I used to cross that intersection (28&Bdwy) twice a day before there was a Freddy's there and it was a piece o' cake... Just wait at the stop sign for an opportunity and go. Maybe using that tactic a block or two west would be easier than the current set-up. I would sometimes use 16th/15th from Broadway to Killingsworth... north of there, 15th was a little skinny for my taste. South of I-84, I used 28th (jump over to 30th from Stark to Lincoln) when I lived near Reed and worked near Em. hosp. Sometimes I would take 20th, but 28th was better.
BTA has something in the works for the 50's and the 70's but that is a long way east of 28th.
You can read more about it
HERE and
HERE
Bill