Portland Avenue Safety Improvements Project (NW College Way to Wall Street)

Welcome to the Portland Avenue Project Open House!

November 2023

This informational online open house was held November 7-20, 2023. The information from the open house is available below. Feel free to browse the information and design concepts. 

This online informational open house includes

• An introduction video about the November 2023 Open House Update.
• Results from the June 2023 Community Open House.
• Design update for the recommending base improvements to improve connectivity, safety, and traffic calming needs along the Portland Avenue corridor.
• Estimated schedule update.

Watch the Introduction Video

Results from the June 2023 Open House Survey 

The June 2023 open house and survey informed community members of potential improvements and gathered community feedback with an online survey. The feedback from participants covers a range of project-related topics, including intersection improvements, signage, speed and safety measures, and pedestrian and cyclist connections. General project-related comments concern the maintenance of bike facilities and suggestions for additional safety measures at various intersections. 

Key Overall Themes and Responses

• The majority of open house participants and survey respondents indicated their preferred goal improvements as safe crossings at key intersections and vehicle speed reduction.

In response to this feedback, the following improvements have been included in the preliminary design:

• Additional lighting, striping, and pedestrian crossing signage are planned at the intersection of Portland Avenue and Ninth Street, Fifth Street, and Awbrey Road.
• Additional speed limit and radar signs are planned to be installed throughout the corridor.
• New or replaced sidewalk is planned at several locations along the corridor.

• After reviewing the issues, goals, three segments and budget constraints, community members indicated prioritizing the segments in the following order:
  1. Ninth Street to Portland Bridge
  2. East side of Portland Bridge to Wall Street
  3. College Way to 12th Street
      
• The feedback indicates a strong desire for speed reduction and improved safety measures for pedestrians and cyclists especially at the intersections of NW Awbrey Road and Portland Avenue, as well as Portland Avenue and Ninth Street.

In response to this feedback, the following improvements have been included:

• Additional lighting, striping and pedestrian crossing signage are planned at the intersection of Portland Avenue and Ninth Street and the intersection of Fifth Street and Awbrey Road.
• Flashing 4-Way stop signs at the intersection of Portland Avenue and Ninth Street.

(Click on each location tab below to browse segment details.)

The map below shows the proposed improvements from the east side of Portland Bridge to Wall Street. Improvements will be coordinated with recommendations from the Olney Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements project, which include: 

• Widening to south add buffered bike lanes and wider south sidewalk
• Signing, striping and lighting enhancements at trail crossing
• Intersection safety improvements at Wall Street
• Additional speed limit signs

Improvements from Wall Street to Portland Bridge will be constructed as part of the Olney Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements Project.

Please send any questions and concerns regarding this segment to:

• Carrie Theus
  • 541-323-8564
  • ctheus@bendoregon.gov

The map below shows the proposed improvements from Ninth Street to the Portland Bridge, which include: 

• Widening for buffered bike lanes between Fifth Street and Sixth Street
• Signing, striping and lighting enhancements at Ninth Street, Awbrey Road, and Fifth Street crossing
• Additional speed limit and radar signs
• Sidewalk replacement on south side between Third Street and Sixth Street

*An in person Community Open House will be held in early January 2024 with more project specific schedules and information.

Improvements from Portland Bridge to Ninth Street will be constructed as part of the Awbrey Butte Waterline Improvements Project.

Please send any questions or concerns regarding this segment to:

• Awbrey Butte Waterline Improvements Team
  • 541-382-3264
  • awbreywaterline@bendoregon.gov

The map below shows the proposed improvements from College Way to 12th Street, which include:

• Enhanced crossing at College Way
• Signing, striping and lighting enhancements at 12th Street crossing
• Juniper Street to 12th Street: Restripe to add eastbound buffered bike lane
• Additional speed limit signs
• Near-term funding and maintenance consideration(s) for delineators in buffered bike lane.
• College Way to Juniper Street – Widen to add buffered bike lanes and maintain on-street parking*

*May not fit within available funding.

Improvements from 12th Street to College Way may be constructed as part of the South Awbrey Butte Drainage Improvements Project.

Please send any questions and concerns regarding this segment to:

Garrett Sabourin
gsabourin@bendoregon.gov
541-323-8591

Estimated Project Schedule for the Ninth Street to Portland Bridge segment*

* Each segment’s schedule will be determined by the synergy project. Use links below to learn more about project schedules. Please note schedules are subject to change. 

Additional resources:

• Awbrey Butte Waterline Improvements Project – Ninth Street to Porland Bridge
• Olney Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements Project – Portland Bridge to Wall Street
• 2020 Transportation GO Bond – College Way to 12th Street  

This open house (event flyer) and survey closed on July 11, 2023. However, you may browse the open house video and materials below.  

This online open house provides:

• An introduction video about the long term goals for Portland Avenue and near term funding limitations
• Overview and history of the Portland Avenue project
• Related projects and estimated schedule
• An opportunity to share your priorities for the street, which will help guide future investments

Watch the introduction video below, then use the tabs below to browse the online open house. You can navigate to each station in any order.

The Portland Avenue Project extends from College Way to Wall Street. There are three project segments:

• Segment 1 from College Way to 12th Street
• Segment 2 from Ninth Street to Portland Bridge
• Segment 3 from the Portland Bridge to Wall Street.

Project History

Project Overview

The Portland Avenue project includes improvements related to safe crossings at key intersections, continuous sidewalks, intersection safety, vehicle speed reduction and better connectivity for neighborhood destinations (see map below). The map also highlights key walking and biking routes along Portland Avenue,  NW 12th Street and Wall Street.

Related Projects

The Portland Avenue Project extends along Portland Avenue from College Way to Wall Street. Related projects overlap from NW 9th Street to Wall Street and extend along Olney Avenue and south of Portland Avenue along the Deschutes River. (See map below.)

Project Schedule

Additional design work will be ongoing through 2023. Construction is anticipated in Spring 2024 through Summer 2025. (Note that schedules are estimates and subject to change.)

The map below shows the proposed improvements from College Way to 12th Street, which include:

• Enhanced crossing at College Way
• Signing, striping and lighting enhancements at 12th Street crossing
• Juniper Street to 12th Street: Restripe to add eastbound buffered bike lane
• Additional speed limit signs
• Near-term funding and maintenance consideration(s) for delineators in buffered bike lane

• College Way to Juniper Street – Widen to add buffered bike lanes and maintain on-street parking*
  *May not fit within available funding

   

– Ninth Street to Portland Bridge (Awbrey Butte Waterline Project)

The map below shows the proposed improvements from Ninth Street to the Portland Bridge, which include: 

• Widening for buffered bike lanes between Fifth Street and Sixth Street
• Signing, striping and lighting enhancements at First Street and Fifth Street crossing
• Enhanced crossing at Awbrey Road
• Additional speed limit and radar signs
• Sidewalk replacement on south side between Fourth Street and Sixth Street
• Safety improvements at Ninth Street

The map below shows the proposed improvements from the east side of Portland Bridge to Wall Street. Improvements will be coordinated with recommendations from the Olney Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements project, which include: 

• Widening to south add buffered bike lanes and wider south sidewalk
• Signing, striping and lighting enhancements at trail crossing
• Intersection safety improvements at Wall Street
• Additional speed limit signs

The Portland Avenue Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements is a subproject of the Awbrey Butte Waterline Project.

The segment of Portland Avenue improvements from Ninth Street to the Portland Avenue bridge may be built as a synergy project concurrent with the Awbrey Butte Waterline Improvement project. The areas west of Ninth Street and east of the bridge may be constructed under separate project.

The Awbrey Butter Waterline Improvement projects will improve Bend’s ability to deliver water and increase the system’s resiliency and reliability by installing new pipeline.

Survey is closed.

What happens next?

Design work will be ongoing through 2023. A community informational meeting for preliminary design of suggested improvements will be scheduled in Fall 2023. Construction is estimated in Spring 2024 through Summer 2025. Note that dates are estimates and subject to change.

You can learn more about the project

Additional Portland Avenue project information is below. Visit bendoregon.gov/awbrey-waterline for details about the Awbrey Butte Waterline project.

Thank you for visiting the open house!