(November 22, 2013) - The Portland Bureau of Transportation is offering the news media an opportunity tonight to see its newest street sweeper in action – a machine that is small and narrow enough to fit bicycle lanes and other hard to reach places in addition to performing regular duty as part of the city’s fleet of larger sweepers.

A city crew will clean the protected bikeway along NE Multnomah Street.  Typically, city crews sweep major commercial streets at night when traffic is light and there are few parked cars.  The crew will sweep from NE Grand Avenue to 21^st Avenue from 9 p.m. to midnight.

The news media is welcome to film or photograph the sweeper in action. Any interview requests should be directed to Diane Dulken, public information officer at 503.577.8236 before 10 p.m.

WHEN: 9 p.m. to midnight.

WHERE: The street sweeper will begin its NE Multnomah Street route at NE Grand Avenue and sweep east to NE 21^st Avenue then turn around and return to Grand Avenue.  The protected bikeway, a lane that is buffered from auto traffic by planters and parked cars, extends to 16^th Avenue.  A traditional bikeway extends to 21^st Avenue.

WHO: The Ravo Street Sweeper, small enough to fit into bike lanes, in addition to regular street sweeping duty

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• The Ravo Street Sweeper is the City of Portland’s 10^th sweeper.  It is 105 inches tall, 89 inches wide and 178 inches long.  That size compares to theTymco streetsweeper at 112 inches tall, 96 inches wide and 280 inches long. The Ravo cost $210,000; the Tymco $226,000
• The Transportation Bureau sweeps each residential street in Portland once or twice a year; each major arterial or collector street up to six times a year and sweeps in the Central Business District five days a week.
• The Ravo Street Sweeper was added to the fleet in late October. It is used for general use in addition to specialty work cleaning bikeways that other machines can’t reach.