Update from PBOT on NE 12th Ave overcrossing project

The info below was sent to Lloyd District project stakeholders by the City of Portland’s project manager (we’ll have more analysis on the front page later):

This message is an update on the test process for the traffic signals in the vicinity of the NE 12th Avenue overcrossing. The Portland Bureau of Transportation has installed new traffic signal controllers and completed the communication links and programming. We have completed the first two stages of a three-stage test, during which we’re collecting data about travel time, delay, and queue lengths at the signals.

In stage one, we collected baseline data for traffic conditions with the preexisting signal programming. In stage two, we modified the signal programming at NE 12th and Irving, NE Lloyd and 11th-12th, and NE Lloyd and 13th, without making any on-the-road changes. The indications from stage two are favorable, so we expect to proceed with stage three, in which our Maintenance Operations crews will implement temporary traffic control measures to simulate a “one lane in, two lanes out” configuration.

The temporary traffic control is scheduled to be installed this weekend. It will consist of traffic delineator posts at the entry end of each of the inner (left) lanes, along with appropriate signage. We are working with Franz Family Bakeries, which has been extremely helpful, to ensure that the temporary traffic control is appropriately placed to avoid compromising the left turn for trucks.

No permanent changes to the roadway will be implemented until we have completed the test process and the Lloyd District Bikeway Development Projects Stakeholder Advisory Group has had a chance to consider the results. The Lloyd SAC is scheduled to discuss this project on June 16, so we expect to have fully analyzed results by that time.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to let me know, and feel free to forward this message to anyone who is interested in the project.