Portland's streets are slated for a safety revamp, as the city's Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) puts the finishing touches on a master plan to transform 122nd Avenue. The thoroughfare from NE Marine Drive to SE Foster Road is set to benefit from a bundle of improvements designed to bolster safety, access, and public transit options, following an extensive planning process kicked off in 2018.
The multi-faceted plan will roll out in phases, featuring several projects, each with its own set of funding sources, timelines, and scopes. Some of these upgrades are crawling through the design and engineering stage right now, while others, supported by the Safe Streets for All grant, will break ground later this year, providing fresh opportunities for community input on the final designs. In a release published by the Portland Bureau of Transportation, citizens are encouraged to stay tuned for forthcoming community engagement openings.
Among the high-priority projects are the FOS Crossings & Lighting, which promises new, signalized intersections near Davis and Clinton streets, accompanied by a swathe of additional streetlights extending from San Rafael to Foster. This leg of the larger safety voyage is set for a bid in the near future, with construction expected to fire up later in 2024 and funded by the Fixing Our Streets gas tax.
Another cornerstone of the initiative is the RFFA Crossings project, slated to deliver four renovated or brand-spanking-new pedestrian crossings, in line with crosswalk guidelines designed to notch up public safety. These crossings, scattered at strategic locations like NE Beech, Russell, Broadway with Hancock, and Wasco with Multnomah streets, aren't just about painting zebra stripes on the pavement; they pledge high-visibility markings, boosted streetlighting, ADA-compliant curbs, and some variety of signaling to guide both feet and wheels safely across the divide.
Nurturing this ambitious effort is a generous $20 million boost furnished by the Safe Streets for All program, itself a child of the landmark Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which earmarked a hefty $5 billion for such community-centric roadway safety enhancements between 2022-2026. The City of Portland, which found favor with the grant, is now on the cusp of a City Council hearing destined to unfold in either the closing days of May or the dawn of June 2024, where it's expected to clinch the deal formally.
For anyone keen to keep their finger on the pulse of Portland’s transportation revolution, PBOT's doors (and email lists) remain open. Residents eager to track the progress of these upcoming projects or add their voice to the shaping of Portland's streets are encouraged to sign up for updates and prepare to participate in the draft design feedback rounds. It's all hands on deck as Portland steers towards a safer 122nd Avenue.
