(October 1, 2014)  As we head into the fall, the Street Seats installations from this summer continue to provide outdoor seating at many locations through the City.  Two new locations were recently installed at Bonfire Lounge (2821 SE Stark Street, designed by Propel Studio) and Lompoc Brewing (1620 NW 23rd Avenue, by Artifekt Architecture).  Portlanders can take advantage of the outdoor seating at most of Portland’s ten Street Seat locations throughout the year though some will be removed during the winter (please check with the local business about seating availability).

In addition, two finalists from the Design Week Portland design competition have been installed outside of the Center for Architecture (403 NW 11^th Avenue). They will be in place through the end of October. The installations are a result of collaboration between the Bureau of Transportation and Center for Architecture in their second annual Street Seat Design Competition.  Of 17 submissions received from across the country addressing the theme ‘Active Streets,' two finalists were chosen to be installed as part of a six week installation outside of the Center for Architecture.  The winning submissions were developed by Hennebery Eddy Architects (“Log Dam”) and Scott Edwards Architects (“A Dialogue”).  Construction costs were covered by sponsor Hoffman Construction.  The installations will find new homes along NE Alberta Street in the spring.

Now in its third year, Street Seats is a program of the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) that allows businesses and non-profit organizations to convert on-street parking into other public uses, such as café seating or a mini-park. Based on similar programs in San Francisco and New York City, the program enlivens the streetscape by creating spaces for Portlanders to enjoy seating and a meal or drink outdoors, which in turn enhances street vitality and benefits local businesses.

A map of Portland’s collection of Street Seats can be found by clicking here.

See more photos of the 2014 Street Seats on Flickr.

See KGW's story on the Center for Architecture Street Seats here.

Check out the Oregonian's coverage here.

More information about City of Portland’s Street Seat program can be found at www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/streetseats.  

(September 30, 2014)  – The City of Portland Bureau of Transportation advises the traveling public that street improvements will require lane closures of NE Marine Drive from NE 33^rd  Avenue to NE 122^nd Avenue from Thursday, October 2, through Friday, October 10, 7 a.m. through 5 p.m. each weekday. Some work may also be done this weekend.

The lane closures will allow crews to grind and pave sections of the road equaling approximately 2.2 lane miles.

Parking restriction barricades will be in place one or two workdays before the start of work.

Northbound NE 122^nd Avenue will be closed at NE Airport Way. Traffic will be detoured east to NE 138^th Avenue.

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.

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

By Ryan Kost
Portland Bureau of Transportation 

(Sept. 26, 2014) -- The Harbor trail, a new segment in the connection from downtown Portland to the South Waterfront, opened this week – and just in time too.

On Monday, the fall term starts for Portland State University students. That’s nothing new, of course. But this term, for the first time, nearly 2,500 students and faculty members will be making a weekly pilgrimage to the waterfront where the new Collaborative Life Sciences Building just opened.

The new link, which is now complete with traffic signal and crosswalk improvements at the SW Harrison St. and SW Harbor Dr. intersection, is a wide, off-road path just off the southeast corner of the intersection.

Before the addition, those on foot or bike would have to follow SW River Parkway to head south to the SW Moody cycle track. The new path, funded by the Portland Bureau of Transportation and built along with the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Project, means a more direct and more comfortable ride or walk down.

“We’re very excited about it,” said Ian Stude, PSU’s transportation and parking director. “It shaves a couple minutes off the walk and provides a comfortable place to be.

“I think it’ll see a lot of use.”

And not just from the PSU community, says PBOT’s Teresa Boyle. The new trail, she said, is a huge benefit for anybody walking or cycling between downtown and the South Waterfront – and points beyond. 

(Photos: Ryan Kost/Portland Bureau of Transportation)

(September 26, 2014)  – The City of Portland Bureau of Transportation advises the traveling public that street improvements will require lane closures of NE Tillamook Street from NE 72^nd Avenue to NE 82^nd Avenue from Monday, September 29, through Friday, October 3, 7 a.m. through 5 p.m. each weekday. Some work may also be done next weekend.

The lane closures will allow crews to grind 1.52 lane miles in preparation for paving.

Parking restriction barricades will be in place one or two workdays before the start of work.

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.

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

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(September 26, 2014)  The East Burnside Transportation Safety Project is scheduled to begin construction in early October on the first phase of improvements.  This High Crash Corridor project will restripe E Burnside St from 14th Ave to Laurelhurst Pl (just west of Cesar Chavez Blvd).  E Burnside will change from two lanes in each direction to one westbound lane, one center turn lane, and two eastbound lanes. The new configuration will add about 15 on-street parking spaces. A second phase in Spring 2015 will install three pedestrian islands and marked crossings at 18th, 22nd and 24^th avenues on the west leg of each intersection and reduce the posted speed from 35 to 30 MPH.

This project was requested by adjacent business and neighborhood associations and developed in partnership with a Community Working Group.  The goals of the project are to reduce crashes, reduce speeds, improve pedestrian crossings and access to transit, and support the business district.  The treatment is expected to reduce crashes on this segment of E Burnside by about 30%.

For additional information including the why, what, and when of the project, check out the project brochure here, or visit the Burnside High Crash Corridor website.