The BWNA Transportation Committee held a public meeting on June 12 focused on a Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) Neighborhood Greenway planned on NE Skidmore Street starting at NE 37th Avenue. The project is designed to connect with existing greenways at Cully Street and NE 77th Avenue. Neighborhood Greenways are roads that PBOT designates to prioritize cyclists and pedestrians.
At the meeting, PBOT Capital Project Manager Mimi Phillips presented a design for the greenway and requested questions and feedback from neighbors. The design included the addition of five speed bumps between NE 37th and 42nd avenues, two stop signs, 11 parking setbacks at corners along NE Skidmore Street, and pavement markings along the route. It also proposes adding traffic islands and upgraded lighting at the intersection of NE Skidmore Street and NE 42nd Avenue.
Some neighbors in attendance expressed long-standing concerns about speeding on NE Skidmore Street, and a few voiced positive comments about the plan. There was discussion around the location of some of the planned speed bumps, and there were questions about the impact of speed bumps on emergency service vehicles accessing the neighborhood.
Construction of the greenway is planned for late summer. The project is funded by PBOT’s “Fixing Our Streets” program, the voter-approved $0.10 per gallon gas tax.
The design is available for review on PBOT’s website at tinyurl.com/yprxcyx3.
Comments about the plan should be submitted to Mimi.Phillips@portlandoregon.gov.
Colin O’Neill is a BWNA board member and chairs the Transportation Committee. He’s lived in B-W with his wife and kids since 2008.