By Ryan Kost
Portland Bureau of Transportation 

(Sept. 26, 2014) -- The Harbor trail, a new segment in the connection from downtown Portland to the South Waterfront, opened this week – and just in time too.

On Monday, the fall term starts for Portland State University students. That’s nothing new, of course. But this term, for the first time, nearly 2,500 students and faculty members will be making a weekly pilgrimage to the waterfront where the new Collaborative Life Sciences Building just opened.

The new link, which is now complete with traffic signal and crosswalk improvements at the SW Harrison St. and SW Harbor Dr. intersection, is a wide, off-road path just off the southeast corner of the intersection.

Before the addition, those on foot or bike would have to follow SW River Parkway to head south to the SW Moody cycle track. The new path, funded by the Portland Bureau of Transportation and built along with the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Project, means a more direct and more comfortable ride or walk down.

“We’re very excited about it,” said Ian Stude, PSU’s transportation and parking director. “It shaves a couple minutes off the walk and provides a comfortable place to be.

“I think it’ll see a lot of use.”

And not just from the PSU community, says PBOT’s Teresa Boyle. The new trail, she said, is a huge benefit for anybody walking or cycling between downtown and the South Waterfront – and points beyond. 

(Photos: Ryan Kost/Portland Bureau of Transportation)