The Portland City Council will consider amendments to the proposed Portland Street Fund at 10 a.m. Dec. 3. Council is expected to vote on the amended proposal on Dec. 10.

Commissioner Steve Novick will offer an amendment that would have the fund expire or "sunset" after six years without Council action. Under the amendment, the residential income tax and non-residential fee would be charged for tax years 2015 through 2020. It would not be continued after tax year 2020 without action by the City Council or a vote of the public to extend it.

Another amendment will be offered to ensure that City funding for pavement maintenance in future years from non-Street Fund sources shall be no less than the amount of such funding from non-Street Fund sources currently allocated for fiscal 2014-15 if the Portland Street Fund is approved by Council. The Street Fund would add to the city’s annual pavement maintenance budget, more than doubling the total amount spent each year.

Council invites public testimony on the amendments on Dec. 3. Testimony will be limited to the proposed amendments, however testimony on the entirety of the Portland Street Fund proposal is welcomed in writing. Comments and questions may be sent to ourstreetspdx@portlandoregon.gov.

Learn more about the Portland Street Fund and find updates at www.OurStreetsPDX.com and on Twitter at @PBOTinfo and #ourstreetspdx.

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(Novermber 26, 2014)  On Saturday, November 22, 2014, the City of Portland Safe Routes to School program participated in the Fix-it Fair held at Parkrose High School.  Every year the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability hosts three Fix-it Fairs.  As part of the event, Safe Routes offers free minor bike repair to families.  Volunteer mechanics from Bikes for Humanity and Bike Farm were busy repairing 16 bikes, including this adorable scoot bike.  

Safe Routes staff were also on hand to promote walking, biking and rolling to school.  The Safe Routes program is in over 100 schools in the Portland area working with students through bike and pedestrian safety education, walk and bike encouragement activities, SmartTrips to School, engineering projects, and enforcement. 

Safe Routes will offer free minor bike repair at the other two Fix-it Fairs in January and February – thanks to Bikes for Humanity and Bike Farm.  Click here for fair dates and locations.  For more information regarding Safe Routes to School, check out their website. 

(December 1, 2014)  – The City of Portland Bureau of Transportation advises the traveling public that street improvements will require lane closures on SE Harney Drive from SE 45^th Avenue to SE Flavel Drive from Tuesday, December 2 through Wednesday, December 10, 7 a.m. through 5 p.m. each weekday.  This project may also include some weekend work.

 The lane closures will allow crews to grind 2.13 lane miles of pavement in preparation for paving at a later date. 

PBOT street improvement crews work through the winter, adjusting tasks based on weather conditions. Crews will grind down old asphalt and prepare street surfaces for paving even in cold and rainy conditions. They will return to complete paving during a window of dry weather.

Streets with ground down surfaces are open for travel. Lane closures are only in effect during project hours.  Access will be maintained for businesses and residents during the project,

 Parking restriction barricades will be in place one or two workdays before the start of work. The traveling public is advised to expect delays while repairs are being made. We ask the public to travel cautiously, observe all lane closures and directions by flaggers, and use alternate routes if possible.

This work is weather-dependent and the schedule may change.

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(December 2, 2014) - On Thursday evening, December 4th, 2014, seven community advocates enrolled in the Portland Traffic and Transportation class will present their proposals for improving Portland's transportation system. Presenters will address a three person panel made up of Portland Bureau of Transportation director Leah Treat, Commissioner in charge of transportation Steve Novick's chief of staff, Chris Warner, and Planning and Sustainability Commissioner and citizen advocate, Chris Smith.

The proposals span the entire city and include topics covering pedestrian safety, electric vehicles, high capacity transit corridors, and more. The community advocates will give brief presentations to the three panelists. Then the expert panelists will ask questions and lead a discussion on the project's benefits, challenges, and next steps for its fruition. Audience participation is welcome and encouraged.

To see past presentations, explore the archive on PortlandTransport.org.

What: Community advocate presentations exploring new transportation proposals
When: Thursday, 12/4/2014 from 6:40 - 8:40 pm
Where: The Portland Building Auditorium (2nd Floor). 1120 SW 5th Ave
Cost: FREE

 Screen grab from Peter Maris's 2013 presentation on Montavilla traffic and livability issues.

(December 3, 2014) -   While Portlanders weather a cold snap, The Portland Bureau of Transportation is looking ahead to warm weather opportunities to enliven the streetscape by expanding its popular Street Seats program.

The transportation bureau is seeking concept proposals through January 15, 2015, and will host an open house on December 5 at the Portland Building (1120 SW 5^th Avenue, 2nd Floor, Room B) from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. Staff and local design firms will be available to answer questions and provide design inspiration.

Now in its fourth year, Street Seats gives businesses or non-profit organizations the opportunity to convert on-street parking into other public uses, such as café seating or a mini-park.  Based on similar programs in San Francisco and New York City, the program enlivens the streetscape by creating spaces for Portlanders to stop, sit and enjoy the life of the street. Many Street Seats also allow people to enjoy seating and a meal or a drink outdoors, which in turn enhances street vitality and benefits local businesses.

The transportation bureau experimented with a pilot Street Seats project in 2012 and instituted an ongoing program in spring 2013. 

Today, Portland has 12 Street Seat installations, 10 of which were organized by restaurants to offer outdoor café seating.  Two installations on NE Alberta Street have been designed solely for open public seating and are a result of collaboration between the Bureau of Transportation and Center for Architecture in its second annual Street Seat Design Competition. 

While encouraging additional restaurant and café proposals, the Transportation Bureau will prioritize design proposals that are open to full public use, and that show creativity and excellence in design.

Proposals may be seasonal or year-round, and may be located in any part of the city, except the downtown core from West Burnside to SW Harrison Street, and SW Second to Tenth avenues.

Application packets as well as a map of current Street Seats may be found at www.PortlandOregon.gov/Transportation/StreetSeats

View Street Seats photos from Portland and elsewhere: https://www.flickr.com/groups/pdxstreetseats/

Sign up for Street Seats e-updates.

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Media Contact:
Diane Dulken 503-823-5552 diane.dulken@portlandoregon.gov