The BWNA Transportation Committee has been mostly dormant due to a lack of voiced transportation issues submitted to the BWNA board, but the last few months have seen an eclectic array of concerns raised by residents for the Transportation Committee to pursue with the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT). This heightened level of interest prompted the BWNA board to invite PBOT representative Scott Cohen to speak at its April general meeting. Mr. Cohen’s primary responsibilities are related to the City’s Greenways Programs, and he gave a PowerPoint presentation on plans to expand the greenway system along Skidmore and Mason eastward to tie into other north-south routes. Also addressed in his presentation was the pandemic-driven Slow Streets Initiative, a program involving signage and other enhanced visibility measures that, based on public feedback to PBOT, is likely to continue beyond the pandemic. Scott’s presentation can be accessed via a link on the BWNA website Blog page at www.bwnapdx.org/blog.
Attendees at the general meeting (a record turnout for a BWNA meeting via Zoom) posed questions to Scott that included ideas for improvements on Skidmore adjacent to Wilshire Park, concerns about speeding traffic along Skidmore as well as on Fremont and Prescott, safety issues at the intersection of Prescott and 37th (a difficult passage for pedestrians and bicyclists), and unmarked intersections within the Beaumont-Wilshire neighborhood (specifically along Skidmore). Time did not allow all the concerns to be voiced, and the Transportation Committee will be following up with PBOT as appropriate.
A few neighbors have initiated direct contact with PBOT. In one case, regarding unmarked intersections, the resident got a one-on-one remote meeting with Commissioner Hardesty, who oversees PBOT. Another direct communication from a B-W resident (previously employed by the city and with contacts at PBOT) concerned American Disabilities Act (ADA) curbs on lower-traffic side streets. The BWNA Transportation Committee has and will continue to offer assistance and provide an additional voice in support of such inquiries.
The traffic calming and alternate uses of Skidmore adjacent to Wilshire Park remain a priority for the Transportation Committee, as outlined in the proposal supported by the full BWNA board, which can be accessed on the BWNA blog page (www.bwnapdx.org/blog). The committee is presently working on traffic calming prototyping (i.e., pop-up ideas) with PBOT that may be possible this summer once the permitting process reopens. Stay tuned for future details as approvals are obtained.
Recognizing that PBOT deals with priorities throughout the city and is still constrained by the pandemic, effective civic perseverance often yields the most favorable results—and that is the task of the Transportation Committee. The committee continues much of its deliberation and communication via email, with Zoom meetings as needed. The newsletter and website blog will continue to be used to keep residents informed on the issues. If you would like to be notified of future meetings or have ideas on how to make our neighborhood safer for all modes of transportation, click on the Contacts link at the top of the website home page to send an email via info@bwnapdx.org with your request and/or thoughts.