Do yourself a favor and roll or walk over to Northeast 72nd and Mason. What you’ll see is a carfree plaza bordered by a grassy parkway, a vibrant mural on the pavement, a basketball hoop, and places to sit and watch the community unfold around you. Talk of carfree streets often assume they’re only possible in the Central City; but thanks to visionary politicians, neighborhood advocates and supportive city policy, we are finally seeing plazas extend way beyond downtown.
I rode east on NE Mason the other day and forgot that the City of Portland’s Roseway Plaza opened last month. It was such a beautiful day out and I was just awestruck at how cool the space was. What was once just a blank expanse of pavement (see below) is now a legit gathering place in the middle of the neighborhood protected against the intrusion of cars by permanent concrete medians that protect both entrances.
The dream of Roseway Plaza emerged from the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s Mason/Skidmore Neighborhood Greenway project (funded through the Fixing Our Streets program) which runs east-west on those two streets between NE 37th and NE 77th. According to the Roseway Neighborhood Association (RNA), they worked with PBOT for years to make the plaza a reality. “The plaza is a welcoming open space for the community to gather, have fun, and make connections.” the neighborhood’s website reads. “We want to make sure that the space is accessible to those with limited mobility, and inviting to all community members. By activating the intersection and surrounding parkway, we also hope to calm traffic on 72nd Ave.”
That last part about calming traffic on NE 72nd Avenue appears to be a work-in-progress. Neighbors have asked PBOT to install stop signs on NE 72nd at Mason (where the plaza is), but as of right now the stop signs aren’t there (*scroll to end of post for update about the stop signs). As I approached the intersection I found myself staring at the plaza and didn’t realize cross-traffic might not stop. I realize “every corner is a crosswalk” and drivers should stop; but a lot of folks walk, run and bike in the street so that law doesn’t apply. I’ve asked RNA and PBOT for an update on this and will update this post when I hear back.
There are two other reasons I find this plaza notable: It’s very similar to what PBOT has the opportunity to do in another location very soon, and it’s an example of something a former PBOT commissioner pushed for.
The Roseway Plaza is in the middle of what’s known as Roseway Parkway, a wide park down the middle of 72nd Ave between NE Sandy and Prescott. The layout is nearly identical to what’s known as the Omaha Treeway between N Rosa Parks and Killingsworth in the Arbor Lodge Neighborhood. PBOT is currently in the design stage of a neighborhood greenway project for N Ainsworth that proposes a similar carfree plaza at N Omaha Ave. If you’re interested in that project, there’s a community walk scheduled for this Wednesday (10/8) that will end at the treeway. Meet at Arborlook Carts (5916 N Greeley) around 6:00 pm to join.
I also want to shout-out former City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty, because this Roseway Plaza made me recall something she used to talk about. As commissioner-in-charge of PBOT, Hardesty spoke often about wanting more carfree spaces citywide. In an interview with me in February 2021, she said, “We’re looking at places all over the city to make carfree, so that community members have gathering spots where they can bike, they can scooter, they can do whatever it is they want to do.”
Our conversations about carfree streets often revolve around the central city, but having a place like this on NE 72nd is a very positive sign that PBOT is moving the needle toward their vision of a lower-car Portland.
— Learn more about Roseway Plaza and PBOT’s many other plazas throughout the city on their website.
UPDATE, 10/9 at 9:34 am: PBOT says they plan to stripe a crosswalk at NE Mason and 72nd later this fall and a separate project will add traffic calming measures on NE 72nd. Here’s more from PBOT Communications Director Hannah Schafer:
“Both streets are greenways, and we don’t typically make four way stops when greenways intersect.
Additionally, the upcoming 70s Greenway: Cully Connector project will be adding speed bumps and sharrows on 72nd, as well as limiting access at several locations. All of this should serve to slow speeds and reduce volumes on 72nd, and the crossing will be clearly marked to improve safety and visibility.”
Thanks for reading.
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Just posted this update about the stop sign/traffic calming issue:
UPDATE, 10/9 at 9:34 am: PBOT says they plan to stripe a crosswalk at NE Mason and 72nd later this fall and a separate project will add traffic calming measures on NE 72nd. Here’s more from PBOT Communications Director Hannah Schafer:
What does this mean? I will be very irritated if it’s not diversion.
I believe that it means that there is a plan to make it so that cars must turn right at sandy rather than turning left or continuing straight. Similar treatment on the south side of sandy coming northbound. They have been talking about doing it for quite awhile though and the whole 72nd avenue project just keeps getting kicked down the road and cut over and over again.
I was surprised to hear this section of 72nd described as a greenway as there seems to be too much motor vehicle traffic for a greenway. I believe the goal is <1000 cars per day on the greenway and that 72nd through the park blocks is more like >1000 each way. I think that closing the golf course to north bound traffic may have helped eliminate some of the Northbound cut through traffic in the park blocks, but since it is still open to motor vehicles going south it hasn’t helped with the southbound traffic which since 72nd is uphill going towards Sandy is actually the more important level to control here.
I have asked about diverters but the city refuses to consider them. In my opinion the best thing to do would be to install diverters at the south side of prescott turning that intersection from a 5 way into a 3 way and eliminating all the N/S cut through traffic. There are collisions at the intersection constantly because so many people run the stop sign on Prescott.
The fact that Portland has multiple tree-lined boulevard-parks that PBOT maintains as toxic traffic sewers is SUV-brained garbage.
“…we don’t typically make four way stops when greenways intersect.”
Why might this be? Is this PBOT habit a throwback to before the stop-as-yield law for bikes? I find all-way stops to be the most comfortable way to share an intersection with cross traffic, whether I’m on a bike, on foot, or in a car.
I can’t be the only one that really appreciates the low prevalence of stop signs on greenways. I agree that 4-way stops can work well, but I’d much rather have a definitive right-of-way (of course one still needs to account for the possibility that the cross traffic will fail to yield). What I would like to see is periodic diverters and few/no stop signs on greenways. That way the street is efficient for traffic for which the filters are porous and inefficient for traffic that cannot pass the filters. A stop sign impedes everyone. I’m not familiar with 72nd, so not sure what would be a good solution there, but as a general practice I hope PBOT continues to try to avoid stop signs on greenways, Idaho stop law or no.
I WISH PBOT would follow Greenway best practices and avoid stop signs on greenways!
I join in your appreciation of greenway modal filters with few stop signs. When cars are allowed in both directions at unsignalized intersections, however, I prefer the all-stop.
In general if a greenway is designed properly it should not have enough motor vehicle traffic to warrant a stop sign. If a stop sign feels needed it is a real sign that the greenway in question needs more diverters.
Looks great! Why is there so much gap between the concrete medians? Shouldn’t they be slightly taller as well? Looks wide enough for a Mini or other small car to go through there. The bike crossing at NW 24th Ave. & NW Vaughn has a similar issue. Plenty of cars go across Vaughn and through the bike only section of the crossing.
I need a gap that wide to safely pass in my electric quadricycle, the wheelbase is about 70″ wide. I prefer a little more room though so I can pass through without slowing down. The greenways are a great alternative to Sandy Blvd. in rush hour
The track width of a Nissan Leaf is 62″. As are many other compact cars. The allowance for your electric quadcycle allows basically every compact car to also get through.
Sorry I misquoted. I think it’s around 60″. The four door model is a little wider.
I can’t tell if you’re trolling or not. Your e-quadricycle is nearly 6 feet wide? That’s almost as wide as my 1993 Toyota truck.
It’s definitely a joke, he’s making it more obvious with every comment.
It’s obvious in context.
Absolutely. When I replied Dave only had that first comment up. This is great, Ken M level trolling. I’m into this!
How fast does that go?
I’ve had it up to 55 w/ mod kit
Sounds like a car.
Actually I traded in my car at the dealership when I picked up my quad. Going car free has been transformative
Sounds like a car.
I could see why you might think that, since it has 4 wheels, airbags, etc. But rest assured it’s a completely different class of vehicle
This is the greatest funniest troll ever. 55mph, Airbags…
It’s not a car right? The ultimate ebike, you too can save the planet with this.
Doesn’t sound like anything that’s legal to operate on Oregon roads.
It’s a gray area as best I can tell. Best part is no need for license or insurance
Either it’s legal or it’s not.
If you’re unsure, perhaps it’s illegal and you’re in denial.
It’s imported (China) and I believe it’s only one of a dozen or so in the US right now. Does not fit any of the definitions for a car, though I have taken it down to Salem and back on the shoulder of I-5
That has no business going through pedestrian plazas and diverters. It’s very sad that you feel that you don’t need to slow down.
There is rarely anyone in plazas. On greenways it’s usually just bicycles which are doing about 10mph, I breeze right past.
Why might that be?
I have never seen another e-quadracycle rider there (or anywhere else in Portland) so I’m not sure why you’re blaming me. It’s a facility intended for use by my vehicle so I don’t see what the problem is.
One reason people might go to plazas is because they’re motor-vehicle-free. If you show up in a motor-powered vehicle, 5′ wide that can go 55 mph, that eliminates one reason for people to go there.
If it’s legal for you to be there, that’s just all the more reason to avoid that plaza.
That sounds like a vehicle that should not be using bike infrastructure
The only difference between my e-quadracycle and a class 3 ebike is that it has 2 more wheels, a roof, doors and a windshield. I expect to see a lot more of them in the ebike lanes soon too, as the importer I worked with is eager to bring more over as soon as the tariffs are lifted. He says he’s working directly with the Trump admin to get an exception
Those are huge differences. It sounds like your vehicle has more in common with cars than bikes.
A main difference you didn’t mention is that it’s 5′ wide. On many bike facilities–bike lanes and MUPs say–that’s too wide for you and other users to pass conveniently or even safely.
It still seems like you’re trolling, since it feels like your motor vehicle is so ridiculously inappropriate for riding in places not designed for anything that wide or fast.
Initially there were a lot of problems with drivers cutting through the plaza, but I live nearby and from my non scientific observations it does seem to be improving.
Low curbs and flex posts? Yeah, the psychos behind the wheel are definitely driving through this.
I believe that there should be stop signs at ANY intersection with no traffic lights, specifically on the side of the street that has more car lanes.
I think there’s a really high demand all over the city for flat, paved, car-free (or car-limited) spots like that for play spaces for kids. They can also be nice gathering spots for neighbors. I could see some developed with low fences, basketball hoops, etc. also depending on the location.
Tennis courts in parks often (invariably?) get used for as kids’ play areas. They’re prohibited uses, but the courts are often the only flat, paved, car-free areas available, so it happens.
While a stop sign would help what we really need is fewer cars using 72nd to cut through the neighborhood at high speed. PBOT has promised improvements for 72nd coming soon from killingsworth to the golf course for years but few of them have materialized largely because each year seems to be an exercise in deciding that inflation has crept in on the budget and so we have to cut some stuff. I wish that PBOT would do more projects like this where they just build the improvement instead of spending so much time planning that the budget is wasted and nothing is ever built. We are on our 3rd project coordinator on the 72nd improvements to give you an idea of how long these projects have drug on.
I’m interested in the N Omaha walkthrough. Where do you get the deets? I see a mention on the project website for the date, Oct 8, but not the time.
https://www.portland.gov/transportation/pbot-projects/construction/n-ainsworth-street-neighborhood-greenway-willamette
Hi. Bikeloud says 4-6 at the carts PBOT staff will listen and chat about the project. Then at 6:00 they’ll walk over to Omaha.
Thanks for the confirmation.
Looks like the PBOT project website now includes the time…
Joint Arbor Lodge and Overlook neighborhood project meeting, Arborlook Food Cart Pod 5916 N Greeley Ave 4pm to 6pm with a walk to the Omaha diverter pilot site at 6pm – October 8th
Thanks, Jonathan. I’m going to walk over to check out the Roseway Plaza. I agree, kudos to Jo Ann. My wife and I saw many plazas during our treks and travels in the UK and Portugal.
As I was walking through the Central Eastside District several days ago, I saw the Portland Dream Plaza that opened in July. I don’t see it on my mapping service (Apple Maps) yet, or the cool Electric Blocks street murals on SE 2nd Avenue and Market Street.
Do you know the status of the greenway that connects the plaza on Mason? The project plan says Spring 2025 and the project manager has been unresponsive to my emails.
I don’t know anything about the status of the Mason/Skidmore Neighborhood Greenway Project, but Mimi Phillips also took over the 70s Greenway: Cully Connector from David Backes earlier this year. She has been unresponsive to questions from multiple neighbors about if the project would be built this year and I notice that the 2025 construction date has been updated sometime since August 9th and now says late 2025 or early 2026. I really hoped that when Backes was replaced that maybe it indicated the city had noticed how long the project had drug on and had put someone in charge of it who would get it done but it seems to just be more delays. I am beginning to wonder if the project will ever be built.
Thanks for the info, always appreciate your comments on the fb group as well. Yes, it was Mimi I emailed and she never responded. Same thing happened with Zef Wagner related to another inquiry. I’d understand a late response but none at all is extremely frustrating especially with a project that has dragged on.