(Photo: J Maus/BikePortland)
If you bike through the Rose Quarter Transit Center be advised that starting this Sunday August 21st and lasting two weeks until September 3rd, TriMet is embarking on a major construction project that will close streets, change lange configurations, and put work crews and vehicles all over the place.
A portion NE Holladay Street in the Lloyd District will also be closed to all users.
It’s all a part of TriMet’s Better Transit initiative. They’ll be upgrading tracks and signals in an effort to make MAX rides smoother and more reliable.
As a bicycle rider, here’s what you need to know:
– The work will require “significant MAX disruption” and TriMet is asking their customers to “rethink their commutes.”
– Because of reduced frequency of the Blue, Green, and Red lines, trains will be very crowded. It’s likely that some riders will use bicycles, so there will also be more people in the bike lanes.
– TriMet is encouraging people to use other modes of transportation and says “This may be the time to try Portland’s new bike-sharing program Biketown.”
– Don’t plan on bringing your bike on-board MAX during this time. There won’t be any room and TriMet has the right to ask you to get off and ride to your destination.
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Here are the specific lane and road closures to be aware of:
– NE 1st Avenue will close between Multnomah and Holladay streets.
– The left lane on NE 1st Avenue between Oregon and Holladay streets also will close, forcing a right turn only on green as well.
– The north sidewalk between NE Wheeler Avenue and 2nd Avenue will close. Crosswalks across NE Holladay Street will close on both sides of 1st Avenue and the west side of 2nd Avenue.
– The crosswalk on the east side of Wheeler Avenue also will close for a time. When it is closed, pedestrians will have access to a temporary crosswalk on the west side of Wheeler.
– Pedestrians and cyclists should use extreme caution when traveling in the area.
– Shuttle bus operations will require two lane closures in the Rose Quarter and Lloyd Center areas during the MAX disruption.
– The northbound right lane on North Interstate Avenue between Drexler Drive and Multnomah Street will close to autos. The lane closure allows shuttle buses to stop against the curb and cyclists to pass on the left of buses. Flaggers and TriMet staff will be on site to ensure safe movement of buses and bikes. Buses operators, cyclists and TriMet riders should use extreme caution in the area.
– Near the Lloyd Center MAX Station, NE Holladay Street between 11th and 13th avenues will be closed to autos and cyclists. Shuttle buses will use this section of Holladay to pick up and drop off MAX riders.
These closures begin Sunday, Aug. 21 and run through Saturday, Sept. 3.
Visit TriMet.org for more information and please keep us posted about conditions as you ride through the area in the coming weeks.
— Jonathan Maus, (503) 706-8804 – jonathan@bikeportland.org
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