(June 4, 2019) Construction is underway on the East Portland Active Transportation to Transit Project (EPAT)! We’re improving access to 19 TriMet bus stops along the SE Division Street corridor from SE 101st to SE 143rd avenues by infilling missing sidewalk, constructing new ADA-accessible driveways and corner ramps, and adding three new signalized pedestrian crossings across SE Division Street. But don’t let the name fool you! The project is also improving safety and access for pedestrians and cyclists on multiple streets in East Portland.

In addition to making it easier to get to and from your bus stop, EPAT is also constructing the 130’s Neighborhood Greenway, a 5-mile north-south neighborhood greenway between the Springwater Corridor and the I-84 multi-use path. It’s also installing a protected bikeway on NE Glisan Street from NE 122nd to NE 148th avenues– a total of 1.3 miles of protected bikeway along this high crash corridor!  This section of protected bikeway will merge with the other safety improvements coming to NE Glisan as part of the East Glisan Street Update.

 Construction is expected to continue through this summer and be complete sometime this fall. In the meantime, here’s a few more numbers to get you excited about the future of these streets:

• Over half a mile of new sidewalks on the north and south sides of SE Division between SE 101st and SE 143rd avenues.
• 41 new ADA accessible ramps
• 5 miles of the new 130’s Neighborhood Greenway
• 206 white posts for clear separation of people driving and biking
• 9 schools connected along the 130’s Neighborhood Greenway
• 5 parks connected along the 130’s Neighborhood Greenway
• 3 new pedestrian signals on SE Division Street and 1 new pedestrian signal on NE Glisan Street
• 1 full traffic signal rebuild at SE 130th Avenue and Stark Street

This $6.2 million project is made possible by Metro’s regional flexible funding program, PBOT Transportation System Development Charges and PBOT’s share of the state gas tax. Learn more about the East Portland Active Transportation to Transit at www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/EPAT.

(June 6, 2019) PBOT's Fixing Our Streets program broke ground on a major new sidewalk project in East Portland today. The $1.7 million project will build over 3000 feet of new sidewalk (the equivalent of 15 downtown city blocks) on the east side of NE 148th from NE Halsey Street to NE Glisan Street.

The project will fill existing gaps in the sidewalk, creating a contiguous sidewalk along this important street. Nine corner ramps and fifteen driveways will also be updated during construction to bring them up to current ADA standards. Thanks to the Fixing Our Streets funding, Portlanders will have an easier and safer time reaching Halsey HydroPark, Glenfair Elementary and the TriMet bus stops on Halsey and Glisan. The project will be finished by winter 2019.

The NE 148th project is one of the final two sidewalk projects funded by Fixing Our Streets. The other project -- SW Capitol Highway from Multnomah Village to West Portland -- will start in the fall. 

By the end of 2019, Portlanders will enjoy 48 new blocks of sidewalks, thanks to Fixing Our Streets. 

PBOT has also used Fixing Our Streets to support more widely shared economic prosperity in Portland. At the start of the program, the agency pledged that 30% of Fixing Our Streets contracts would be awarded to D/M/W/ESB/SDVBE firms. PBOT has already far exceeded this goal. To date, more than two-thirds—68%—of Fixing Our Streets low-bid contracts have gone to D/M/W/ESB/SDVBE firms. Interlaken, the construction firm responsible for the NE 148th project, is a D/M/W/ESB/SDVBE certified firm.

Last year, Fixing Our Streets funded projects that closed critical sidewalk gaps in other parts of East Portland, including along SE Flavel Street, NE 102nd Avenue and SE 112th Avenue. By closing the gaps between existing sidewalks, the projects created a full 2.25 miles of streets in East Portland with complete sidewalks on both sides on the street. The result is safer access for neighborhood residents to schools, public transit and work. 

• On SE Flavel, new sidewalks make it safer to walk to the MAX Green Line, the I-205 Multiuse Path, the Springwater Corridor as well as shops and restaurants on 82nd Avenue. 
  
  

All three projects were identified in the East Portland in Motion plan as having strong community support but remained unfunded until voters approved Measure 26-173, which created the Fixing Our Streets Program.

The voter-approved Fixing Our Streets Program has built sidewalks on busy streets, improving access to bus stops like this one on SE Flavel Street in the Lents neighborhood. Photo by Portland Bureau of Transportation.

 

The Fixing Our Streets program, paid for by a local gas tax approved by Portland voters in May 2016 and a heavy vehicle use tax, is Portland’s first local funding source for transportation. Fixing Our Streets is invested in street maintenance and safety improvements. The City Council ordinance included a project list that shows specific projects that are intended to be funded. The list of projects can be found at www.fixingourstreets.com. 

VIDEO: See how crews install ADA corner ramps that make our new sidewalk projects more accessible for everyone

(June 6, 2019) – Street improvements begin today on NE Riverside Way from NE 21st Avenue to NE 33rd Drive. Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) crews will work on the street for eight business days (and possibly weekends) from 7 a.m. through 4 p.m. with periodic lane closures during that time.

The lane closures will allow crews to grind and pave 1.7 lane miles of pavement.

Streets with ground down surfaces are open for travel. Lane closures are only in effect during project hours. Access will be maintained for businesses and residents during the project.  

The traveling 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 reader boards and flaggers, and use alternate routes if possible.

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

(June 11, 2019) – Street improvements begin today on N Albina Street from N Rosa Parks Way to N Skidmore Street. Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) crews will work on the street starting today through July 12 on weekdays, and occasional weekends, from 7 a.m. through 4 p.m. with periodic lane closures during that time. 

The lane closures will allow crews to grind and pave 2.44 lane miles of pavement.

Streets with ground down surfaces are open for travel. Lane closures are only in effect during project hours. Access will be maintained for businesses and residents during the project.  

The traveling 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 reader boards and flaggers, and use alternate routes if possible.

Following the repaving of N Albina Street, the road will be restriped with an improved street configuration to benefit bus and automobile traffic. During repaving projects, PBOT seeks to improve traffic operations and safety for all road users. By combining maintenance projects with operational improvements, such as new striping configurations, PBOT maintains the transportation system and improves travel conditions more efficiently.

Currently, vehicles trying to turn left from N Albina onto N Alberta Street and N Rosa Parks Way must use a single through travel lane. During the most congested times of the day, those left turning vehicles can block automobile traffic and TriMet's Line 4 buses. To improve automobile operations and keep buses moving, PBOT plans to add left turn lanes on N Albina Street approaching the intersections with N Alberta Street and N Rosa Parks Way. Line 4 buses travel through these intersections over 150 times on weekdays, with buses arriving every 15 minutes or better much of the day every day, providing access to St Johns, PCC Cascade, Emanuel Hospital, and Downtown Portland.

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

(June 13, 2019) – A section of Southeast Milwaukie Avenue will be closed all day today as Portland Bureau of Transportation crews work to fix a broken sewer main that damaged a large section of the roadway.

Work in the area could take multiple days, resulting in lane or road closures beyond today.

The sewer main is believed to be at least 80 years old. Crews are working to secure the work site, working around multiple utilities including natural gas lines, to reach the main, which is about 18 feet below ground.

Southeast Milwaukie Avenue is closed between SE Ellis Street and SE Knight Street.

The traveling public should avoid the area today. Obey traffic control barricades, signage and directions from PBOT crews. Use caution on detour routes, as detours may cause additional traffic congestion on residential streets.

A detour for northbound traffic directs travelers east on SE Knight, north on SE 17th, then west on SE Ellis to return to SE Milwaukie. Southbound traffic is detoured west at SE Ellis, south at SE 15th Ave and east on SE Ramona to return to SE Milwaukie.

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The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is the steward of the City’s transportation system, and a community partner in shaping a livable city. We plan, build, manage and maintain an effective and safe transportation system that provides access and mobility. www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation