PORTLAND, Oregon — The city says that its Slow Streets Safe Streets program will make it easier for Portlanders to practice social distancing as we slowly get back to some semblance of normal but residents we spoke to in this Rose City Park Neighborhood aren’t exactly thrilled with the selection of NE 53rd Avenue for the initiative.
Laura King has lived in the neighborhood for nearly 30 years and worries that closing off through traffic on NE 53rd, which sees an average of about 800 cars per day, will drive even more traffic onto her smaller street, NE 52nd Avenue.
And if ain't broke, don't fix it: that's her sentiment, citing PBOTs investment in NE 53rd Avenue to date.
There are traffic signals at both ends of the corridor at NE Halsey and NE Glisan. And 53rd Avenue already has traffic circles and speed bumps, with relatively new share-arrows for bike commuters.
Meanwhile, Gary Adams suggested that NE 52nd Avenue would be the better candidate for the Slow Streets Safe Streets campaign since it's normal volume is less than half that of 53rd.
Both suggested the project was sprung on the public with little warning and no outreach or discussion.
Rose City Park Neighborhood Chair Tamara DeRidder said she struggled to find the information buried on the Portland Bureau of Transportation's website. Typically, she says changes like this come with much more notice.
When she brought it to her committee's attention, some were "irate."
I did speak to John Brady of PBOT and he acknowledged that it was somewhat hurried.
But he reiterated the city's position that this is temporary, that this location was already considered a greenway, and that the city is still taking feedback. They also plan on doing broader public outreach soon.
Here is a link to the initiative and you can email or call the city directly at 503-823-SAFE with comments.
They tell me they've received 300 emails so far, Brady said most of them were positive
Chris McGinness is a meteorologist and transportation reporter for KGW. Got a story idea or a great photo you want to share? Email him at cmcginness@kgw.com or reach out on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram