a warning or citation.

The SE Powell Boulevard at SE 31^st Avenue crossing has a marked crosswalk along with signage to alert drivers to the possible presence of pedestrians in the crossing.  Between 2008 and 2012, there have been four pedestrian -involved crashes and one pedestrian fatality at or near this location.

SE Powell Boulevard is one of 10 High Crash Corridors that the transportation bureau has identified and targeted as a priority for safety education and improvements.

Crosswalk enforcement actions are an effective way to communicate pedestrian right of way laws to both drivers and pedestrians. The transportation and police bureaus do enforcement actions about once each month in response to requests by community members, city traffic safety engineers, and Portland Police to educate the general public on the rules at marked and unmarked crossings.

To further educate the public about safety,  the Transportation Bureau is distributing a new “Put the Brakes on Pedestrian Deaths” poster and mailer to select households and holding an online safety quiz.  Anyone who takes the safety quiz will win a free tote bag with reflective tape and learn about safety tips: www.lookbeforecrossing.org

(June 25, 2014)  – The City of Portland Bureau of Transportation advises the traveling public that street improvements will require the closures of NE Holladay Street from NE 9th Avenue to NE 11^th Avenue from Thursday, June 26, through Tuesday, July 1, 7 a.m. through 5 p.m. each weekday.

This closure will allow crews to grind and pave .49 lane miles.

Parking restriction barricades will be in place today, one day before the start of work. Traffic restrictions will be in place from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Access will be maintained for businesses and residents. The public is advised to expect delays while repairs are being made. We ask the public to travel cautiously, observe all lane closures and directions by flaggers, and use alternate routes if possible.

Northbound traffic will be detoured onto NE Multnomah Street and southbound traffic will be detoured onto NE Lloyd Boulevard.

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

###