UPDATE (2/27/2020): Post-project data collection is complete. Click here to see all of the before and after data for the project area.

Final project recommendations include:

• Retaining both traffic operational changes at N Willamette Blvd & N Villard Ave and at N Atlantic Ave & N Jessup St.

• Further monitor compliance of the N Atlantic & N Jessup traffic change.

• Further monitor morning peak hour traffic volumes on N Burrage Ave and N Emerson St.

• Further monitor traffic speeds on N Willametee between N Denver Ave and N Gay Ave.

 Click to view more project pictures

This project will improve conditions for people bicycling and walking by slowing down and reducing cut-through traffic on neighborhood streets, around and including N Willamette Blvd in the Arbor Lodge and Overlook neighborhoods. The project will create a neighborhood greenway on N Willamette Blvd from N Rosa Parks Way to N Interstate Ave. Project elements will include:

• Traffic pattern changes that reduce the number of people cutting through on neighborhood streets to avoid main thoroughfares. All changes will allow full access to homes for residents, visitors, and deliveries.

• Speed bumps to reduce traffic speeds.

• Pavement markings and signs designating the route as a neighborhood greenway. 

Project map (click for a bigger image)

Project background

People driving on N Curtis, N Villard, N Atlantic, and N Willamette to avoid busier main streets has been increasing for several years. Community members have increasingly asked for solutions to the high volume of cars speeding down their typically quiet, calm streets.

PBOT collected traffic data and found the speed and volume of people driving is impacting the local street network and creating unsafe conditions. 

• On N Atlantic Ave, 10% of drivers are going more than 10mph over the speed limit. 
• N Willamette Blvd sees 275 cars in the peak hour, far surpassing local traffic volumes.
• The speeds on N Atlantic and N Willamette are around 28 mph - the speed limit is 20 mph. 

The N Willamette Neighborhood Greenway project will create a new, low-stress bikeway on a key connection on the peninsula and improve residential streets by instituting traffic diversion and calming measures in key locations.

Project goals

• To reduce the number of people cutting through neighborhood streets.
• To slow vehicle speeds.
• To create a low-stress bikeway that connects the busy section of N Willamette Blvd to N Interstate Ave.

Proposed Project schedule

Public outreach and planning – Winter 2018/19
Test traffic pattern changes – Spring 2019
Publicize final plans – Summer 2019
Construction all project elements – Summer 2019

Contact

Scott Cohen | (503) 823-5345 | scott.cohen@portlandoregon.gov