(November 1, 2013) The City of Portland’s annual Leaf Day Pickup Service begins Saturday Nov. 2 and extends through mid-December, offering residents in neighborhoods with mature trees one or two days of scheduled leaf pickup service.

The Portland Bureau of Transportation also is urging residents in all parts of the city to remove leaves from city streets and storm drains in the coming weeks to prevent slippery streets and street flooding, which can occur when storm grates become clogged.

The Transportation Bureau composts all leaves that are picked up through the program at its Sunderland Yard Recycling Facility; residents who remove leaves themselves are encouraged to place them in their regular yard debris roll cart.

The leaf removal service is provided to 30 designated leaf removal districts in neighborhoods whose high concentration of mature street trees need a higher level of service than the city’s regular street cleaning operation can provide to keep streets clear and safe.

Residents in those districts have received letters and leaflets notifying them of the service, which typically costs $15 for one Leaf Day and $30 for two.  The letters also show how to opt out of the service for residents who wish to remove leaves themselves. Information on preparing for Leaf Day and looking up the removal schedule may be found at Portlandoregon.gov/leafday.

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(November 4, 2013) - The Portland Bureau of Transportation advises the traveling public that cleaning beneath the N Larrabee Avenue overpass will require a detour of southbound N Interstate Avenue in the Rose Quarter area on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

The detour will take place from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Southbound traffic will be directed to N Larrabee Avenue, around the work site and back to Interstate, south of NE Broadway.

The public is advised to travel cautiously in the work zone and to observe detours. Travelers are advised to use alternate routes if possible.

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Founded in 2006, New York City’s Streetfilms has arguably become the gold standard for educational videos showing how smart transportation policy and design can result in better places to live, work and play. Founder Clarence Eckerson is dedicated to making wonky concepts more accessible and entertaining to the general public and has produced over 200 Streetfilms.

Eckerson recently toured Portland’s South Waterfront with Greg Raisman of PBOT’s Active Transportation division and sent back this video postcard - South Waterfront, “Portland’s Multi-Modal Nexus,”  The video shows off the variety of transportation options available to people who live or work in, or visit this unique Portland neighborhood.

The South Waterfront neighborhood is an eco-district planned and constructed on former brownfield industrial land south of downtown. Construction in the area began in early 2004 and it is one of the largest urban redevelopment projects in the United States.

Footage taken from the Portland Aerial Tram highlights a popular commute choice – biking or taking the Portland Streetcar to the foot of the Darlene Hooley Pedestrian Bridge, across the street from the lower Tram terminal. The Tram provides access to the Marquam Hill campus of the Oregon Health and Sciences University, the Shriners Hospital and the VA Medical Center.  After releasing a short film on the city’s 100^th Bike Corral, Clarence interviewed people using the nation’s largest valet bike-parking operation, Go By Bike, also located at the base of the Tram.

In September 2015, TriMet’s new transit, bike, and pedestrian bridge will provide a direct connection between SE Portland and South Waterfront for people on foot, bike, MAX, bus and streetcar to the new OHSU/OSU/PSU Collaborative Life Sciences building and downtown Portland.  

(photo credit: Greg Raisman/Flickr)

(November 5, 2013)  – The City of Portland Bureau of Transportation is asking Timbers soccer fans to consider their transportation options for Thursday’s 8 p.m. playoff game to keep streets and transit running smoothly. 

Fans are encouraged to take Tri-Met or walk or take a bicycle. Ample temporary bicycle parking is available at Jeld-Wen Field. Fans who drive to the stadium are encouraged to park in one of the City’s Smart Park garages.

For parking meters, event rate pricing will be in effect at $3.50 per hour and will apply from 6:30  p.m. to 10 p.m. Regular parking rates of $1.60 per hour will apply at other times.

Northwest neighborhood event Zone M permit parking restrictions will be in effect from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Event-goers are encouraged to check out transportation and parking information online at www.trimet.org and www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/timbers or visit www.portlandoregon.gov/smartpark.

Go Timbers!

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(November 6, 2013) – The City of Portland Bureau of Transportation advises the traveling public that street improvements will require lane closures on East   Burnside Street between 44^th and 47^th avenues from today, Wednesday, November 6 through Monday, November 11th from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. 

One traffic lane in each direction will remain open at all times. Local access to residences and businesses will be provided. The lane closures are necessary to grind down the existing pavement and repave .43 lane miles of the street.

The public is advised to expect delays on East Burnside 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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