City of Portland advises travelers use extreme caution this afternoon/tonight

(November 13, 2014) – The City of Portland Bureau of Transportation strongly advises the traveling public to use caution this afternoon and evening as temperatures drop and the chance rises that black ice may form on sections of streets throughout the region.

Black ice can form when wet pavement freezes.  Black ice is an extreme hazard for all travelers – the pavement looks wet, but is in fact icy and extremely slick.  Black ice can form in pockets or on whole sections of streets or sidewalks.

The Portland Bureau of Transportation advises the public to travel with extreme caution this afternoon and tonight:

• If driving:  travel slowly, leave extra distance between vehicles, brake gently, and look out for other vehicles, as well as people on foot or bicycle.
• If walking or bicycling: be visible, travel with care, travel slowly, be aware that any wet pavement can be icy, and be extra aware of vehicles around you.

The Portland Bureau of Transportation is advising that vehicles traveling on West Burnside and SW Sam Jackson Road use chains.  It has also activated two chain up areas: on West Burnside near 24^th Avenue and at the foot of SW Sam Jackson Road.

The city urges motorists to not abandon their vehicles in chain up areas or in travel lanes, as has happened in previous storms.  Abandoned vehicles block traffic and impede emergency vehicles and public transit. Any abandoned vehicle is subject to being cited and impounded.

The transportation bureau continues to operate under an incident command structure, which means crews are operating on 12 hour shifts and responding to weather conditions as they arise. 

Transportation crews are prepared to apply deicer on slick streets or sand as needed.. Deicing can prevent or minimize slick conditions and sand can add traction, but they are no substitute for traveling with caution. 

The transportation bureau posts updates at its Twitter feed, @PBOTinfo and offers a variety of safety tips on its web site portlandoregon.gov/transportation and on PublicAlerts.org

Additional online weather tips are:

PublicAlerts.org  - One-stop clearinghouse for alerts and weather information

Portland Bureau of Transportation

Snow and Ice resources

https://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/47307

Are You Prepared?

https://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/article/295492

Frequently Asked Questions

https://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/article/327886

TriMet

Plan your trip online and check for service alerts

http://trimet.org/

City of Portland advises public to be prepared for winter conditions

(November 12, 2014) – The City of Portland Bureau of Transportation advises the public to be prepared for the possibility of snow and freezing rain beginning tomorrow morning and continuing through the day and possibly through Friday morning, with a possible accumulation of four to six inches of snow as well as the chance of freezing rain.

The Portland Bureau of Transportation advises the traveling public to stay apprised of the forecast and of the potential for rapidly changing conditions, use caution while traveling, delay trips if possible, and consider taking public transit. 

Transportation maintenance operations crews are preparing for the severe weather forecast for the region by applying a liquid anti-icer on bridges and overpasses today.  Crews will apply anti-icer overnight on routes in the West Hills, along Marine Drive, Sam Jackson Road, and Mt. Scott Boulevard. 

Deicing can prevent slick conditions but is no substitute for caution while traveling.  Crews will also patrol high-elevation areas and will continue to assess road conditions in real time.

In the event of snow tomorrow, the City will focus limited resources on plowing and treating  the highest priority transportation corridors – bridges, overpasses, major streets that serve transit and emergency response vehicles, and critical intersections.  Crews do not plow neighborhood streets.

The public is advised to prepare for snow and ice, and be aware that conditions from a single storm can vary throughout the region because of the area’s unique weather patterns and geography.

Safety tips:

• Please take transit when possible
• If you must drive, consider delaying your trip until road conditions are better.
• Give yourself extra time to get to your destination.
• Drive or bike slowly.  Steer and turn slowly. Brake gently. Stay off the brake on ice.
• Be alert for pedestrians and bicyclists who also are traveling on slick, wet surfaces.
• Carry an emergency kit.

 A chain-up area on West Burnside near 24^th Avenue will be activated.  The city urges motorists not to abandon vehicles in a travel lane, an occurrence that has happened in previous storms.  Abandoned vehicles block traffic and impede emergency vehicles and public transit. The city is also stepping up parking enforcement at that location. Any abandoned vehicle is subject to being cited and towed.

In the event of snow, the Transportation Bureau will cancel its Leaf Day operations for Thursday in the Mock Crest neighborhood (N3) and adjust residents’ bills accordingly.  That area is scheduled for a second leaf day pickup on December 9, 2014.

The transportation bureau posts updates at its twitter feed, @PBOTinfo and offers a variety of safety tips on its web site portlandoregon.gov/transportation and on PublicAlerts.org

Additional online weather tips are:

PublicAlerts.org  - One-stop clearinghouse for alerts and weather information

Portland Bureau of Transportation

Snow and Ice resources https://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/47307

Are You Prepared?  https://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/article/295492

Frequently Asked Questions  https://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/article/327886

TriMet

Plan your trip online and check for service alerts

http://trimet.org/

Oregon Department of Transportation

Driving Tips from ODOT http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/COMM/Pages/winterdriving.aspx

(November 12, 2014) –  The City of Portland Bureau of Transportation advises the public to be prepared for the possibility of snow and freezing rain beginning tomorrow morning and continuing through the day with a possible accumulation of four to six inches of snow as well as the chance of freezing rain.

The Transportation Bureau, together with TriMet, will hold a media availability today at 2 p.m. at its Maintenance Operations yard at 2929 N Kirby Avenue as crews gear up and prepare vehicles with chains and snow plows, and to share safety information with the public.

Who:   Diane Dulken, Portland Bureau of Transportation spokesperson

            Mary Fetsch, TriMet spokesperson

            PBOT maintenance operations crews gearing up

When: 2 p.m. today, November 12, 2014

Where: Maintenance Operations, 2929 N. Kirby Avenue

Visuals:  Crews installing chains and snow plows on vehicles.

What: Media availability to show crews preparing vehicles with chains and snow plows, and to share winter weather travel and safety tips for the public. 

(November 10, 2014) Come hear a distinct perspective on transportation and land use in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

This Thursday evening (11/13), Gordon Price will give a free presentation on the effective integration of transportation in high-density environments with an emphasis on land use. If you’ve seen Price speak before, fear not! He always has a new presentation and a trick or two up his sleeve.

To learn more about Price check out his electronic magazine, PriceTags or his daily blog on Vancouver and worldwide urban affairs. Price is a former City of Vancouver, B.C. Councilor and current Simon Fraser University and University of British Columbia Professor who teaches, researches, and writes extensively on urban development and planning.

What: Gordon Price Presentation 
When: Thursday 11/13, 6:40 – 8:40 p.m. 
Where: Portland Building Auditorium, 1120 SW 5th Ave 
Cost: Free and Open to the Public

Questions? Contact: Scott Cohen City of Portland Bureau of Transportation scott.cohen@portlandoregon.gov (503) 823-5345

(Nov. 10, 2014) Portland Mayor Charlie Hales and City Commissioner Steve Novick will brief the news media on a proposed Portland Street Fund.

The result of nearly a year of public input, the Portland Street Fund will more than double the City’s pavement maintenance budget and make major investments in transportation safety improvements, especially in East Portland.

The City Council will hold a public hearing on the proposal at 2 p.m., Nov. 20. A final vote is expected at 10 a.m. Dec. 3.

Who: Portland Mayor Charlie Hales and City Commissioner Steve Novick

What: Announcement of Portland Street Fund, which will come to City Council for a public hearing at 2 p.m., Nov. 20, 2014.

When: 10:30 a.m., Monday, Nov. 10, 2014

Where:  Lovejoy Room, City Hall, 1221 SW Fourth Ave.

Visuals:  Mayor Hales and Commissioner Novick discussing the proposal, with background material displayed on maps and posters. Press packet will be made available.

For background on the public input that helped develop the Portland Street Fund proposal, see www.OurStreetsPDX.com

###