The Portland Bureau of Transportation just announced the upcoming construction of two neighborhood greenway crossings of Southeast Division. Using just over $630,000 from the “Fixing Our Streets” program (Portland’s local gas tax), they plan to upgrade the existing crossing at SE 64th in the South Tabor neighborhood and to build a new crossing at SE 77th in Montavilla.
The crossing at 64th leads directly in the new carfree path into Mt. Tabor that opened in spring 2024. PBOT built the 60s greenway to connect to that path late last year and installed a temporary crossing at this location using plastic curbs and wands. This new project is an example of PBOT going back and “hardening” existing infrastructure with something of higher quality that uses more permanent materials. The plan is to install a concrete median island on the east side of the intersection. The project will also build two new ADA-compliant curb ramps in the southeast corner (that connects to the crossing) and install a new streetlight to improve visibility. In March 2022, 46 year-old Patrick Bishop was hit and killed by a driver (who was later arrested for hit-and-run) just one block east of this intersection.
At 77th, PBOT wants to improve the safety of the 70s Greenway, a key route that runs parallel to the 82nd Avenue corridor. The plan is to build a concrete median island on the west side of the intersection, build four new ADA ramps and install new pavement markings and signage. There isn’t a new streetlight planned, but PBOT has ordered a lighting assessment to see if more lighting is needed.
On their project website, PBOT says both of these crossings were originally designed by TriMet as part of their Division Transit Project. The original plan was to have bus stops at these intersections, but when those were relocated, TriMet shelved the crossings. PBOT leaned on those initial TriMet designs to construct these crossings.
Both crossings are expected to be built next year.
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Well that’s why those were taking so long. It would be nice if they would do to Clinton what they did with Everett as a part of this new section of the 70s greenway. Specifically paving this part of the unimproved roadway so that there’s a more direct way to connect to the Woodward part of the the Clinton greenway from the 70s greenway.
Totally agree! It’s also really goofy how it deviates to Tibbetts St. from 75th – 79th, then back up to Woodward to cross 82nd, then down to Brooklyn, etc. I wish they’d just pave those four blocks of Woodward so the bike route could be continuous. I do sometimes just ride through it anyway but it can get pretty sloppy after a big rainstorm.
On Sunday afternoon at about 2pm, at the nearby intersection of SE 60th and SE Lincoln St, I came upon a crash with person on the ground in obvious pain, being attended to by emergency personnel. There were 2 damaged vehicles blocking the intersection. I am not sure exactly what happened but I was told by other bystanders that a runner had been knocked down. This intersection has flashing beacons but even that apparently does not always help you stay safe.
Use these routes all the time for commuting & running errands. Grateful for the improvements!
Yet another project east of the river. But it’s too dangerous to walk anywhere in SW so building any ped infrastructure would be a waste of money.
Part of it is that local neighborhood associations in SW don’t care about ped or bike infrastructure as much, unfortunately. Lots of these local projects in SE and NE happen because there’s demand from local folks to make it happen. People are testifying at meetings, sending letters, etc…. then things happen.
Very good news! The one at 64th & Division is where the new Parks Bureau path to Mt Tabor meets the 60s neighborhood greenway, and has been a weak link especially for people riding bikes, since it’s been pretty awkward trying to get from the ramp over to the path. This is an opportunity to fix that whole situation.
This is great to see this going in, as Division is quite the obstacle to a bunch of north south bike routes.
I used to cut through PCC and cross Division at 80th, but they made it difficult to get into the parking lot at Sherman & 80th. I can understand why, but it would’ve been great to have a bike/ped path through PCC that continues 80th.
With the e-cargo bike, I started just going up and over Tabor to 64th to avoid the funkiness of streets south of Division. As others have mentioned here, there’s not a great/clear way through. Giving one of those E-W streets the “Everett treatment” (NE79th to 80th on Everett) would be great. It’s awesome seeing the Vestal bike bus come pedaling along the smooth pavement on Everett, which used to be gravel and potholes.
So the 77th one will make for three marked crossings in four blocks, lol.
I’m sure we can all think of multiple places where crossings are more urgently needed.